The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-09
CUSTOMS FRAUDS.
What Collector Phelps Says of
the Smuggling.
The Neuberger, Reiss Co. Cases to Be
Thoroughly Investigated-The Collector
Has the List of Invoices.

The list of invoices Of goods received dur
ing the past year by Neuberger. Reiss %
Co. reached Collector Phelps hands late
last evening, too late to allow him to look
over them and make his conclusions.
az do know" he SAID, from what little
did see of it that the frauds must have be-
gun about January 1st last. The list of in
voices goes over two years. but is not COM
plete. Deputy Collector Hill, who left the
service about May or June, 1890, entered
thirty-six of that firms consgnments; then
Deputy Tuttle passed. l believe, dozen.
but the frauds were not going on then. for
the invoices call for woOleDs. silks, cassi-
meres and other costly goods.
About the first of the year such con-
signments appear to have ceased and only
crash 'tOweling' and other cotton goods
were invoiced How many of these were
entered by Deputy Cashin l cannot say. but
| think nearly all. But | don't want to
talk, as have not looked sufficiently into 1T
to be able to say definitely, and wrong
word might do much harm"
SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN.
While the Collector is retieent there APP
pear on the surface many indications that
something will "happen " very soon in the
personnel of the customs service. 1t is said
by DEPUTY Cashln. 1t was not Cashin's
duty to enter goods, that duty having been
assigned by Collector Phelps to Deputy Col
lector Tuttle and his successor, John L.
Dare.
ENTERING THE INVOICES.
Now, what Deputy Collector entered the
goods and ordered the setting aside of GER
tain cases in each consignment for examln-
alton are the next points TO be settled.
There are two Deputy Collectors who may
do this, though to one only was the duty OF
entering goods assigned by Collector Phelps
Deputy Collector Cashin was assigned the
duty Of looking after the warehouses and
the Appraisers store, and to Deputy Col
lector Tuttlr and his successor, John L.
Dare, was assigned the duty OF entering
goods. Though the work of entering the
goods has often been assumed by Deputy
Cashin, he is only supposed TO do so
when Deputy Dare is busy or absent,
which might occur one-fourth of the day.
Likewise the duty OF looking after the Ap-
praiseT's store and warehouses has devolved
upon Deputies futile and Dare but very
seldom.
To the fact that the deputies duties are
sometimes interchangeable Deputy Cashin
points alone as his authority for entering
goods.
MUST BE EXPLAINED.
The invoices were run over one day and
only one in fifty was found to have gone to
Cashin's desk, being entered by him. Ii the
complete list of invoices show this state Of
affairs the Custom-hOuse cannot help but
call on Deputy Cashin for an explanation,
for, as is argued by the Special Agency of
the Treasury it is not likely man presid-
ing as eDtry-collector one-fourth oil the time
would for twelve months receive one firm s
cOnSignments TO pass upon, or. even II he
did, he would not make the mistake In forty
nine consecutive invoices of naming the
cases properly invOiced and releasing the
cases improperly invoced.
In this connection there was suppositlon
at first that the draymen might have landed
the goods at the firms store while en- route
from the wharf TO the Appraisers store,
but this was exploded almost as soon as con-
ceiyed, and more recent developments show
how preposterous such thing was on its
face.
NOT THE DRAYMEN.
First, Government dray stopping in
front or in the rear of a store would be
noted. Second, the case or cases would
have to be thrown off and similar ones.
similarly marked, would have to be substi-
tuted Immediately, for only thirty minutes
are allowed for tine trip from the wharf to
the Appraisers store, and tally Is kept on
each load by telephone, and lastly and most
conelusvey, the fifty conSignmentS already
examined into show that the lots taken to
the Appraisers store were handled by no
less than eleven different draymen.
Altogether the case is envelOped in de-
gree of darkness that only most thorough
investigation can dispel.
GATHERS ASSISTANT.
In speaking Of the appointment of Reuben
II. Lloyd as Special Assistant Attorney,
District Attorney Garter said: AS mat
ter Of fact, legal proceedings against that
firm remain under my management and
control. Mr.. Lloyd was appointed to assist
me, and his appointment was made on my
suggestion and recommendation"