The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-21
THEY EXPECT GREAT THINGS
CUSTOMS OFFICERS AWAITING THE
COMING OF FOSTERS COMMISSION.

Frnud, drunkenness, Meddling, md Inesa.
cheney Among the ChnrRes to De InSesti.
GATED Tuesdays Arrests ON rensury
Agent whitehead Com plants.
The mysterious prisoner. who was arrested
on Tuesday night In connection with the al
legged undcrwcighing frauds in the Custom
House. was released in $4,000 bail by Com
missioner Shields yesterday. His name is
John Fortman. and he is clerk In the employ
OF Carl Won pustnu & Co.. Custom House
brokers OF 1874 Pearl and 100 Water streets.
Otto Schneider. member OF the firm OF Carl
Won PGstau & Co.. was arrested when he
showed up ut his place Of business yesterday
morning on similar charges. He, too was re-
leased In $4,000 bail. There Is still an arrest
to DO made. 1t is understood.
Both arrests were made OH tho complaint OF
Special Treasury Agent George W. Whites
head. He charges in one instance that on or
about Dec. %. 1901. Clerk John Fortman raid
Assistant Weigher Edward W. Simmons S13O
to induce him to undcrwcgh a shipment Of
flrecrackcrs from Hong Kong which arrived
here OH Nov u. In tho second warrant
Custom House Broker Otto Schneider is
charged with having done the bribing per-
sonally.
Tho importation. consisting of 1854 cases Of
frccrackors was appraised Mt S2l.COO. 1t Is
charged TINT the guilty onos connived at an
rndcrweiGhng of tho packages averaging
three pounds n package. swindlins Uncle sam
lcctor Hendricks on March 81. He was np:
pointed to the customs service in 1882. Chief
Whitehead has seized 4.4UO cases OF tho i'm
The com misson.consisting of Collector Hen.
bricks. Naval Officer Willis. surveyor Lyon. and
Appraiser Cooprr. appointed by Gen. y. l..
Spnnlding. acting Secretary OF tho Treasury.
TO simplify and improve the methods 2f bust
ness. will have their first session on Monday
Surveyor Lyon is at homo i'll. hut will lo on
hand. Tho history of the Custom House since
fne 90 .h' fran and
service. The mcddling OF the Treasury Agents
With Appraiser Gooner greatly upset thnEs.
hardt with his Reruhlican brethren, created
friction. md the fact thgt he was at Logger
Cooper o snhanced Tie difleulties. Yet oo Er-
hnr,!t fought hard for honesty in the service.
n, TsG bsr na ths 4as rds aT 81 H. efEsS
s,wecring reduction of tho force. esrecniiy In
| attention to the entries. 1t is now proposed to
appoint more clerks in tho entry, division
not been sufficient supervision over the. siaT
| Of .weighcrs and Gnu:crs. Eight assistant
weiEhers have alrendy nesn removed fer com-
plicity in tho CutnJar uadcrwei Ching frauds.
| Some of Surveyor Lyons. highest snbordi.
| mates have been mixed up ~ tic scandnl. At
the proner time they will nll DO brought up
Tho commission will devote, much Of its
time TO tnc Appraisers StOTcS new 1OTk anu
| other merchants have complained bitterly Of
| tie conduct OF certain assistant appraisers
| and examiners. The Secretary has also evil
| to Il startling extent. Indeed. the drink uues-
| tion has been constant source OF annoyance
! to those in authority. Several removals have
! been made recently on the ground that the
| incumbents had been seen frequently in pub
! lie places under the influence Of liquor. Some
| OF the delinuuents are men high up in the
| Appraisers counsel
| The interest in tho situation ut the Ap.
of yuno .na or voc orHu n pt
| any time before. because Of tho talk that be-
| fore Secretary Foster left Washington for Ohio
| the presence Of tho President oyer the pro:
posed appointment Of William Leaycrnft Of
| Tracy has requested the resident to appoint
Leaycraft. While the office is presidersial
anGointmSnt; it is not iois Customary y. t. nrront
| mcndntion of tho Secretary Of the Treasury.
| Secretary Foster was willing to Cl'lise Gen.
Tracy until he was informed Of Leaycrafts
record. He Their declined to give his sanction.