Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-19
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49,. Norh Times

How M,usrn Merchants "et r"'a'''
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New York Tines
Customs officers bring grave charges
os fraud against certain western mer-
chants, whom they accuse OF having
brought into the country dutiable goods
from Germany under false pretences'
chicago merchants arc the chief offend
ers. A week ago New York officer,
sent TO Chicago under instructions from
Special Agent Peck, Of this port, seized
. quantity of these goods, and investi-
cations made before and since warrant
the customs officers, it is said, IN declar-
inc that the frauds committed aggregate
losses Of many thousands OF dollars 10
the National Treasury. Thegoods frau
dulently entered are known as potato
starch and potato-tlour. used largely IN
ouring hams in the West. serving as the
basis for many Of the popular baking
powdcrs. and much used by CONNECTION
srs. II is liable to a duty Of two
cents a pound, being shipped here from
Germany in bags containing about 30
pounds each. There also comes from
abroad what is known as "siited isrl-
ra." which may be entered free OF all
duty. In New York there are many
importers of both Of these goods, and
until quite recently New York has had
a biz trade in reselling the potato-hour
10 Chicago and other western merchants.
But some time ago the western de-
mand suddenly fell oil, and New York
merchants found themselves heavy
losers by their investments through
heavy impoitations. No evidence could
be obtained TO show that Chicago was
importing potato-hour direct without
the use Of New York middlemen, but
Chicago merchants al the while were
showing big stocks e the imported
goods, and at cent or more per pound
under the New York price. This made
New Workers suspicious, and Special
Agent Peck wa asked to make an oili-
cial investigation. His work disclosed
...s tsc; g., rinir t.,.,v-ii'.i ~ noe
heirr iu~o-'ed. lsr-e -0r ifemg (
sif,ed latina we're coming ghi along,
free Of all duty, addressed TO western
importers.
Goods for Chicago. New Haven, and
certain other inland places are classcd
IN shat il known as " nter-transporta-
ton. " and sent through TO their dcsti-
nation a. soon a. they arrive here,
without the interference Of New York
customs officers. At the place Of des-
tination local customs officers have
charge Of the goods before delivery,
and with them rests the duty Of exam
nation and appraisement. The silted
farina" for Chicago has been re-
ceiying this sort of treatment,
though it seems that Chicago officers
aeccmmodatiDgly gave little attention
| to examining the goods, for the New
York special agents a week ago dis
covered that the sifted farina" wa
not sifted farina at all, but regularly
made potato -four, liable to duty o
two cents per pound. Two hundred
bags-44,O 900 pounds, subject to duty
of sSSO-were seized in Chicago, con
signed to the Davies Warehouse an'
Supply Company, of that city
Other consignments to the sam
firm were seized in this city yester
day, and the officers have clues to
much greater quantity delivered during
the past year. Arrests will be mad
in Chicago. A number of firms ar
suspected of participation in the crook
edness. Not only at this port, bu
through the ports of Baltimore, Phila
delphia, and Boston, the same class
goods has been received from abroa
and forwarded for inter-transporta
ton "West, and over so, 600 bags are bt
lieved to have been Struggled in unde
false entry within the last twel'
months,