The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-28
cUsroMs INou1sr1 ons 1pfrnprn.
Republican OnnciaIs Question Their Author
ity and Deciiue TO Testify.

tty and uecllue 20 Testify.
The Custom House Com mission appointed By
Secretary Carlisle is getting along slowly and
meets with many difficulties In the first place
Mr.. Fairchild can't give much time to the ses-
sions. But the chief obstacle is the attitude Of
powerful Republicans. some OF them in the
Federal service. who refuse to recognize the
powers OF the Commission to overhaul their
departm ents. These Republicans refuse to he
quoted In the newspapers or to give their
grounds for refusing to appear before tho
Commission. They only PERSIST in say
ing that there Is no authority in the
Treasury regulations for the presence
OF the Commission. and that as the members
Of it are paid from the Fraud roll, fund, 1t can
not be considered n properly authorized inves-
tiRating body. Former investigating COM
missions have been composed OF sworn Federal
ofilceholders. The present Commission Is
made up entirely Of outsiders designated by
Secretary Carlisle without authority from Con-
Rress and with no provision for their remu-
neration except from the Fraud roll fund. and
even that lie questioned. The Republicans
dwell on this feature. and number OF protests
have been filed with Secretary Carlisle. 1t is
expected that the Secretary will reply to them
within a day or SO.
The alleged influence OF the Tingle Treasury
agent combine in the Commissions labors is
denied by every member OF the Commission,
crosses the alleged efforts OF Mr., Jingle and
his, friends to perpetuate themselyes in office
quire decisive action on the part OF the Com
sdn to Mr. tH ss s
c Com Masone and Commissioner
Dunn say that there is too much impatience
shs n he eo snd partg RSSea
"TinRle and his friends cannot be reached by
and TnstsF ssed p MI sa nsSor an
OF the Tingie influence nre felt In tho dry
The 1 Gemmission ia now investigating the
charges OF alleged undervaluatione on the Inn
bbortaHtlons OF ute Tags trom tnlc . James
at the Appraisers stores. Examiner Patten and
other Government employees having to do with
kurtz, an importer and manufacturer OF bags.
testified Yesterday that in his opinion there
hags. He himself knew Of no point OF distinc-
DO you consider yourself an expert 2" de-
t, live been notwithstanding these bags for
thing! replied, Mr.. Kurtz.
t;on didn't Irn ask NJ yoY that; answer my aues-
Of the Commissioner. and he gave place to
Kent didn't please the Commission either.
Neither did names Watson, broker in ju,e
bags were. made. and their difference from
American bags. and was proceeding to de-
scribe the process Of making burlap cloth in
California when Mr.. Mngone Interrupted
No"
How do you know, then. II You haven't been
there"
Mr.. Watson attem pied to explain that he did
know. In spite of never having been In Califor-
MIA. but Mr.. Magone cut him short with the
remark:
Well. pass on: you don't know anything
William B. Cunningham. for ffteen years an
importer OF iute. was the next witness. but no
also was considered too ignorant to enighten
the Commission.
After the session Mr.. Kent said: Mr.. Ma
gone puts his questions in such a name as
would make the evidence one-slded. and does
ing himself. He cuts of all evidence that does
that IS. 0O0,0 900 forei cn- ade bags are admit
ted free of duty is absurd. and cannot be sup
ported ny facts. I tried to explain my testi-
mony before the appraisers which was not as
stated by him. He is not fair"
The Commissioners. however. say they ex-
pect many criticisms. but are ready to accept
them IL they can only get ut the bottom facts
OF alleged undervaluations an wrong doing.