The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-14
BEAT THE CUSTOMS
YORK SILK IMPORTING
HOUSES
EXAMINERS ARE UNDER PAY
ut Is Alleged, to Undervaiue Silks,
Thereby Enabling the Importers
to Defraud Uncle Sans
Treasury.

NEW YORK, Aug 13.-Appraiser
Wakeman said today that he had called
in the goods of number of silk import
ing houses and was making an eXamina-
tion to see whether the goods had been
properly appraised. This is because Of
a belief that certain examiners in the
employ Of the government having been
making large sums of money from the
importers by passing Japanese silks with
undervaluations. If tie underyaluation
and underweighing have been practiced
steadily, as alleged, the government has
been defrauded of large sums Of money.
One examiner is alleged to have received
$4,000 a year from silk importing firms,
another was sent to Europe and another
had come into possession Of valuable real
estate
WILL PROBE TO THE BOTTOM
WASHINGTON. Aug 13.-Regarding
the statement published in New York to-
day to the effect that millions OF dollars
in customs duties had been lost to the
government through false invoices as to
weight and value of Japanese silks i'm
ported into the United States at that
port, Assistant Secretary Spaulding, who
has charge of customs matters in the
treasury department, said:
about two weeks ago a gentleman
named 6locn ana anOther whose name
have forgotten came into my office and
stated to me that they had knowledge
that Silk Examiner Brown was in the pay
of a prominent New York silk importing
firm, receiving $4,000 a year as compensa-
tion for undertaking their silk invoices,
and that Brown also received pay. from
another silk concern. They also stated
that large invoices of Japanese silks
were then on their way to New York
consigned to these firms and they were
daily expected to arrive. / told them
that it was of the highest Importance
that they give me the names of the firms
they had charged with fraud in connec-
ton with these importations and asked
them to put their statement in writing.
1 assured them that if they would give
me single definite fact or any informa-
ton upon which / might act l would
start an investigation at once. and that
q letter to the appraiser embodying their
statements would be in his hands at once.
They went away saying they would write
out their statements and return shortly.
They did return in the afternoon, but
stated that 1t would be necessary for
them to go back to New York, as they
found they did not have sufficient data
with them upon which to base a specific
statement of facts: l told them that as
they were to return to New York 1 very
much wished they would call on APP
praiSer Wakeman the next morning and
lay their facts before him, and that l
had no doubt he would give the matter
prompt attention. This they agreed to
do. While l have heard nothing further
from them I assume that they cOmmuni-
the department has received a prelim-
mary report from Mr.. Wakeman, stating
that he had begun an investigation OF
alleged fraud in connection with Japan
esS silk importations. Whether the in
vestigation will develop anything in the
nature of the published statement :. l
have no means of knowing, but l am
sure the matter will be probeG to the
hOttOm -