New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-23

LET CS NAVE An END or CONCEALMENT
We took occasion the other day to allude
briefly TO secret Investigations of frauds IN the
New York Custom House not connected with
the Drawback frauds lately disclosed, and gave
word of admonition to those in authority
against conducting their proceedings in man
ner inconsistent with the public interest
Secret Investigations of criminal offenses are,
as general thing, prejudicial to the claims OF
Justice and the rights of those Immediately
concerned. There may be exceptions, in cases
where the offenders would be likely. to put
themselves beyond the reach of the law, If
evidence of guilt were made public before
custody of the criminals were secured
but we are not satisfied that such ex-
ception applies IN tho present instance. Rcti-
cence amounting almost to implied denial of
the discovery of frauds has been studlously
observed by those engaged in the prosecution
of these Investigations, yet nevertheless enough
facts have leaked out to establish beyond
question the existence of frauds. Moreover
Developments indicate that many if not all of
the persons implicated have been detected and
are under close surveillance. When short
time ago proceedings were instituted against
certain U. s. Weighers for alleged criminal
conduct in the matter Of issuing false pay-rolls
it occurred that if such officers had proved
dishonest in that particular, other and moro
fertile opportunities TO rob the Government had
not been allowed to pass unimproved. Such
presumption derived the weight from evidence
elected in q single case, wherein Government
emplOy6 was represented to have remarked
that he proposed to improve the chances to
make up out of the Government the losses he
had sustained In private adventures Accord
ingy THE TRIBUNE exhorted the authorities
to push their Investigations until every source
of possible fraud had been thoroughly probed.
We believe, when the results are fully known,
our conjectures will be amply verified. All
that can yet be made public is vague and in
definite, but by no means of uncertain import.
We know that a system of fraud has been
uneaIthed in the Weighmaster's Department,
extending through the las. Administration,
which reveals state of rascality damaging to
several ex-weighers and merchants of this
City, who have hitherto occupied positions of
high responsibility in business and social circles.
Associated with these also were certain go-be-
tweens who executed the details of the shame
full business. The frauds are said to have been
committed in an adrOt manner, and probably
might never have been discovered if the per-
petrators had destroyed certain little books and
memoranda that contained the evidence of
their guilt False returns of weights were rem
dered at the Custom. House by weghers, show
ing short quantities of dutiable merchandise,
amounting sometimes to one or two hundred
thousand pounds less than the actual weight of
single cargoes. Fraudulent invoices we're pro-
duced to correspond Herewith, and upon such
data settlements of duties were effected Such
cases were multiplied to largo extent,
but to what amount the Government
has been robbed depends of course
upon the rate Of duty on tho merchandise