The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-06-03
SUGAR.
VOLLEOlIoN 0R CUsEOns UFoA IT,
A Letter Prepared AZ an Answer 10 Rx.
sseretaEy SheFmah'a OpInIOn-COnE.
liDEs Brother suSIAIRs EhsrmanS
Course = Text or the Letter.

NEw York, June 2.-At Q meeting ei
the Chamber Of Commerce, to-day, Mr..
James NJ. Brown, banker, presiding,
resolutions were adopted declaring that
the system Of examination for appoint.
ment to places In the Custom House which
has ruled during the last few ysarS, has
been Of substantial value to the msrcAn-
tile community, and Rhould be continued
and extended.
The committee, appointed to prepare .
reply 10 Secretary shsrmAn's letter to the
Chamber, last February, In reference to
the collection OF duties on sugar, presents
ed their report, They declare the SeCreta.
ry's letter, ,evaslve, as no attempt was made
10 It to reIute the facts sell forth on behalf
Of importers,
Referring 10 the trial ol the test case OF
Welsh va. Merritt, at the last term OF the
United States Circuit Court, they says
"In the trial oil the test case, the impofi-
ers' offered no evidence whatever In Iebut-
tal OF the testimony OF the Treasury wit.
uesses. They claim they we're conducting
their business with, the law and were
satisfied to rest their case eoley on the
law. The court sustained the importers
and Notwithstanding oil the evidence In.
troduced by the Treasury directed the
jury TO find verdict for the plaintiffs,
We make point oi the result OF this
trial because Il 10 the direct refutation Of
the allegation set forth by Mr.. Sherman In
his letter and confirmation Of the position
taken by the chamber. Il 10 conceded on
all hands for the purpose of evadirg
the duties, It 10 q fraud TO color sugar
after 1t becomes sugar. Scientific treasury
agents told the secretary that sugar be.
came sugar % soon % the crystals formed
In the entire product from the cane, but
OF course this was not the sugar
OF commerce and 90 far the
court has sustained the position
1.-THE merchants upon which 90 q matter
OF law they rest their case, namely, that
90 long % the article In question 10 sugar
OF commerce its color by comparison with
the duties Of standard, Ia the sole test ot
the dutiable classification. In conclusion
the Commissioner remarked that the
Treasury Department cannot secure the
kindly aid and good will olthe merchants,
for which Sherman expressed Q desire,
when the merchants are in o wholesale
way cIarged with fraud, and without any
evidence In support OF the charge.
Col. Frederick A. Oonkllug, brother OF
ex-senator Conkling, made long speech,
In which he upheld the course ol eecFeta.
ry Sherman In refusing TO resClnd bis
order Of September ID, or refund the
alleged excess duties on sugar, collected
under its provisions. The committees re.
port was then adopted, Colonel Oonkling
alone voting In the negative. The letter
read from James L. Ward & Co., endors-
ing the copy Of the letter sent BY them 70
Secretary Window, regarding the refusal
Of Collector Merritt 10 grant the clearance
10 their SteamBhip, Newport, on the
ground Of smuggling by the members Of
OF the crew. Ward & Company say, I'VE
claim that the Interpretation given TO
the United States laws by the
officers administering the law divI'
sion OF the Custom House 10, 10 say the
least, an unfair one, % we cannot believe
II was the intention Of any government
or Legislature 10 make the innocent suffer
for the guilty. Further than this these Of.
6cers decline 10 prosecute the men caught
In the act Of smuggling, but claim the
right 10 hold the ship and her master for
the otfense when the written report Of the
officers making one seizure stated that
segars were found on the person Of some
OF the crew, who were attempting to land
them. Thus they desire 10 make our Cap'
tains and officers revenue officers without
pay, and our ships bondsmen for them"
The letter was referred and the Chamber
adjourned until October.