Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-08
PREMIUMS ON FRAUD
Ofenses Against the Internal Reve-
nue. Laws Constantly Condoned.
WHAT BUREAU RECORDS WILL SHOW
The Lax Methods Followed ir
Carrying Out the Laws.
BOLD OLEOMARGARINE MEN

BOLD OLEOMARGARINE MEN
Ihere was general surprise and indigna-
ton at the announcement in The Evening
star OF last Saturday that the internal
revenue authorities were endeavoring to get
the law officers Of the United States in
charge OF the cases now pending in this
city and Philadelphia against many alleg-
ed vfolators of the oleomargarine laws to
advise the acceptance of $1,000 offered by
Joseph Wilkins, the wholesale dealer in
oleomargarine, now under indictment in
| both cities, and discontinuance of the
prosecution of the charges.
The Star has time and again called at
tention to the fragrant violations of the
| laws and regulations governing the sale of
oleomargarine In this city and elsewhere,
and has shown without contradiction how
the internal revenue authorities have in
V1ted still further violations by accepting
sums SUMS OF money In compromise where cases
were already made, as well as by pursuing
a careless course in making investigations
| that might lead to further indictments.
The crusade of The Star was so effective
tnat early last year a move was made by
the internal revenue bureau to meet the
demand which went up from the reputable
and law-abiding people of Washington that
there should be halt called in the out
through the sale of oleomargarine, under
| the representation that it was real butter,
at prices justly charged for genuine butter.
Licensing Past Frauds.
There are two classes of violations of the
oleomargarine law most common in the
District. One consists of selling the STUFF
without license, the other in selling it
10 purchasers who ask for butter as
butter, and of course charging butter
prices for it, 1t has been the custom
or the internal revenue authorities when
an agent has discovered dealer selling
oieo without license to secure an admis-
sion from him of how long he has Ieen en-
gagged IN the practice and then recurring
him to pay the fees necessary for a n.
cense covering the time in question and let
| ting the offender go at that In a word
all the internal revenue bureau seems to
see IN the oieomargarine laws is an oDpor-
tuntty to make money out of them and to
condone ofenses against them by requiring
the Offenders to pay sums of money into
the treasury The idea that United States
laws were intended to prevent illegal acts
as well as punish them does not seem to
enter into the calculations Of such an inn
portant branch of the treasury.
A Weak Defense.
In defense of their system the authori-
ties mentioned set up the plea OF The made
quacy of the laws and regulations and the
dlInculties In the way of making cases that
Will stand the scrutiny of the courts; but
1t seems to be very plain that there must
De some weak spot in this view of the
question when the men who are constantly
apprehended in viola atoms of the laws and
regulations, whose validity and power have
been affirmed by the Supreme Court of the
United States are willing to paw large
sums of money into the treasury in order
10 escape prosecution under them.
Condemnation of the Present At.
tempt.
The attempt to secure an acceptance of
the of[er of compromise, no matter If the
amount is as great as $1,000 of the cases
IN Philadelphia and this city in which JOS
wilkins is concerned is being universally
condemned. The Philadelphia case is par
ticularly fragrant. Early one morning in a
warehouse in Philadelphia Special Agents
van Horn and Bowen of the internal reve-
nue. bureau declare that they caught Jo-
seph Wilkins and Howard Butler at work
defacing and removing the internal revenue
stamps and other distinguishing marks re-
CURED by law to be placed on oleomarga-
rine from 13S packages containing the
stuff. They were apprehendcd the revenue
officers report, while engaged, with their
aprons on and with the implements being
used to scrape off the stamps in their
hands. This is the testimony that will be
offered at the trial in Philadelphia If 1t ever
comes off.
There are three indictments pending
Z.
ldns, conformity, in the District. The in
dictments were found January 4, 1897 and
charge them with selling oleamargarlne for
butter. Bail was fixed on January IL at
81, 600 in each case. with F. w. Emerich as
surety for w. P. Wilkins and Clayton NJ
Emerich surety for Joseph Wilkins.
Others Awaiting Trial.
Among others under indictment by the
District of Columbia grand jury are An
drew ]. Kenney, James S. Nash, William
H. MeitZler, Patrick Sullivan, Patrick J.
McDonough, Ferdinand Huhn Edgar Hen
derson, William Heneman, James T.
Childress (who was placed on trial but in
whose case a jury disagreed), Frank VIE
gand Edgar Hogan, Perry B. Ruark. Saml.
]. Eagan, Joseph p. B. Barber. Frank Bal
ley. Charles B. Brand, Levi Marcts, Chas.
H. Chapel and George w. Shelley.
The Power of the OIeo Men,
1t Is very we'll known that the wholesale
dealers in oleomargarine here are powerful,
because the manufacturers of the product
in the west, who are back of them, WELD
potent influence. 1t is a fact that the
friends of Joseph Wilkins, to cite an indi-
Vlduai case. simply laugh at the idea of his
ever receiving an adequate punishment for
violations OF the oleomargar.ne laws, which
the records of the internal revenue bureau
will show to have been constant by him for
years past, and which have been virtually
confessed by him in the innumerable times
iio mas pau Hioiey INTO the treasury De-
partment to secure immunity from prosecu-
ton. The treasury authorities have the
power, misdirected though it may fire.
quently be, and certainly is, to accent
money from a person who breaks internal
revenue laws and regulations, and it has
been exercised time and time again in the
case Of Wilkins.
The fact that United States District At
torney Davis was attorney for Wilkins &,
company and all, or nearly ALL the parties
indicted here for violating the oleomarga-
rine laws previous to his appointment to
once IS openly announced by the friends
or wilkins to be guarantee Of the latter,s
safety This, of course, Is an uniust reseos
lA.,A Il