Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-20

New YORK, July 19.-Although Com
misioners Magone, Macfarlane and
Dunn, Of the committee appointed by
Secretary Carlisle to investigate Custom
House methods, were unable TO get the
testimony OF Surveyor Lyon or his as
sistants to-day, they succeeded in OBJ
tanning testimony TO the effect that the
Government is being defranded a year
out Of S3,O0O,0O0 in tobacco duties.
This startling testimony was given by
j. Wertheim, of the Cigar Manufact-
urers' Association. Mr.. Wertheim pro-
duced statement from the Acting Chief
OF the Bureau of Statistics which showed
that the importation Of leaf tobacco
suitable for wrappers from the Neither
lands for eleven months ending May 81,
1898, amounted to 4,719, 906 pounds, on
which duty was paid at the rate Of So
pound,
From Mexico there was imported g
029 pounds OF leaf tobacco suitable for
wrappers, and from Cuba ~, $50 pounds.
This statement, Mr.. Wertheimer tes-
titled, demonstrated fraud so gigantic
as to be almost incredible, because all
the tobacco would only be sufficient TO
cover eight million cigars, when it was
q well known fact that there are dozen
manufacturers OF cigars In the United
States who each make double that num-
Der Of cigars having imported wrappers,
In year. a further examination OF
the statement from the Bureau Of Stat
istlcs, made by Mr.. Wertheimer, show
ed that only ten pounds of tobacco from
- Of fn n
used as filters, while from Mexico there
were 40, 400 pounds OF such tobacco I'm
ported during the eleven months, and
from Cuba 2O,02S, 4l0 pounds.
HOW THE GOVERNMENT Is CHEATED.
at will be Observed" continued Mr.
Wertheim, that this importation Of
tobacco imported as filters is entirely
disproportionate to the amount in
spected as fit for wrappers. The duty
on leaf tobacco fit for wrappers is 50
pound while the duty on tobacco used
as filters is only thirty-6ve cents
pound. 1t is we'll known that the to-
bacco from Cuba and Mexico is chiefly
used for wrappers and is considered the
best tobacco for that purpose. The in
ference is plain. The government Is
cheated out OF S1.65 or nearly every
pound Of this tobacco imported as
shown by the statement Of the Bureau
OF Statistics"
"What do you believe to be the
minimum amount out Of which the gov
ernment is deiauded each year?' asked
Commissioners Macfarlane.
"The minimum amount" replied Mr.,
Wertheim, "is So, 900, 900 year. But
am convinced, aud it can be proved
without much difficulty, that the gov
ernment is defrauded annually out Of
twice that sum"
From the invoices in the possession
of the commissioners 1t appears that
quantity of Sumatra leaf tobacco was
imported from Canada. One Of these
invoices shows that six bales OF Suma-
ira tobacco for wrappers was certified
to by the Consul General at Montreal
This invoice was entered at the port OF
Ogdensburg, n. Y, as -four bales of
Sumatra leaf tobacco not fit for wrag-
pers, and two bales flt for wrappers.
This change in the invoice was
passed without challenge until II came
TO the Examiner, who changed the in
voice TO zone bale unfit for wrappers
and five bales tit for wrappers. The
consignees elected to take the one bale,
paving duty st 35 cents a pound, and
sent back the other five. on which a
duty of 50 pound was asked. In the
report OF the clerk OF the Treasury
Department there is no mention made
OF exuortations from Canada.
TOBACCO sMUGGLED THROUGH CANADA.
asked Commissioner Magone II this
did rot demonstrate that tobacco was
coming into the country from Canada
without any duty being paid on IL.
"That is a matter we shall inquire
into in the regular course Of our in
yestigation," said Mr.. Magone.
Chief Llquidatng Clerk Of the Gus
tom House Esterbrook was also exam
ined. He said that entries were not
always made in conformity with the in
voices, and that It was the daily prac-
tice to make return of goods Ia violation
Of the invoice.
SURVEYOR LYONS DEFIANCE.
This closed the hearing for to-day.
I asked Commissioner Dunn why II
was Surveyor Lyon was not called TO
testify. Mr.. Dunn said:
'It is an old rule that you must catch
your hare before you skin and cook
| him. Surveyor Lyon has refused to
give Us any information and we have
reported that fact 10 the President.
Were it not for the fact that the Presi-
dent has been I'll and has been forced 10
take a vacation be would have heard
from him long ago and so would Sur
veyor Lyon. However, we will all hear
| from the President in due season and
meantime we are getting along without
| AIr rnnts assistance -