Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-07-31
rhs Pollack TOBACCO Matter.

YESTERDAY afternoon the revenue Off
GERS of this city transmitted 10 Commits
sioner Raum complete report OF the
result of their investigation OF the facto-
nv of Mr.. Augustus Pollock, at the
Moundsvile Penitentiary. The report
set forth that in certain packages they
could not tell how many of smoking to-
bacco known as "Pollack's Standard"
and "Seal OF West Virginia." there was
a slight overweight, averaging four
ounces to the pound. They closed the
report with a statement OF their opinion
that Mr.. Pollack was innocent OF any in
tention to defraud the government OF a
cent, and spoke in the highest terms OF
the previous business intercourse be-
tween him and the department. They
further advanced several theories to ac-
count for the overweight, and which
will be found below.
Last evening REGISTER representa-
tive called upon Mr.. Pollack at his
Office, and desired to know of him what
he might have to say to clear away the
misunderstanding. He was found feel
ing acutely the momentary shadow
upon his reputation, but rejoicing IN
the disappearance of the clouds and the
re-establishment of confidence III him
by the revenue officers.
GAS to any intention to defraud," he
went on to explain, ''it does not exist,
and this little affair, unpleasant as it is,
NAV be good thing after all when the
years settlement comes up. III, for in
stance, | turn over $50, 600 pounds of to-
bacco to be worked by the hands at the
penitentiary, and the settlement at the
end Of the year shows only 100000
pounds to have been manufactured, |
must pay the tax on the shortage at the
full rate of taxation, sixteen cents since
and twenty-four previous to the LIST OF
Nav. Now all OF this coming at once
at the end OF the year would have been
ruinous.
"Now as to the theory of how the
overweight occurred. The hands are
always in hurry, and when the tobac-
co is thrown upon the scale they only
see that the pan sinks, then hurry it
out without waiting for an adjustment.
They don't care whether it is right or
not, or whether they get me into trouble
er not. They are convicts and cannot
sink any lower, and have nothing TO
fear. am responsible for their actions
and YOU can readily see how it is.
"Tnese same hands that work up the
smoking tobacco formerly handled scrap
or clippings, and in so doing contracted
a habit of gathering so many handfuls
to certain weight. This will not work
with the smoking tobacco and it has
been corrected, but when not closely
watched they will do it. / very seldom
90 to the factory down there, but once
tested the weight and found it correct
So | suppose they were careful during
INV presence and negligent when my
back was turned.
Another important fact is that this
tobacco is packed when damp and due
allowance must be made for the loss OF
weight by evaporation. liza uniformity
Of dampness does not exist the weight
must be changed to correspond. Four
ounce packages weighed four years ago
and now will show a marked difference
and a nicely of calculation is necessary
to hit the correct weight.
"Col. Kellogg and Gen. Duvall as
sured me over again of their satisfaction
of the non-existence of any intention to
deiraud the revenues. You may see
that the only person defrauded is my
self, as | lose four ounces to the pound.
And that it was not done as COMPETE
ton is evident from the fact that both
brands of this tobacco are new and are
running no competition. | have been
complimented by Gen. Raum upon the
good standing of our house, which
this little misunderstanding cannot al
feet. Our smoking tobacco manufact-
ure is but a small portion OF a business
which turns out over 100000 cigars
annually. But wish, Mr.. REGISTER,
that you would not put this interview
in the paper"
But as Mr.. Pollack's statements are
substantiated by the revenue officials,
We feel justified in making them public.