Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-02-19
AN INVESTIGATION
BRING YApB AT BLOOH'S MAIL POUCH"
TOBACCO WORKS
The Big Plant Temporarily in the Hands Of the
Goyernmsni-In Indictment Found-OVsr-
weight Packages Cause the Trouble

the officials in this State was not improb-
able event.
Later, when the United States grand
Jury convened at Parkersburg, the matter
was laid before that body, and two Of the
employees of the frm-young ladies-were
taken down for the purpose of giving evil
deacs. Their evidence was not taken,
but the grand jury reported an indict-
meat.
This matter was kept very quiet, and
nothing more appeared on the surface un'
til Monday, wheu United States Marshal
II S White, and two or three Of his
deputies, an internal revenue special
agent, District Attorney Sturgiss and Col
lector Of Internal Rsvenus A. B. White,
arrived in the city. Daring the Gay
several of these officials went down to the
plant of the tobacco firm, on Forty fret
street, and there, acting under instructions
from Washington, the plant was taken
possession of in the name Of the govern
msnl.
These facts became known during the
day, end occssioned a good deal OF excite
ment and gossip in the circles where
known. The REGISTER was fully cOeni-
zlnt of what had taken place, but at The
request of the parties interested, no publ
cation of what was going on was made
Possibly none wOnld have been made this
morning., had not the matter been tele-
eraphsd 10 a Pittsburg paper, in sensa-
tlonsl and erroneous form. under date Of
Petersburg, the Telegram, however, p,Obs
ably coming from some other point.
This publication added a great deal TO
the excitement throughout the city, and
during the day there was an immense
amount Of talk. Rumors of every imagin-
able description, and of the most seDsa-
tiOnal character, were floating around,
and one could hear the widest stories re-
lated with gravity by citizens who were
willing TO be qualified as TO the general
truth of what they we're asserting.
As in oil snoh cases these stories were
generally either out Of whole cloth, or had
but the most slender foundation.
During the day q reporter for tie REG
IsTER called on Aaron Bloch, of the firm,
and that gentleman made the following
statement:
"Our understanding of the complaint
which lei the government 10 investigate
our factory is that the two and four ounce
packages have been found, in some in
stances, 10 coatain an overweight OF to-
bscco. Ii this is the case, il has occurred
through accidental and careless packing.
Il is evident that Bloch Bros have been
losers instead Of gamers by an overweight
10 sales, aud that there could bs no I'm
proper motive Tor dong what il COM
planned of. Messrs Bloch Bsos think
that when the facts come to be undo
stood, which will not require more thso q
few days, there will be no iutiher irouble."
Attic factory, yesterday, a representa-
tive Of the government was 10 charge,
while two Deputy Marshals, Messrs. Jones
And Devine were at the factory last night.
Toe works were running yesterday, but
il was explained that tobacco which had
bsen in process of manufacture when the
seizare was made, was being worked up,
10 prevent loss, ard it WAS intimatsd that
then, in the event that no settlement had
been reached, the works would be shut
down until such time as there wss set
Element of the difficulty.
Enquiry as 10 the matter slowed that
the overweight packages were noticed sew
erel months $50, and that seizure OF such
tobacco was made in Pittsburg by the in
ternsl revenue agents. This was the be-
ginning Of an investigation by the internal
revenue officials. In tie meantime, how
ever, the United Siates Marshsl and the
District Attorney began proceedings on
their own account, which ended in the in
dictmert found at PdIkersburg. Ii is
known that these latter proceedings were
deprecated by the revenue officials, who
were convinced that action by the author
tiles Of the Court would tend to greatly
comphcate the situation, and it is
b lieyed that they asked for q post
po1emeut Of legal proceedings. This pest
ponement could not he secured, however,
and matters we're probably pTecipitated,
all the officials, both Of the Marshal's
staff aud IN the revenue service, coming to
the city, Monday, a. has been stated.
Marshal White and the District Attorney
LEFT the city yesterday, but they
are expected back in day or two-possi-
bly, to-dsy. Internal Revenue Collector
A. B White il still here, and will remain
for quite a while. United S.ates Internal
Revenue Commissioner John W. Mason
will also arli.o IN the city to day, having
been summoned from Washington, ia or
der that the situation might be laid be.
fore him personally.
Revenue Collector White was seen by
reporter last evening. He declined to
make any statement whatever for publca-
ton, saying he was simply acting under
Instructors and did no, care TO talk. He
would not even sdmis that the Govern
ment was in possession Of the plant OF the
Messrs. Bloch Bros. Marshsll White, be-
fore his departure, was equally reticent,
declining to make any statement for the
press. Iu fact, both officials deprecated
any Publicity whatever.
The Messrs Bloch manufacture 'scrsp"
tobacco solely, the product Of their im-
mense works being many hundred thous-
and pounds in the course of year. TIE
tobacco is put up in packages of two end
four ounces in weight, and the product, in
this form, is familiar to Every lover of the
wesd throughout the United States. The
factory is the largest of its kind in the
country. The allegation on the psrt of the
government is that these packages have
been sent out to the trade overweight;
that 10, two and half or three ouncss have
been pat il q two ouucs package, and five
or six Ounces 10 four onnee package. The
government is out the tax on the tobacco
forming this overweight. The packages
ara filled by girls, who work at long
tables, each with scaleP, ard other weigh
ing and filing apparatus, before her, and
the firm claims that in the hurry aud rush
of business packages have been filed with
more tobacco than sbould be contained in
them.
This is about the situation. The firm
have retained az COUNSEL Messrs. Hubbard
and Russell, Caldwell x Caldwell, G. W.
Atkinson, B. B. DOvener and, rumOr has
il, General n. G0h.
The factory Of the Messrs. Bloch is an
immense affair, their hnildi5gs being the
lsrgsst in the city, and about three hun
dred and fifty people are employed. 1t is
a matter of grea! regret to all our people to
hear of the trouble into which the Messrs
Bloch Bros. have fallen, and il is the hope
Of all that they may come out Of the diff
Guilty unscatbed. The firm has built up a
great Industry among us, and have
achieved a grest success in the business
world.