New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-10
INVESTIGATING THE SUGAR FRAUDS.
RESULTS OF A FORMER OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


AMONG MERCHANTS.
The investigation of the sugar frauds is beng
prosecuted vglantly large force Of special samplers
and welghers having been employed. Two eargoes
against which Information had been lodged we're WIFI
drawn from the public stores on Saturday night and
the sugar mad cast into the boiling pans before the
Government officers could secure samples
gentleman who was in the Appraisers Department
for number OF years, said yesterday: Complaints
were made in 1869 of great frauds in the classification
OF sugars at this port selected as the Govern
ment expert to investigate them found that these
frauds did exist then they do now. MY atteh
ton was called particularly to Demerara SUI
gars, which I found were being imported
of very high Color from 10 10 20 Dutch standard
that some firms aud about the same as are now sus-
peeted were engaged the fraud and that to quiet the
others liberal mfrgin allowed The tariff at that
time named only three numbers, IL, 10 and 20 Dutch
standard the rates Of duty being 3, 49, ana cents
per pound latter for sugars over No 90 The favored
firms had all their sugars passed at cents pound re-
CARELESS OF the color number and the outsiders were
given the odd % cent placed all houses on the same
footing and there was a general complaint The sugar
importers then claimed that sugars should be consd
cred as above No 10 until they had actually reached
color test OF No. Is Dutch standard ana so prevalent
was this belief that called upon by appraisers from
Philadelphia and Baltimore who insisted that this was
the only correct mode of classification My suggestions
were adopted by the Government, and the old system
was broken up. and until my removal in july 1871 the
true classification was enforced The Treasury officials
who are examining into sugar frauds alleged to nave
been committed here have reported TO Washington that
sugars have been passed not above No Dutch stand
ard when they In fact No o. This would Indicate
that the same system is in vogue In classifying SUI
CARS that prevailed in 1869. personally cognlzant
OF the fact that certain firms have been doing great
deal better than this so that the outsiders are getting
only d of cent instead of Z Of cent poundwhle he
ring secure 10 cent pound better than DeoIe
This EXPLANATION will show how important TACT IN lhe
operation the II of cent applied to the grand total
and will do away with the sneeTs OF some sugar dealers
at the paucitY OF the discoveries recently MADE"
There was much excitement in sugar circles yesterday
over the results OF the Investigations by the special
Treasury agents. Several leading importers and roners
suggested the necessity for public meeting OF the
trade in conjunction with the Chamber OF commerce.
TO aid the Government III making stIlct
and impartial investigation and TO rid the trade or al
dishonest practices, they exist H was stated at the
Custom House that private weigher belonging 10
sugar firm had disappeared and fear was Expressed
that several Others whose testimony Is needed might
also leave the city IL is also stated that while warrants
were issued the arrest Of EnOch c. Pcnz, Daniel G.
Pentz and John PenZ, only two were arrested, JOhn
PentZ having left the city