Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-14
Trusted Not Wisely
But Too Well, Was McMullen's
Difficulty.
A sTUPENDoUs STEAL REPORTED

Conservative Estimates Foot 1t Up at &c.
900, 900 In Ten Years, While Others In
sist IL Will Go to see, 200, OOO-The New
York Custom House Declared To Be
Very Rotten in the Appraisers Depart
ment-FairchiId and.
NEW YORK, Jan. 1.-THE amount of the
stealing in the New York custom house is
varously estimated at from s5, 00O, 900 to
500, Goo 00O 1t will not be known until the
special treasury agents submit their final
reports how long period is covered by this
tremendous joLbery, but it is known that the
special agents reports refer more particul-
arly to the amounts stolen than many sup
pose. They have NOS only investigated the
methods by which this stealing had been
done but they have .radually computed the
amounts taken, aud endeavoring to dis
cover the channels through which this cor
ruption flowed The stealngs in opium aud
sugar form the greater bulk of the whole
sale robbery. 1t is also stated that anliine
DIVES have been a rich harvest to corrupt peo-
ple in and out of the service Substantial bank
accounts have been started by the leaks from
the damage allowance bureau, particularly
where fresh fruits are concerned. But the
| underv aluation i'll silks, woolens, ribbons,
and gloves as well as the generalization of
| The undervaluations of course have been in
| the interest of importers. The overvalua-
| tions have been in the interest of the domes.
| tic goods association. The treasury agents
| believe that the higher amount, SO, 600, 900,
supposed 10 have been stolen, IS exorbitant,
even with the sugar ring in full power They
do not believe that any defnite amount can
| be fixed upon. They are not content to sub
| stantate the present appraisers statement
| that the government has been robbed OF
| miiIlons, and are more inclined TO keep it
within the 500 1900 limit, AMI they an
| nounce the time in which this vas done as
| the last ten years But men familiar with
| the sugar market. old refiners vino were
| driven out ~ methods to which they say
| they would not stoop, calculate the frauds at
| so, 900 900
Secretary Fairchild came to town last
| night. and at the Everett house 1t is
| stated that he is to meet number OF import
| ers of wooden goods, silks, satins ribbons and
| general dry goods men and representatives
| of the sugar trade in conference looking to
the selection of an appraiser of the port.
| Mr.. Steans. the temporary chief, will
| turn to Boston 1t is doubtful If the cand-
| date selected at this time will be confirmed
| by tn senate, but it is announced that the
| secretary and the merchants who confer
| with him viii go ahead Just the same and
| endeavor to select a man against whom
| nothing can be said except that the senate is
| Republican. The appraisers salary is only
| $4,000 year, and this will stand IN the way
| of getting a iirSt-claSs man.
1t Is announced for the special treasury
| agents that thew have all the evidence they
| want to change "the complexion of the di :
| visions IN the appraisers stores before Sat
urday night" 1t is now known that Presi-
| dent Cleveland was asked 10 appoint Mr.
| McMuilen appraiser Of the port IN the full
| flush OF the civil service reform days Mr..
| McMuilen. it was urged by Naval Officer
| Burt, had been in the service as examiner
| for many years He was the dean of the ex-
aminers and entited to the pl c. 10y promo
| ton. Mr.. Burt, it is declared, took the
! documents to Washington, which resulted in
| Mr. McMulien'S appointment Ii is now EN-
phaticaliy stated that Mr.. Manning regretted
the appointment icHs before he died and
| that Mr.. Fairchiid on becoming secretary
| quickly began to dlStrust its wisdom 1t
was fearei that Mir McMulinn's old
friendships among the >ubordInates would
| rctard the Investigations which Mr.. Man
| ming and Mr.. Fairchild had determined to
make. McMuilen had been the intimate of
| the men whose methods had been quest Toned,
| and 1T was quickly parent that he would
lend no aid IN bringing to light the affairs of
| their departments They were his friends,
| he said, and lac believed they were all honest
men. The efforts of Chief Holahan aud his
men 80 get evidence were numbered aud
blockaded by Mr.. McMullen's confidence,
and things ran along until the national cam
psign was almost upon the administration
1t was not considered adv isable. then to act
until the battle had been decided but whether
Mr.. Cleveland was reelected or not VI
McMulen was booked for removal