New-York tribune., 1886-04-24
THE TROUBLE OVER SPECIAL AGENTS.

THE TROUBLE OVER SPECIAL AGENTS.
REGULARITY OF THE SEARCH OF THE wERRA-
SUSPENDED OFFICERS REINsTATED.
The report Published In THE TRIBUNE Yesterday
about an investigation of charges against some OF
the special agents by order of the Secretary OF the
Treasury caused general surprise, and furnished
topic of interesting discussion at the custom rouse
IL IA characterized another step In the mover
effort that some of the heads OF departments nave
been making to get rid of the speclal agents
department OF to make the agents subordinate 10
the Surveyor As merchant expressed IL;
Surveyor Beate Intends have nothing but Beattie
ism in his department. He is jealous OF the special
In detecting smuggling which his own officers failed to
discover in their ichngs aud this reflects upon
being independent OF the local officers here and
ne doesn't intend to have the secretary coming mere 70
Beaties nsgaton that the Collector got the secretary
issue tne Oetopsl npasS his spervon It did
take away some OF their powers and understand that
h"nsst Of Srnaing the matter to the attention OF the
Chsmber OF Commerce for an expression OF opinion.
None OF the Custom House officials cared to talk
had not the privilege. The statement was made on
Thursday that the special agent who searched ne
North German Lloyd steamship Werra had not hrst
obtained permission from the German Consul, but
This was disprOved by documents on hle in that
office. The application of the special agent dated
April /. read
have the honor to inform you of my intention to search
the steamship werra from Bremen due IN order
LANDING S s s9y scOounted o
Oh the ships manifest
The reply sent by the German Consul-General
vast
This s to certify that, In conformity with Article XII.
OF the Consular Convention between Germany and the
United States due notice has been given by the custom
House authorities Of this Port to the Consul OF
the Empire in order to proceed with the search
Of the steamship Werra
This disposes of the statement made at the Custom
House that the officers had violated one of the
principal clauses of the treaty. but the Collector
maintains that such applications shall be made by
him One of the officers of the company stated
that the special agent had received evidence-and
IL was strong enough to warrant search OF that
vessel-that there weie diamonds worth several
thousand dollars on the Werra, which were not
entered on the manifest. and were intended to be
smuggled on shore. The special agents went on
board to search the vessel ana one OF tne
room and requested the purser TO remain there tiu
the captains room was searched. lit was pre- pre-
purser in his room After searching the captains
room the special agent and his assistants returned
to the purser's loom. They opened the safe and
found only eight packages OF diamonds when there
should have been ten. The purser SAID that he dld
not know where the other two packages We're 14e
search was continued by the agents officers. In
one of the staterooms which was locked they found
the two missing packages of diamonds hidden back
ofthe berths. Two of the officers who assisted tho
special agent were Adrian V. Bergen and John H.
Schoonover inspectors in the Surveyors Depart
ment The Surveyor recommended TO the C0iiector
that they be removed for disobediencc OF orders IN
Co operating with the special agent without hrst
being ordered to do so by the Surveyor Ihe Col
lectOr suspended them aud requested Acting Secre-
tary of the Treasury faircbild TO approve theiI
removal Instead of this the Collector was ordered
on Monday to restore the two men and they were
on duty yesterday. - =, ,,,
pear from some recent statement that the Treasury
Department does not have much confidence In the
efficiency and good Judgment OF either opeciai
Agent Peck or Surveyor Beattte. Letters are CON
stantly received by the special agents IN New-York
telling Of goods smuggled by the ohcers OF steam
ship lines. Since the present ADMINISTRATOR came
into power this method of smuggling, which mas
always prevailed moreor less has greatly increased
owing to the general belief that this was Free
Trade Administrator, aud that IT would be iax I'D
enforcing the law. For that reason Secretary aan-
ming and Assistant Secretary Farchlld have been
specially anxious that the ofhciais at New-iodK Tx
should be vigilant. 1 he special agents get 20
per cent of the value OF all smuggled articles cap
tured by them.
MANY ELEPHANTS IN CENTRAL PARK.
A laIg ge tent was erected near the Arsenal and to
the South Of the Carnivora BuIiding in Central
Park yesterday and beneath II were gathered
herd Of fifteen elephants from Barnum's show
and Others manifested an unwingness to start
out THE season in the trip made by the greatest
show on earth" AS there are plenty to hill their
places Mr.. Hutchinson bad conference with the
Park Comm issoners and 1t was decided to perm 1t
the animals to be left under the care OF Supernen-
dent Conkn of the Park Menasorie until they were
several men to take charge of the animals and pro-
yides the food for them.
day evening Most of them moved along quietly
and appeared to be under the impression that they
~sre ont for an evening parade. One largo black
female was unruly and double chain was fastened
about her forefeet TO keep her from interfering
~ith ber COMPANIONS. She showed special antip-
s,hv To- another large elephant the largest OF the
lot. a male with long tusks tipped with I;s. bras.
The male elephant is quiet and sedate,iook t ,h
ANIMAL He regarded the whimsical actions OF thS
black elephant with a diqn6ed indifference and
She mad 70 be chained at some distance from INN
under the tent yesterday. When she oaugntt gt ~ ~
ocoasional glimpse Of him, through the crowd o1