New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-08
MR. CHENEY CRIES FRAUD.
IT EXISTS IN THE CUSTOM HOUSE. HE SAYS
HE WRITES TO THE FArRcHILD COMMISSION
THAT 1T Is HOPELESS TASK TO TRY
TO STOP OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
pRAIsER COOPER EXAMINED. ~.


When the Fairchild Investigating Committee ~
journed yesterday afternoon It announced thst
was not positive that there would be an open ~
sion to-day. This was due, the members
Of the commission SAID to the uncertainty OF VIZ
nesses who had been summoned coming forward to
testify. Those people who arc In position 70 pve
valuable testimony relating to the customs service
are not willing to come forward to tell what thsy
know and be badgered by men like Charles .. FAIR
child, Daniel Magone. Poindexter Dunn and the
youthful and inexperienced AniBnapper lawyer.
Wallace MacFarlane. The record OF the comm9sion
up TO this point has been that Its members have
asked only those questions that would have the best
political effect. Business do not Intend 10 o.
low themselves to BE- used in such way In relation
to serious subject and they are not coming for
ward to give testimony with the readiness andd'
pated. The following letter to the commission, which
received yesterday from T. w. Cheney. the presl'
dent OF the Cheney Brothers silk manufacturing cor
Germ, who had been asked to testify, shows how one
merchant fees: -.
South Manchester, Conn, June 8, 1893.
Hon. Charles 5. Farchld, New.Y York.
Dear Sir: l am in receipt Of your letter Of zee:
before your commission as requested am going
to Chicago tomorrow with part OF my family, ano
it will be extremely nconvenient to change my plans
/ know but little about the matter referred g.
bargain with Assistant secrstary Of the Treasury
spaudlng and Mr.. Tnsic:.. Chief Of the special
Agents, 10 have Examiner NlSWdH. rcMOVfQ IIOm Inc
to other duty is false in every particular. No
ser having sss M sp.udns Or talked
with Mr. Tlngle about having Examiner wiswail re-
no one is better qualified to Judge Of the efficiency
Or nefcency OF the adm!nistrnton OF the cast ~
couraging and hopeless task to put an end TO the
frauds on the revenue through INTERPRETATION: no
are nnearnsd and some one seems to be on the point
of being punished. II comes to nothing; Of most,
item Of current expenses OF the business Of import
Ing; No cnpni Is ever sent to the prs?,n. or sen.
Ssy Ss1 that WITH when Thu The .
rascal they find II easier, pleasanter and PROBABLY
more profitable fa to let him 60 than to innct 'u pen
''"'' VI INV TO-" ''''' '''' M +. W. CHENEY
The open session Of the Investigating Commission
yesterday was not held until nearly O'Clock In the
afternoon. This owing to the failure to secure
witnesses and because Appraiser Cooper was not
ready to 60 the stand. The commission met az
10 30 In the morning, and sat for awhile waiting Tor
the witnesses who did not come. Mr. Cheneys
letter was read and q recess was taken until the
afternoon. When Appraiser Cooper did take the
witness chair his former confidential clerk stephen
". Bassett, who had testified to any number OF
damaging things against the Appraiser, came In and
took a seat on q sofa fifteen feet away. Bassett
tried to look and fully at ease. but he
could not do It. The Appraiser was questioned re-
gardng his former statement that the advances ana
the penalties which were imposed upon J. B.
simon & Co. in 1891 amounted to over
100000 lie said that the documentary ey1'
dence which he then possessed did not warrant
that statement. but one was produced later which
showed that from May, 1890. TO May, 1891, this hrm
paid for advances their invoices made by the
examiner 1884: for penalties for undervaluatfons.
$2,3l8 "a, and for advances made by the firm itself
bring value OF its imports to the market value.
81 na2 LIZ This makes total olsea02G 90. wheh
the statement showed the firm paid above the I'm.
port valuations. Mr. Cooper denied absolutely ana
cnphaically all the charges that had been brought
against him by his former confidential clerk regard
Ing the way In which the correspondence between
Secretary Foster and himself relating to the SUI.
pension Of J. c. Wlswal who was charged with un'
dervaluIng the importations Of J. g. Simon Co., be.
came public. His denial was explicit, although the
small questions OF detail which would escape the
memory OF u busy man. He finally told the lawyer
that he was there to BE- criticised, hut 10 tell the
truth.
clerk thought to obtain favor In the eyes Of those
Who conducting the Investigation Of the Custom
House by telling extraordinary story against his
employer, went TO the Appraisers stores Yesterday
morning to report for duty. He had not reported for
over a week. When he entered the room the Ap
praiser sitting at his desk. The .ihformeP' -
hp Is now called around the Appraisers stores, sai0
In n voice Of forced cheerfuness:
Good morning, Mr. Cooper"
The Appraiser made no response Ehen Bassets
lis there anything that can do for you,'
Nothing whatever was the reply.
Bassett was not satisfied with tnis reply and asat1
he asked:
ais there anything can do for yours
NO. sir. nothing was all that the Appraisee
would say. Bassett then crawled Of the ONCE III
one who was trying TO escape detection.