Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-31
WORSE THAN TIE FEVER.
ANOTHER BATCH OF vILLAINoUs LOU
IsIANA FRAUDS.


IsIANA FRAUDS.
Hoo Hayes Friend Mdrks is Running the
Rerenue Office at Ne,o Orleans Tile
Government Robbed Ont Of
House and Home.
About year ago Morris Marks, who
figured conspiouously in the steal of the
electoral vote OF louisiana for Hayes,
was appointed internal revenue collec.
tor at New Orleans. The protests of all
tho decent citizens of Louisiana against
the appointment availed nothing I;
Marks services AS n Hayes elector and
as valuable tool OF the returning
board could not be overlooked by the
Administration who proiited by his
frauds. The appointment was severely
criticised by even Republican papers,
and those who knew Marks well pre-.
dicted that the Government would not
derive much revenue from his depart.
ment. Marks, Immediately upon get
ting into office, surrounded himself with
congenial spirits, all of whom had taken
Il hand in the crime of stealing Hayes
into the Presidency, and at once began
to provide for an era of good stealing.
The revenues of the Government were
pocketed by this gang of "civil ser
vice officers, but the reputable people
of New Orleans made no fuss about it,
because they had expected nothing
else. Marks operations, however,
finally came into collision with the busi.
ness interests of citizen, and he did
make n fuss.
Some months ago Mr. Flores, lead.
1. -
forwarded To- the revenue bureau in
Washington an affidavit setting forth in
detail the thieving operations of Marks
and his gang. This affidavit stated that
Marks had formed a tobacco ring in
New Orleans composed of many OF the
dealers and manufacturers there that
instead of paying the revenue duties
imposed by law to the Government in
the regular way, the money was all put
into IA pool and divided among the
ring. Mr.. Flores complained that this
gave the ring advantages over dealers
who are complying with the law, and
that the latter would be forced out Of
business unless the revenue bureau at
Washington interposed to enforce the
law. The aiiiant offered To furnish cyi-
AtllNt W VIC fNshN'AlNf W Nitt llllEt bilh
insisted upon the protection to which
he, As a law.abiding citizen was entitled.
The head OF the revenue bureau, in
that spirit of lenicncy he always ex.
hibIts towards good Republicans who
helped to make the fraudulent Admin.
istration, informed Marks of the aitida-
Wit 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 for him
to explain everything TO Raum's salts,
faction. Marks returned to New Or.
leans, and resumed the collection Of
revenue for himself and pals, and the
Flores affidavit was pigeon holed.
The next exposure came from the to.
bacco dealers who belonged to the ring.
Marks having discovered that the
fraudulent Administration was not dis.
posed TO interrupt him in his fraudu.
lent course, made autocratic use of his
power; he increased his assessments to
such buTdensome figures that the deal.
ers could not afford to pay the amounts
and continue business. They conferred
together and concluded that honesty
was the best policy; that 1t was cheaper
to pay the Government than to pay
Marks. and decided TO abandon the
ring. There was but one course open
to them to make confession, promise
compliance with the law for the future
and promise compromises for past of.
fenses. This course was pursued, and
the revenue commissioner could not
disregard the confession of the ring
Gen. Webster, one Of the most couT.
ageous 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 all
right. lie Indignantly spurned the
offer, and gave notice that he meant to
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 uu.
der him. Cen Webster came back to
Washington, and reported to Raum that
Marks and his assistants were ian in.
fernal set of scoundreIs; the worst he
had ever met in the whole course Of his
official experience" He recommended
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 a- different character Of report
might bo obtained, one favorable to
Marks, an agent Of the Department Of
Justice was sent to New Orleans to in.
vestigate. Gen. Raum was not satisfied
to act upon Gen. Webster's report. The
second agent, after investigation, re-
ported the same Tascally condition Of
affairs that Gen. Webster had discover.
ed. IL seems that Webster 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 before the United States
grand jury in New Orleans. Here waa
a dilemma the ring crowd had not an.
ticipated. Marks had been directing
his entire influence towards the revenue
bureau. lie at once appealed to United