The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-14
Accused Of IndervsIuing and Under
weighing japanese silks Import
ed Into the United states.
Mr.. sPAULDINGs STATEMENT
HE SAYS THE CHARGES WE'RE MADE
BY TWO NEW WORKERS.
Investigation Begun ny Appraiser
Wakeman-PartiaI List of Wit
ncsses Furnished by SchIcy.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 13-Regarding a
statement published in New York to-day TO
the effect that millions Of dollars i'm Gus
toms duties had been lost TO the govern
ment through false invoices as TO weight
and value of Japanese silks imported into
the United States at that port. Assistant
Secretary Spaulding who has charge OF
customs matters In the Treasury Depart
ment, said: About two weeks ago a gentle
man named Bloch and another. whose name
l have forgotten. came TO my Office and
told me that they had knowledge OF
the fact that Silk Examiner Brown
was i'm the pay OF a prominent New York
silk importing firm. receiving 5000 year
as compensation 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 that they were daily
expected to arrive. l told them that il
was of the highest Importance that they
give me the names of the firms they had
charged with fraud in connection with
these importations, and asked them To put
their statement i'm writing. 1 assured them
if they would give me single definite fact
or any information upon which might act
l would start an investigation at once. and
that letter TO the appraiser embodying
their statement would be an his' ha777sorlhs
following morning. They went away say
ing they would write out their statement
and would return shortly. They did return
in the afternoon. but stated that ii would
be necessary for them TO go back TO New
York. as they had found they did not have
sufficient data with them upon which TO
base specific statement OF the facts. L
told them that. as they were TO return TO
New York, | very much wished they would
call on Appraiser Wakeman the next MORN
ing and lay. their facts before him This
they agreed TO do. While have heard
nothing further from them. | assume that
they communicated with the appraiser.
especially as the department has received
preliminary report from Mr.: Wakeman
stating that he had begun an investigation
of the alleged frauds I'm connection with
the Japanese silk ifnportations. Whether
the investigation will develop anything OF
the magnitude indicated in the published
statement ! have no present means OF
knowing. but ! am sure the matter will be
probed TO the bottom
NEW YORK. Aug. 1S.-AppraiSer Wake
said to-day that he had called I'm the
goods of number Of silk-mporting houses
and was making an examination 10 see
whether the goods had been properly APP
praised. This is because of a belief that
certain examiners I'm the employ of the
government have been making large sums
OF money from the importers by passing
Japanese silks with undervaluations III
the differentiation and underweighing have
been practiced steadily. alleged, the
government has been defrauded of large
sums of money. One examiner is alleged
to have received 5000 year from silk
importing firms. another was sent TO Eu-
rope. and another had come into the
possession Of valuable real estate.
Appraiser Wakeman received a message
from Examiner Charles &. Brown during
the day stating that he had telegraphcd
to the secretary OF the treasury asking
that he be relieved from duty pending an
investigation of the charges. Until short
time ago Mr.. Brown had charge Of the
examining room i'm the silk division OF the
public stores. He was recently transferred
10 other works p"