The San Francisco call., 1898-12-16
Major Moore Will Be
 Investigated.
A GRAPHIC LETTER TO GAGE
THE SPECIAL AGENT DID NOT
 LOOK FOR CRIME.
Sent Foss to Prison and Rode in the Park on Sundays With His Favorite Behind a
 Team of Bays.

The dispatch from Washington relating the details of an interview by The Calls correspondent with John H. Wise, ex-Col- lector of the Port of San Francisco, was the sole topic of conversation Tn the Gus tom House yesterday. It was conceded on all sides that the eX-Collector had made a strong case against Special Agent Moore, and that in all likelihood the official days of the major are at an end so far as this State Is concerned.
 Mr. Wises picturesque Californian way of referring to the majors great failing and his susceptibility to feminine charms both in and out of office hours was ad- mired and fatteringly commented upon by the Custom House clerks who have dab- bled in the mysteries of belles lettres Even Chauncey Milton St. John, who is a fellow of the Geographical Society of Cal ifornia and student of nature in all her phases, read the sentence over and over again, but he declined to tell the reporters what he thought of Mir. Wise as litter ateur.
 It was the general opinion that the ex- Collector was wise when he insisted tha, Collector Jackson should investigate the serious and scandalous charges made against Major Moore by women of un- questioned veracity and unsulieu reputa- tion whom the venerable major sought to bend to his base purposes. Colonel Jack son IS a 0lSlntereSteQ ana unpre1uQiCeO party. He is fearless in the discharge of his duties and would make a thorough and unsmotherable Investigation. ana the public as well as the Secretary of the findings. When asked yesterday whether he would be willing to undertake the task Treasury he said that however distaste- ful the duty might be to him personally he would cheerfully enter upon the inves- tigation and would probe it to the grass roots.'' There is no doubt that the inves- tigation will not be lacking in thorough ness and impartiality.
 It Is believed that the amorous major Is making an attempt to have the charges investigated by some other Special Agent or officer, as in that event he might bring his political influence more or less sue cessfully into play. In corroboration of this impression, the fact Is noted that the Examiner has had special commissioner for the past two or three days sounding Federal officials principally. Assistant United States Attorneys Woodworth and Banning, as to the law on the subject of a change of venue Tn the matter. me informed that the ardent major was not under the civil service system and that him without any charges being made and without notice. and that the courts would be powerless to interfere.
 When Wise was Collector of this port ne wrote a letter to Secretary. Gage forcibly expressing his opinion of Moore. In that letter which is MT. Wise's masterpiece of
  many stinging things about the Machia- velian Special Agent. The letter, among other things, called attention to the fact that during the administration of Collec- tor Hager a great opium smuggling scan- dal was exposed In the neWspapers ana that subordinate Government officials were involved in allegations or bribery III connection with the traffic
 Although these grave charges were public" wrote MT. Wise, ''he (Moorel never made an effort to ascertain the stant visitor at the residence of the prin-- cipal accused official and frequently dined and was entertained there.
 'On one occasion" continued MT. Wise, ''he sent Assistant Special Agent Dewitt c. Jackson to Los Angeles and San Diego to look into Federal matters at those points MT. Jackson did his duty so well that he was enabled In snort tune to furnish the major with the names of persons engaged in smuggling opium into the country and of persons who were making large sums of money by snug gling Chinese men and women into Cali fornia. across the Mexican border. But Moore paid no attention to the report of his subordinate, having found the task or traducing the characters of the highest officials more congenial to his taste. He has employed detectives, he has visited iais and penitentiaries, he has promised prisoners immunity from prosecution and women to drum up testimony against officials who stand higher morally and socially, than he"
 MT Wise made a mistake in the follow ing statement to The CallS correspondent at Washington:
 In the case of the Chinese woman, Fong suey Won. Moore and woman from the Mission were the parties responsible for her raiessa on the plea that the poor woman wanted to get back to China. He made these representations. although he knew that she was a procuress and therefore guilty of felony. He thus secured her release before the Chinese sRew ed MeTeh Tse Department understands the case. Meredith s conduct was all right according to Colonel Jackson.
 The "woman from the Mission men, toned by MT. Wise is Miss Cameron, ma tron of the Presbyterian Chinese Home Mission. Miss Cameron was the frst per son to warn Chief Meredith of the char acter of Fong Suey Won, and 1t was upon Miss Camerons representations that the nrocuress was not allowed to go when her certificate of registration was produced at the mission on the evening of her arrest during the Federal raid for the Omaha women. The Chinawoman who was al lowed to go to China at Miss cameron Fong Suey Won, but her testimony was only hearsay, and would not be admissible in court and what she did hear was that Fong Suey Won had purchased the wit ness in China Fong Suey could not be punished in the United States for buying Slaves in China. and the witness was al lowed to return to her native country with the consent of United States Attor- ney Foote and of Major Moore, who had no use for her, she not understanding English.
 as having been one of the gay major 5 charmers was the dear friend of Foss, one of the ring of opium smugglers who was sent to the penitentiary a few years ago through the majors efforts. This left the field clear for a new affection, and the major and Mrs. Elliott were often seen on Sundays in Golden Gate Park behind a spanking team of bays.
 The following dispatch will be of inter est to those who desire to see the conduct of Inspector Moore investigated: WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The Treasury Department has decided to investigate the conduct of Inspector Horace A. Moore of San Francisco. This decision was reached to-day. The only question now Is as to the manner in which such investigation shall be conducted. Ex-Collector Wise was desirous that Collector Jackson be called upon to report. but the department has reason to believe there Is some feeling between Collector Jackson and Inspector Moore growing out of the Meredith case.
 Inspector Moore some time ago reported that although the Chinese woman, Fong Suey Won, had a certificate showing her right to be in this country under the terms of the Geary act. he had placed in the possession of Chief Meredith of the Chinese Bureau evidence showing that she was procuress for bad women and