Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-15
ALLEGEDCOMPROMISE
Mr. McKenna Considering the 0leo-
margarine Gases.
TREASURY FAVORS SETTLEMENT
Mr. Iaggart Thinks the Prosecu-
tons Should Be Pushed.
TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS

IL was reported today in Philadelphia
that the oleomargarine cases, in which To-
seph wilkins of wilkins & Company- and
howard Butler, a member Of the firm. were
implicated. had been settled. The amount
stated for which the settlement had been
made was over $1,000 The men were
charged in Philadelphia by special agents
OF the internal revenue service with having
been apprehended in the act of str,ppinr
packages Of oleomargarine of internal rev
ehue stamps and other distinguishing
marks required by law at a warehouse IN
Philadelphia last year. The comnromIse
was effected. the story from Philadelphia
stated, by the defendants promising thew
would reure from the business altogether.
commissioner Forman of the internal
revenue bureau said I'm the most emphatic
manner this afternoon that the district at
torney at Philadelphia has not been in
s.ruc,ed 5. 10 accept the compromise offered
IN the oieomargarine cases. II telegraphed
the district attorney on Saturday." said
MI. rorman not to take any steps in the
matter until he hears from this Office"
The commissioner is expecting to send
the district attorney the necessary word
so soon as Attorney General McKenna
passes upon the question of the acceptance
OF the compromise. The matter was re-
terred to the Attorney General on Satur-
day night, and at l O'Clock today IL was
officially stated that he had not taken up
the question. If the Attorney General ad.
Vises against accepting the offer the bureau
or internal revenue will be compelled to go
on with the prosecution. Court is in ses-
sion at Philadelphia this week, and IL is
not seen how the matter can be delayed
much longer
Commissioner Forman refused to say to-
day whether the Secretary of the Treasury
had recommended an acceptance of the
compromise. but IL can be positively stated
that the Secretary did recommend an ac-
ceptance, after comforting with Commits
sloner Forman, and that the recommenda-
ton went to the Attorney General for his
opinion. 1t is on this recommendation that
the Attorney General is expected to pass
Commissioner Forman said that il would
be giving away the secrets of his office to
say whether there had been an acceptance
of the cffer.
Mr.. TaEgart's Position.
Referring to the proposition of counse
of the Messrs. Wilkins for compromise
of the cases agairst them here and in
Philadelphia for violations of the oleomar-
garine laws, Assistant District Attorney
Taggart stated to a Star reporter today
that he Rad not yet replied to the letter
OF Commissioner Forman of the internal
revenue bureau respecting the increased
offer of 5000 to compromise the cases
Mr. Taggart declined to say what his re-
ply will he, explaining that ii would be
discourteous to Commissioner Forman to
fcreshadow his reply.
But, while Mr.. Taggart declined to say
anything as to the recommended ton he will
make In the matter, II can safely be said
that he Will not advise the acceptance of
any sum i'm compromise. no matter how
large IT be. This much is evident to all
who know the man, for he has already ad-
vised against the acceptance of a former
offer to compromise thise case upon
grounds that would apply to any subse-
quent offer, no matter how great the money
consideration might be. Mr. Taggart be-
ieves that the way to punish the habitual
law-breaker is to put him away. That is,
to fmprison him for such length of time
as the law allows. Mr.. Taggart, it is also
reported, believes that il the United States
treasury is suffering from deficit 1t would
be well to accept the $1,000 offered by the
Messrs. wilkins to compromise the cases
against them and their employe. Butler;
otherwise. he is said to believe that the
sum- big as ii is. should be refused by the
government. and the cases prosecuted to
the full extent Of the law.
To Exsmfnc Papers.
Attorney General McKenna said to a Star
reporter this afternoon that he would take
up the papers sent to him Saturday night
at once, and would probably reach a deci-
sion by tonight. He said he had not ex-
amined the papers. and did not know what
they contained He did not indicate what
he would do.
Received With Amusement.
The statement that the compromise had
been affected on the strength Of the defen-
dants' promising that they would retire
from the business was received here with
amusement by those who have followed the
transactions of wilkins & Co. 1t was de-
clared that this was an old dodge of the
firm to escape punishment gentleman
who has watched their operations for
number of years said that at one time a
written confession and promise was OBJ
tanned by the internal revenue department
that wilkins & Co. would never again sell
oleo for butter. This confession and prom
ise ii is stated, is now in the hands of the
revenue department officials, and was made
when the case was brought against those
people in Ohio several years ago. They
paid 81. 100 to compromise. with the prom
Use to leave the business.