New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-17
$1,000 ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF $4,000

JAYNEs OPERATIONS IN THE SUGAR TRADE
An interesting example of Jayne's dealing
with sugar importers furnished by the case OF we'll
known the city, Of long establishment and hgh
standing These merchants decline TO have their names
pubushed wishing to avoid all further difficulties with
the Cusiomhouse officials, and nformers This timldty
which shrnks from the full presenatiOnO their wrongs
because OF the dread OF future oppression Is common
among importers who have been plundered and is the
only thing when prevents extensive disclosures OF
injury aud injustice would sarte community which
has already acquainted with many stories OF
abuse aud intimidation.
The particular referred TO act agents for large
house III Brazil. aud has entered many cargoes for
Philadelphia merchant. The standing OF the firm may
b. estimated from the fact that during the 80 years resi-
snce in Brazil Of the partner his house not only
never had the least dispute with the Brazilian officials,
bi became little obnoxious to its competitors because
u was continually held up 20 them by the authorities
NJ model for imitation account OF the tfank clear
and exact way 10 which all its books were kept, and
always held ready for Inspection. This senior partner
wac appoiuted member 81 honorable Brazilian order
by the Emperor FOR these merits. In the year 1871
the heao OF the house was in Brazil In the Summer
cone months before their books seized the junior
ncU.oers Of the firm warned that their house was
spotied" that ne working up evidence against
them and that their books would be seizedIpresenty
n they been guilty IL they had any reason TO fear
M JAYNE, nothing would have been easier than for
them to burn their books 10 remove them beyond
Jaynes reach. Conscious OF their innocence. they
awaited the issue The warning proved true and
weeks after their books were seized Then began Nj
JayDes usual tactics lie dwelt the eDornty Of the
EAST and asserted that there had been fragrant bribery
e1tatedly one Of the clerks, whom 1t was supposed
possible 10 intimdate threatened with Indictment
he did reveal what IA fact had never happened,
and Oh the other hand. tempted with liberal prom
isos OF reward # he would supply evidence against
has employers. But he had none 10 supply,
and could not he inundated The grouni which
Jayne made the charge Of bribery the fact that
The irm had been accustomed toiply the weghmaster
yas per cargo or return Of the weight This could not
h. procured through the Custom-house itself except
after a delay Of several weeks, but was Immediately
necessary the firm 10 make up It's account sales and
20 ssslst III determining the disposition Of the cargo
Jayne said that the bribery evident because in the
Gaze Of small number OF cargoes the weight OF the
sugar at sale proved by the books Of the firm,
little than II rated in the weighmaster's
There slight discrepancy II is true, due
probably TO the carelessness Of the weghmaster
and ID the case of very dry sugars placed in a
damp store ouse 10 gain IN weight by absorp-
lion Of moisture. The carelessness with which
the work OF the weighmaster is often done
A. shown by gu instance which occurred few months
ago the OF the same nrn The head Of the house
was present when one OF his car goes weighing
Observing that the wegher mere boy In years, was
ueiRhug very swiftly ana carelessly he went him
.nd asked him cautiously, how the sugar running
Ths how brusduey replied shutting sharply the in
which he was noting the weights, that II against
ms orders To let look at the account IL was
learned that he was OF the regular weghmaster
10 whom hrs father giving practice in weighing
when that sugar sold II was found that overran
the returu In weight two pounds per bag For some
sims the rn feared that the underweghDg was only
trek 20 catch them again; bnt as they have not since
been disturbed they the error TO eareessness
and perisnce IN the wegher aud some gain IN TIE
sugar
The information which started Jayne TO work against
tbis hfm came from q Official who has since been
proved guilty Of fraud in office, and who, II may Dt
necessary 70 ADD no longer In the service Jayne's
hints often came from such The preposterous
OF The charge OF wifu bribery against the firm
account OF the regular fees to is shown
by fact that they never made pretense
OF eonoealment about them They were entered upon
their books markedly al any other item OF
,xpepse. II there had been any notion OF bribery
how easy n would have been to cover the pay
IneDt Of these feos by entering them under suLdry
expenses" other cloak How much the GOV
eTnment lost by the discrepancies In the actual
returned weight of the few cargoes In which
balance wss against the Government Jayne never
stated could only have been very trnng
overbssDeod by the gain In the oargoes where the
weight sale less than by the weighmaserl
Arm, formed the majority Of the esrgoes. This result
from two causes. In trss place weigbmasters
weighing esrgoes Q hurry they often do NOR,
Inclined TO favor the Government than the importer
Asa u snJ spsy eexDes tsen tben sareiessaess u II