The morning call., 1892-07-09
WITHOUT AUTHORITY.
Chinese Stores Searched by Pri.
yate Citizens.
Men Employed to Detect Fraud overstep
the Bounds - The Fraud
Fund.

"hnin Tue past month numerous COM
plants have been made by Chinese store
keepers that their places have been entered
ana searched Tor contraband goods by
alleged officers of the Internal Revenue
Department. and in several instances the
comp laints have contained serious allega-
tons during the searches made.
Inquiry into the matter develops state
of affairs existing in one branch of the in
ternai revenue service that seems to need
prompt attention.
Inc Government provides through Con-
gress each year fraud fund.-" to be used
by the Collector of Internal Revenue or one
OF the special agents of that department in
payment OF rewards to citizens who shall
give information concerning frauds being
perpetrated against the revenue laws OF by
revenue officers.
1t has been the custom in this city to ap-
point two or three men as watchers in
Chinatown and pay them salary from the
fraud fund. These men are not Govern
ment officers, however. aud have no more
power under their appointment than an
ordinary citizen. This fact seems to have
been lost sight of, both by Special Agent
Eldridge ami the men he has employed as
spies.
SEARCHING AT WILL.
The latter have entered and searched at
will. IL the testimony Of disinterested wit
nesses and the records of the Collectors
Office can be believed. the houses, stores and
manufactures of Chinese, and in so doing
nave represented themselves time and
again as Government officers. The law
most distinctly says that any Government
officer entering a place for the purpose of
searching II must, upon request of the
owner or occupant, show his commission,
nd oil shof for a.
ages may lie against any person or persons
unlawfully entering upon the premises of a
person and searching the same.
For months past two paid watchers or
spies for fraud, namely, Messrs. Clspp and
Callundan, III the employ OF Special Agent
Eidrldge, are reported as having entered
various places in Chinatown representing
themselves TO be revenue officers, title to
which they had no more right than North
Beach TOekroller.
1t is true they were under salary and en-
ployed to detect and report frauds IL they
could find them. but they were not given
any power as officers.
On June last the appropriation for the
detection OF fraud was exhausted. and
Special Agent Eldridge was notified to dis
charge his watchers until such time as
new appropriation should be made for the
work they were engaged upon.
Clapp and Callundan were dismissed ac-
cordingly. but they did not Cease work
Whatever authority the men may have had
or Imagined they had from the fact they
were being paid salaries by the Government
certainly ceased when the salaries ceased
and they were dismissed as Government
employees.
WHAT Is OBJECTED TO.
That they should continue and with the
knowledge of the heads of the department
where they were formerly employed to make
searches of suspected Chinese houses is
what the Chinese object to. They argue
that If Clapp and Callundan, upon a sus-
pcion that fraud is being committed, can
enter and search their places at Will. any
and every other citizen who comes along has
tile same right, and they refer to the losses of
searches TO show how soon they would be
Stripped Of everything if every Tom, Dick
and Harry is allowed to go through their
stock whenever Ii pleases him.
Ii Is said the Chinese have entered a Wig
orOus protest through their Minister 1t
Washington to being longer subjected to
raids and searches by unauthorized parties.
Collector Quinn is absent from the city
and could not be seen In regard to the mat
ter. His chief deputy, John L. Youngherg,
said the Collector had no immediate charge
OF the men engaged In watching for frauds
and referred the reporter TO Special Agent
Eldrdge, VINO WAS also found to be away
from the city. 1t was learned, however
that Clapp and Cailundan were not revenue
officers and had not been in the employ of
the department since June last.
As 10 what steps Will be taken in the mat
ter no one could be found who could give
an idea. but the Chinese say they have some
rights at least, and they propose TO see that
hereafter when their houses are entered
and searched the parties doing so shall pro-
duce their commissions.