New-York tribune., 1878-12-21
THE SUGAR WAR.

THE SUGAR WAX.
WORK OF SPECIAL TREASURY AGENTS.
APPRAISER BUTCHER sUsPENDs THREE GOVERNMENT
sAMpLERs-REPoRTs OF THE SPECIAL AGENTS
MERCHANTS DISCUSSING THE PROPOSED NEW
TARIFF.
Collector Merritt has received an official letter,
suggesting as a guard against frauds that merchaht
samplers be excluded from Government docks
Appraiser butcher has suspended without pay three
sugar samplers on charges preferred by special
agents. aud it is understood that other removals
will follow Professors Chandler d Ricketts,
furnish some analyses of the sugars controversy
between A. NJ. Earle and the DeCastro and Donner
Refining COMPANY Sugar dealers are divided in
opinion on the proposed new tariff.
RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATIONS.
SUSPENSION OF THREE SUGAR sAMPLERs-CONFEs-
sIoNs OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE GOVERN
MENT HAS BEEN DEFRAUDED.
Much excitement prevailed yesterday III
Custom House circles and in the sugar trade over the
suspension by Appraiser butcher OF three sugar samp
lers upon information furnished by special treasury
agents For several months the special agents have
been investigating the alleged sugar frauds.
Many results OF their discoveries have already
been published in THE TRIBUNE Recently
they nave examining the invoices OF sugar import
ers on file the Custom House, and in several instances
the Government not only in weights, but in cassfca-
fion For six years they claim that these frauds have
been carried on by persons in the employ of sugar i'm
porers brokers and others, who have corrupted Gus
tom House weghers and samplers. Last week General
Curtis laid the evidence collected before the Treasury
Department and a letter was forwarded by Assistant
Secretary French to Collector Merritt in which he SAID
"The Department is informed that certain persons IN
the employ importers brokers ana others nave
engaged in tamperng with the ocers OF the Gus
fDrf he
favorable tne importers and contrary 70 the
kind which may come to your knowledge the authority
vested in as Collector of the Port may be exercssd
for the purpose Of excluding such persons from the
docks and warehouses at which customs Officers are
IT is understood that many samplers will be
excluded from the docks and warehouses; the Coector
nation shall The special agents prepar-
lug list of the suspected persons for the action o. me
Solicitor Robinson have been in the city several
SSs OF he facts
he promptly suspended without pay join Nnge1 ~ 1aco'
These suspensions will be- followed by number OF otner
samplers and weghers special agent remsrklng that
ernment only three found TO be above suspicion
WHAT THE SPECIAL AGENTS SAY.
The special treasury agents claim to have discovered
evidence Of frauds In the classification OF imported
sugars They assert that many samplers and weghers
long IN Government employ have confessed how the
frauds we're committed and who engaged in them.
One of the samplers confessed that in some instances
kept SSeptn'"SS Constantly on the dock from which
to draw samples. FROM this dummy" hogs;
draw sugar which the Government sampler would ac-
cept and turn to the appraiser for classltcaton
and above would be classified not above NO Dutch
standard average loss TO the Government In duties OF
over y cent pound He that tins had been going
for six years the prOh being divided with the samplers
ported 6y special agents to have existed IN claims for
damages. In numerous invoices examined the :. dam
suspicious were aroused, and after careful
examination it was Learned /, that China
Ingredient had been imported and on the presence of
presence OF salt being accep ell by Government emroyes
cas declare that the ved here precisely the
same condition as when Shipped
REPORTS OF EXPERTS on ADULTERATIoNs.
Certified analyses of The refined sugars which
A. NJ. Earle charges aduterated by the DeCasirO
& Donner Refining Company, have been submitted by
Professor c. f. Chandler and Professor p De p Rick
etts These chemists declare that they have care
fully anelyzed the samples OF sugar taken by
% Mr. ssT SS S% ns msGEe9 GESna
n1d IN Ses 1gars no marRd Professor
Ricketts, reports that It contains n and "copper" and Is
decidedly acid test for muratc acid shows to be
present in excess IinclOse the small button OF aoyed
metals extracted from portion OF this sugar"
In certificate OF analysis dated December 10, Profes
sor Ricketts, says that every test made with the sample
marked "l,sl2" 81 indicates the presence OF artificial
sugar" specific reports of the precise amounts
until further experiments are made
petition to Congress Is in circulation on Wal-st ask
ing the trade to unite following amendments TO
the present tariff:
That all sugars not above No. 10 Dutch Standard
in color testing by the pOarlscOpe over 81 degrees,
above No 10 ana not above No 13 Dutch standard III
color, viz ,'2l4c. pound and 25 per cent added
That in lieu OF the duty now imposed upon sugars
above No Is and above No. l6 Dutch standard in
color the duty shall be 2l2c. pound plus the 25 per
in addition theresO according to section g. OF the
Act OF March 3, 1865.
The petition has been signed by YOungs Co.. Watien,
Toe 4 Co.. Moses Taylor & Co. E. D. Morgan Co.;
L. & W. Welsh; Havemeyers & Elder; DeCastro d Don
ner Sugar Refining Co., IL. O. HaVemeyer, manager; +.
o. Mattheisseu & Wirchers Sugar Il fning Co., W. A.
WIechers, vtce-prcsdent; North River sugar Refining
Co., Geo. ii. Moller.
Others in tie trade who do not agree with this propO
ston have prepared memorial, embracing tie follow
Ing the tariff:
Tank-bOtoms, syrups OF sugarcane iulce, meado
and concentrated mOlasse and sugar not above No
l6 Dutch standard in color, 2 cents pound on all
sugar above No l6 Dutch standard In color and on all
refined sugaTloif, cutlOaf Jumps, crushed powdered
gTanuated, and soft white or yellow known as coffee
sugars, cents pound; m0aSses, 3 cents gallon