The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-15
Undervaluation Frauds.

The New York correspondent of the Balti-
more S,tn, under date of July 81, says
Special Agents Tichenor and Jingle were
again in consultation with Mr.. II. Wheeler
Combs and his colleagues of Secretary Man
nings special commission at the general APP
praiser's department today. Mr.. Iichenor
has had wide experience in Europe, where
he served several years investigating the sys-
tenn by which merchants in this country prae-
ticed differentiation frauds, and his contrere,
Mr.. Tingle, is also considered an able officer
They with Mr.. Combs and Messrs. Hyne and
Lapp have, figuratively speaking, rolled up
their sleeves with the positive purpose OF max
ing the investigation thorough and complete
in every detail. One of the objects of Messrs.
Tichenor and Tingle's visit Is to inquire INTO
the personal life of various deputy apprais-
ers, special agents and other customs officials,
who with rather meagre salaries are promi-
nent property holders in this city and Brook
Ign.
The commission will seek to find cut how
the officers have accumulated wealth. Mr..
Tichenor says that an erroneous impression
has gained publicity from the fact that ne
and Mr. Jingle are ito inquire into the per
sonal habits of officials and employees.
Their duties are not to make a sneaking inyes-
tigation of man S private life, as one of Sur
veyor Beatties's deputies thought when, in
answer to a question, he replied, None OF
your Internal business and was Immediately
discharged for INSTRUMENTATION; but the ex-
animation is to be rather in the light and
scope that all judicious bank officials exercise
over their clerks. 1t is well argued that
these deputy appraisers and entry clerks are
not under bonds for the strict and honest
performance of their duties, and 1t is well
known that great frauds have been commit
ted Now, Secretary Manning commission,
on instructions from their Chief want to
know how these frauds were committed;
how they crept into the service and why they
have been allowed to exist. To that end an
investigation as to the ability of an official re-
ceiying $1,000 to 81, 500 per annum to live at
the rate of 81, 600 and $4,000 is to be inquired
into.
One instance where a clerk receiving $500
per annum, who lived at one of the best hotels
in the city, supported family in Brooklyn,
and was courted by all the great actors and
actresses coming here from Europe, is men
toned, and scores of other instances are to
receive attention. The fact that on racing
DAYS at Long Branch or Sheepshead Bay
some of the departments are nearly depleted
of clerks, and business seriously hlndered by
these Wholesale vacations is not to be forgot
ten. Instances where customs brokers acting
for their clients, and having complained OF
hardness and inattention, and who for so do
ing were marked men even by heads OF de-
partments, and were subject thereafter to the
grossest diseourtesy and other evidences of
resentment, are to receive attention. As to
the pecuniary standing of certain officials,
honest merchants here think such an lnvesti-
cation eminently proper, and Appraiser
McMullen and others, whose names for lnteg-
rity and fidelity have never been questioned,
heartily coincide with the views of the Secre-
tary
1t is thought that Special Treasury Agent
Ayers department will receive thorough
overhauling. The fact that he has been in
Office since last fall, when he succeeded Capt.
Bracket and that between fifty and sixty
steamers have arrived at this port from for
eicn countries every week, and that yester-
day, the very day that Messrs. Tichenor and
Tingle arrived, Mr.. Ayrer made his first i'm
portant seizure, is regarded as rather sgnit-
can't Mr.. Ayrer's integrity has never been
questioned, but it is declared that he is in
competency personifed. Mr.. Ayrer, in the
opinion of many merchants, while a cordially
courteous officer, lacks acumen, an ability TO
detect wrongdoing, and as compared with
CAPTAIN Brackett who was brusque but eff
cient, is decided contrast. The jewelers. OF
Maiden lane, John street and Broadway say
they have complained for months that SNUG
Cling and undervaluations were seriously IN
turing honest dealers, and in many instances
names were furnished to customs officers, but
not until yesterday were steps taken to sup
press the nefarious business. The aides to
Commissioner Combs will ask all about this,
and altogether there is not very comfortable
and serene feeling in customs circles in this
city