The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-15
10 an article published on the first page

10 an article pubnshen "h 'no "'N fr',
OF to-day's New York Times enutled
"Oficials Accused Of Fraud.
The questions have often been asked,
what Is the reason so little importing
is done at Norfolk and Newport News,
and what Is the main difficulty about
establishing foreign lines OF steamers
from these places? The article referred
to furnishes a sufficient answer. The I'M
dervaluations and corrupt practices or
the New York custom-house make any
profit on such business Impossible be-
cause the importer at Norfolk or New
port News would have TO pay the full
duties, while his competitors In New
York would not. The tariff on most
articles IS so high that small under
valuation will more than equal any pos
sible profit the importer could hope TO
make, and he is put entirely out OF the
race II his competitors are able to Sc
cure. either corruptly or not. favors OF
this kind from custom-house officials.
Nor is II possible Ito say nothing OF the
morality Of the thing for him TO adopt
New York methods. II he did so his
competitors would soon find that their
profitable monopoly was being interfered
with and would send detectives to put
an end TO the competition. We had an
instance Of this shortly after the war
In the case OF the whisky manufacture.
BY corrupting the revenue officials whisky
was made in and around Richmond in
large quantities without paying anything
except n small part Of the tax. but when
the Northern distillers found their bust
ness was being diverted they induced the
Government to prosecute the offenders,
and soon broke the manufacture up en-
tirely. Until the custom-houses arc
honestly managed, so as not TO give New
York greater advantages than other
points. or until the tariff IS changed so
as not to offer such inducements as ii
now does 10 corrupt men to defraud the
Government. It IS in my judgment hope
less TO attempt foreign trade from Vir-
ginia ports. The article appears below.
FREE TRADER.
officials Accused Of Fraud-Grave
Charges Against Treasury Men Made by
the Dry Goods Chronicle.-The Dry
Goods Chronicle Of this city the current
number Of which was published yester-
day, makes a serious charge of corrup-
ton on a large scale in the revenue SER
vice.
The general charge is. first, that there
exists in the appraisers Office OF New
York a combination Of officials acting in
collusion with importers to defraud the
Government by undertaking. imported
merchandise; and. second. that the ac-
tive Instruments of corruption, namely,
certain examiners in the appraisers Of
fee. are protected and supported by an
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. the
special agents OF the Treasury DC9art-
ment. and one or more members Of the
Board Of General Appraisers.
The third charge is that this support
and protection is extended by the supc-
rior officials to their subordnatcs In the
full knowledge OF their dishonesty and
corruption.
None Of these charges affects the APP
pointees Of President Cleveland. but they
relate solely to the officials who We're
left In office at the close Of Mr.. Harri-
sons term.
In support Of its three general charges
the Dry Goods Chronicle makes a dozen
specific charges, accompanying them
with letters. figures and statements.
The eist Of these charges is that
prominent silk importing firm. with the
connvance Of certain customs officials,
has Systematically for number Of years
profted by extensive undervaluations.
Proof Of the undervaluations and of the
guilt of the special examiner and his
superior officials, 1t was alleged, was
furnished 10 the Treasury Department.
but only with the result that the special
examiner was put beyond the control OF
the appraiser Of the port, so that he
could continue his operations without
further danger or Interruption
Other special examiners are alleged
by the Dry Goods Chronicle 10 be con
cerned In like practices. and % be pro-
tected by those higher in authority, 10
the end that the Government is being
annually robbed Of enormous sums in
customs revenues and dishonest import
ers are given undue advantages over
their honest competitors.
When the attention Of Secretary Car
Isle of the Treasury Department. was
called to the charges Of the Dry Goods
Chronicle he said that If he was fur
nished with proof Of the charges he
would investigate and remove the evil
New York Times.