The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-01
rRUITLESS DAY OF INQUIRY.
<,,syOys COMMISSION CURIOUS TO
,r,Ry now THE SCANDAL COT OUT.


LAWYER johnson Appears 10 Question As
.t.,,nt Appraiser Corbett. Whose Replies
Arc Not ofthe Cicnre-t-Mr. Cooper says
m. pIdn't Give Out tho Dnmning Letters.
II was another disappointing day at the
Parre Office. The Fairchild Com mission ap-
nointed to investigate the New York Custom
House and Appraisers stores passed most Of
,ho day trying TO ascertain where the news
pnpers got the Information OF tho scandals at
Che lrpraiser's stores.
secretary Carlisle had directed Appraiser
Co,per TO mako an investigation as to how
.srtnin letters OF the Treasury Department
or, into tho hands OF newspaper reporters. All
thase letters were written by Secretary Car
Iisles predecessor. Charles Foster. and it ia
,onarsrt that Mr.. Carlisle wishes to show
eyory courtesy to Mr.. Foster.
Assistant Appraiser Corbett was in the wit
mass chair most OF the day. He practically
thrust all responsibility for the letters on APP
pralser Cooper. He owned that he had shown
one letter. but said he did not know that 1t was
to be printed.
While Corbett was on the stand A. X. TinRle.
chief OF tho Treasury agents. constantly wrote
questions on slips Of papor. and slipped them
under Commissioner Magone's hand. The
statesman from OCdensburg would tnke them
M and read them. but he paid little attention
to Mr. Tngles efforts to worry Corbett. As
distant Secretary Spauldine sat on q leather
sofa with his eyes closed in apparent indifrer-
epce But II Corbett hesitated in an answer
Mr.. Spaulding was quickly awake. The ap-
pearance OF Mr.. Tingle and Mr.. Spaulding at
the Investigation has caused much comment.
They are considered By Now York merchants
n the prosecutors OF Appraiser Cooper. and
they are not at all friendly to Corbctt, either.
Commissioner MaGone said yesterday that
Tingle and Spaulding were attending the Sos
sons by direction Of Assistant Secretary Ham
lin. and that they were to be witnesses before
P rs Of the General Board OF Appraisers.
we're first printed. Mr. Tichenor's Board was
involved somewhat, END "a IN formal state
n .pd He M as
This was also satisfactory to Mr.. ,TinGle and
sdered a queer coincidence that, Secretary
Carlisle should so readily endorse the sueges..
GnS Jingle aed the OF T Trsas snns
Agents had had altogether too much to say to
MT. Carlisle, about this Investigation. Com
al the bottom Of the trouble without the aid Of
Corbett didn't make much Of a witness. Most
OF his testimony couldn't be heard two feet
away. The invoices OF j. R. Simon \ Co. were
familiar with tho goods to DO appraised. To
many questions he didn't know" or didn't
understand" or didn't think" He got nll
tangled up on the invoices. especially after n
Edgar l. johnson Of Hoadly. Lauterbach Il
Johnson. Lawyer johnson said that he APP
peared for ]. X. Simon Il Co.. and would like
The Com that M
Johnson must put his questions in writing.
mission would still further delay matters. -
After recess Appraiser Cooper took the
he had to say in response to Corbett's allega;
tons that he was responsible for tho official
documents Of the Treasury Department get:
ting into the e, newspapers, Mr. Cooper refused
Mr.. Cooper said that he had shown official
letters pertaining to Corbetts division to Mr..
Corbett. and that he would do SO again. These
letters to the Of
praiser Cooper contended that it was his duty
to show these letters to Mr.. Corhett: but no
denied that he had shown them to Mr. Corbett in
2 to have them printed In the newspapers.
givenany letters out for publication. Nsither
had he permitted his private sscretary or any
OF his subordinates to do so. While MIR. Coop
ss he r IS Sm to
Mr.. MaGone paid no attention to the Ques-
tons
General Appraiser Lunt testified that he had
sn1n s s fl lad fea6st Il
some and dis Used others. but MS q rule he
had found the firms invoices correct. He tes-
titled hat he had got some OF his figures from
had also. iiste ned to what Corbett had had to
Say In advancing the invoices. Mr.. Lunt. how
ever. In the main stood by Wiswelps figures.