The morning call., 1893-08-10
IMPORTATION MORALS.

Then the question, was prOpOuDded to
Broker Wheeler
Would it be your duty to make in
qniries in the interests of your clients in a
matter of that kiQd?"
''Well, they, knowing perfectly we'll
that the information was given to their
rivals, and communicating the same to
me and the methods employed n the CIV
ing OF that information. they are very we'll
satisfied that | cannot stop it. That is a
direct answer to your question. You
know. in putting these questions here to
me | am in a position that | cannot say
anything 10 you. If al importer comes to
me on the street and says certain things.
though | may be assured Of the truth of
these statements, l cannot tell where l get
my information from. and 1t would be
simply necessary if / was held down to
something or other to forget"
''All the information that know of as
having gone on the street, said Mr..
Wheeler. in response 10 further inquiries.
has gone through the Government off,
cials," but he positively declined to say
whether those officials were connected
with the Appraisers store or the Col
lector's office-if Messrs. Ralston aud
Evans were anxious to get at the bottom
of any kicks" they would have to do so
through the merchants. and not the
brokers.
that il is the interest of good service here
for the brokers to tell what they know, be-
cause inquiries are directed toward the
correction of an improper practice and a
better service"
But Mr.. Wheeler's reply was:
"You must not take that view of 1t, be.
ho inc CT W q
broker is aware of certain things going OH
that are perfectly satisfactory to him. and
he cannot afford to give away the informa-
ton coming to him from his clients, be-
cause that would certainly be to the detr-
ment Of his client. Ii l knew of an in
stance where four or five invoices were
submitted to an importer whom am doing
business for. and l know that the kn0wl-
edge that ha gains from those invoices
would enable him to import in larger
quantities, it certainly increases my bust
ness, and | could not come to YOU and give
you the information, could l ?"
Mr.. Ralston-Then you admit. Mr..
Wheeler, that invoices have been sh0 wn
to merchants who are clients of yours?
Wheeler-I have been so Informed.
AS TO how the information might get out
through the Custom-house or Appraiser 8
Office Mr.. Wheeler said aui to glibly:
On. i tnlnk tnat COulQ give you the
names of score of people who could If
they so desired take any invoices. or as
many as they pleased. from the Ap-
pralser's store or the Cust0nl-ho house, and
take them up the street and sell the con-
tents II they could find a purchaser. l say
in that that there are score of people
who have-weil. the privilege Of handling
these papers, who could quietly put them
in their pockets and walk out with them,
and return them the next day."
Mr.. Evans-Do you know of any in
stance where the invoice has been taken
out by Custom-house examiner and
shown to a merchant?
Mr.. Wheeler think l will. have to
forget.
L. appeared that Mr.. Wheeler was quite
unwilling to give his aueslioners the ben
eft of any knowledge in his possession
unless he could first see the merchants on
the side and ask them in a quiet way
what they would be willing to have
stated. 1t was a question 10 his mind
whether the practices going on in the
Custom-nouse were improper or not; ''il
depends entirely on which side of the
fence you are on" Mr.. Ralston asked
| him:
You know. do you not, that It has been
the custom for years when an examiner oil
| merchandise is in doubt as to the valua-
| ton CT the goods Tor him to take sample