Evening star., 1897-04-12
nony above quoted showed. however. hox

mony above quoted showed however, how
the defendants had violated the oleomar-
garlne laws and regulations by scraping the
marks and stamps from packages contain
ing it, and other developments in the tria!
also led to the indictments of Joseph WI
kins and Walter P. wilkins for violating the
oleomargarine laws, and they are now un-
der bail to appear for trial.
These indictments were returned January
last, and were included in the last return
Of the grand jury for the October term.
Inc indictments charge Walter p. and Jo-
seph Wilkins with having sold oleomarca-
rine for and as butter to VIM. r. Meitzler,
Richard E. Miles and Andrew j. kenney
with such knowledge of the constant and
defiant violations of the law the general
public is naturally amazed and indignant
that the internal revenue bureau has stead
lily pursued a policy of compromising the
cases brought against the offenders.
1t is declared with much force by legal
authorities, including prominent officials of
the Department Of Justice, that the power
vested In the Treasury Department to set
tie cases of violations of the internal rev.
enue and customs laws out of court by the
private imposition of fines was never in
tended to be exercised except in instances
where there were palliatin circumstances
existing, or where the government felt
sure that settlement by compromise
would prevent future violations of the
laws. The treasury officials, however, and
especially those high in authority in the
internal revenue bureau, coolly claim that
toned and supreme, and that they can do
as they please without interference The
violators of the oleomargarine laws know
this, and being confident that the enor-
nous profits resulting from the Illegal sale
of the stuff will amply provide for the pay
ment Of any fines, however large, that may
be privately imposed upon them-when
they are caught-continue their practice
and snap their fingers at the laws and
regulations. 1t is also asserted with equal
truth that the special agents of the in
ternal revenue bureau do not exert them
selves very earnestly to apprehend vio-
lators Of the laws in question simply be-
cause the cases are compromised and they
get no credit for their work, such would
come If trials were had and convictions fol-
lowed.
Opposition to q Compromise.
1t is perfectly well known that the Phila-
delphia internal revenue officers Special
Agent w. H. H. Bowen, who made the case
against wilkins and Butler, and the law
officers of the internal revenue bureau are
absolutely opposed to letting the prosecu-
tion against the men drop on any account
whatever. The Department of Justice and
the Department Of Agriculture are equally
strong in their opposition to any form of a
compromise. Still, with full knowledge CT
the sentiment prevailing all over the coun-
try, and in spite of the communica tions and
letters being received from all sections en-
the subject, protesting against the release
OF Wilkins and Butler until their trial is
over, the commissioner Of internal revenue
according to his own statement made to
The Star reporter some time ago, will with
draw the prosecution of the alleged offend
ers if the amount of money they will pay
into the fraud fund Is big enough to meet
his requirements 1t Is said at the depart
ment that the matter will lie decided cne
way or the other in a very few days.
The Prevailing Sentiment.
Some of the most influential business
men in the country Identified with the hon.
est dairy interests are pleading that the
case be allowed to go to trial, and In a
recent letter John s. Martin. the largest
dealer in butter in New York city, whose
establishments are located at Nos. 16S
Chambers and 800 and 3O1 Greenwich
streets, referring to the proposed compro-
mise wrote among other thing follows:
1T seems an outrage and a scandal that
men like the Wilkins party should be al
lowed to compromise these cases. As /
tinuous violators of the law and have man.
aged by some influences, not understood,
to escape punishment. They should be
punished and made an example for ali vio-
lators. They deserve no immunity what |
ever, from the fact of their having been
determined violators Of the law. If such
persons are to escape punishment one won
ders of what use or value the law is. or
what protection men have who recognize
ing to the law"
In those few trenchant words Mr.. Mar
tin has probably epitonlized the sentiment |
OF all the reputable and law abiding citi- |
xens who have given the subject any con- |
or attention whatever.