Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-08-20

law-abiding citizen, was entitled. The
head of the revenue bureau, in that
spirit of leniency he always exhibits
towards good Republicans who helped
to make the fraudulent Administra
tration, informed Marks Of the affidavit
and its contents and, it is said, even
went so far as to send him the docu
ment himself The Collector immedi
ately came to Washington, and, Of
course, nothing was easier than fol
him to explain everything to Raum'i
satisfaction. Marks returned to Now
Orleans, and resumed the collection ol
revenue for himself and pals, and the
Flores affidavit was pigeon.holed.
The next exposure came from the
tobacco dealers who belonged to th,
ring. Marks having discovered that
the fraudulent Administration was moi
disposed to interrupt him in his fraudu
lent course, made autocratic use Of hi:
power; he increased his Assessments
to such burdensome figures that the
dealers could not afford to pay th,
amounts and continue business. They
conferred together and concluded that
honesty was the best policy that II
was cheaper to pay the Government
than to pay Marks, and decided tC
abandon the ring. There was but one
course open TO them to make con
fession, promise compliance with the
law for the future and promise com
promises for past offenses. The course
was pursued, and the revenue com.
missioner could not disregard the con
fession OF the ring.
Gen. Webster, one of the most
courageous and reliable agents in the
revenue service, was sent to New Or
leans and the first thing he met was a
proposition to pay him $4,000 if he
would report that everything was oil
right. He Indignantly spurned the
offer, and gave notice that he meant 10
perform his duty. Soon afterwards an
attempt was made to assassinate him,
but nothing daunted he pressed right
forward and procured evidence enough
to convict Marks and every officer
under him Gen. Webster came back
to Washington, and reported to Raum
that Marks and his assistants were "an
internal set of scoundrels the worst
he had ever met in the whole course
of his official experience" lie recon.
mended the immediate dismissal OF
Collector Marks and every man under
him, and the prosecution of the entire
lot for robbing the Government. In
the hope that different character OF q
report might be obtained, one iavora-
BILE to Marks, an agent of the Depart
ment Of Justice was sent TO New Or.
leans to investigate. Gen. Raum was
not satisfied to act upon Gen. Webster's
report. The second agent, after in
vestigation, reported the same rascally
condition of affairs that Gen. Webster
had discovered. 1t seems that Web
ster himself did not have too much
confidence in the integrity Of the
Revenue Bureau he was not willing
TO rely upon ITS action, but took pains
to lay the evidence he discovered be-
fore the United States grand jury in
New Orleans. Here was dilemma the
ring crowd had not anticipated. Marks
had been directing his entire influence
towards the Revenue Bureau. He at
once appealed to the United States
District Attorney Leonard, who, no
doubt, was sbarer in the spoils, and
he ordered the grand jury to summar.
lily adjourn. The jury refused TO obey
the order and Leonard brought them
before the Court and asked Judge Bill
lings to issue an order directing them
to disband. Billings. the willing tool
of all the rings, promptly issued the
order, which brought Gen. Kirby, fore.
man of the jury, to his feet He in.
formed the Court that evidence of the
most damning character had been laid
before the jury against certain high
Federal officials, and if the jury was
ordered to disband, the Court must as.
sumo the entire responsibility. Billings
said that, under the circumstances he
would withhold the order, ard the
grand jury resumed its labors. But
that very afternoon telegram was re-
ceiycd from Attorney-Gen Devens,
ordering the grand jury to disband.
This order had to be obeyed, and
Deyens, Marks and his pals escaped
prosecution.
Gen. Webster, since his return TO
Washington, has spoken his mind
freely. He has openly denounced the
frauds in New Orleans, and said that
he would go TO New Orleans next
Winter and prosecute Marks upon his
own hook, If the Government allowed
him TO escape.
Just about the time of the enforced
adjournment Of the grand jury, telc.
grams were sent IRON Now Orleans
and from Washington to the press,
stating that the revenue agents or
officials had discovered extensive frauds
among the tobacco dealers in New
Orleans that would result in saving the
Government largo sums Of money.
This was part OF scheme TO cover up
what was being done TO save Marks
and his officials from the consequences
Of their robberios, and TO direct public
attention 10 the wrongs Of the tobacco
dealers, as If they were alone in their
frauds.
A few days before the adjournment