New-York tribune., 1902-07-04
SUGAR INQUIRY Likely
MERCHANTS associate TO
MOVE FOR INVESTIGATION.
1,,-tnrxCE IN SUPPORT OF H. c. CORSA'S
STARTLING CHARGES AGAINST
SUGAR TRUST AGENTS.

npEplgpTlentS
tiou that. the Treasury Department will soon
order an investigation of the alleged Irregular
tics in the leyying of import duties on raw sugar
at this port.
Robert Levy. government sampler, in testi-
fving about the duties of Vail and Doane the
samplers in the pay of the Sugar Trust, said:
If they Vail and Doane) notice that we are
not sampling according to their liking. they of
course kick against it and tell to sample
differently"
A Tribune reporter was informed by a men,
Der of the Merchants Association that the
members Of that body who had read The Trib-
une's article yesterday on the dismissal of an
assistant sampler considered the disclosures
ceedingly important. and would move for an in
vestgaton at the earliest practicable oppor-
tunity. 1t due to the efforts of the associa-
ton that ". Wickham Smith was appointed a
Deputy Attorney General to investigate the ir-
regularites charged against some importers of
japanese silks and conduct the prosecution.
The disclosure of the secret inquiry before
Appraiser Wakeman, and the declaration under
oath by H. c Corsa. an acting assistant sam
pier that he received money from James Vail,
ar agent of the American Sugar Refining Com
pany. and that both Vail and John K. Doane,
another agent OF the company. had endeavored
10 induce him 10 sign an affidavit saying that he
had never received money fpom either of them,
stirred up the sugar merchants they have
not been stirred for years.
MONEY FREELY USED AMONG SAMPLERS.
Further investigation by Tribune reporters re-
Vealed that money is freely used by agents OF
sugar importers among some of the govern
ments samplers. Agents of some of the large
importing sugar houses make the saloon of
Mike" Minden, at Broadway and Kent-ave..
Brooklyn, of their resorts. Many of the
governments samplers go to Minden's and con-
verse with these agents of the sugar importers.
and il is common talk among the habtues of
the saloon that the Representative of the sugar
importers have large sums of money appar-
entity for no other than to spend in treating.
The governments Secret Service men already
have knowledge Of these facts, and know of the
manner in which the governments samplers
and the representatives of the sugar importers
drink together.
This. coupled with the fact stated by Assist
ant Appraiser Michael Nathan that sugar
worth S26.00Oo0o is being held back awaiting
restoration Of the commercial equilibrium in
Cuba, is believed 10 be sufficient TO warrant the
government in insttuting at a searching
Investigation of the methods in vogue at the
port of New-York for imposing import duties on
raw sugar
Not a great while ago it was necessary to
bribe only one government sampler in order to
lower the tested quality of the sugar de-
gree. on an ordinary cargo of sugar this would
mean a saving in duties of $1,000 or $4,000 to
The importer. When it is considered that car
goes of raw sugar being discharged al this
port every day I'm the week, idea readily
he formed of the advantage to be secured if. by
oollusion with a few of the governments sam
piers, the cargo test marks can be ''queered"
Investigation by a Tribune reporter yesterday
showed that II. c. Corsa not alone in be
lieving there was collusion between agents of
the sugar importers and the governments
samplers. When Corsa gave his testimony be
fore Appraiser Wakeman Robert Levy. sugar
sampler. was one of the witnesses. The Trib-
une yesterday succeeded in getting a copy of
the official minutes Of Levy's examination by
The Appraiser. They are as follows;
INVESTIGATION OF SAMPLER LEVY.
Q.-What is your full name? A.-Robert Levy.
Q.-What is your position. A.-Sampler
Q.-How long have you been in the service? A
Q.-Where do you reside? A.-No. &c Cooper-st,,
Q.-Haye you ever known of any money or. gra-
iuties being offered 10 any Of me examines h
never known OF my knowledge. OF course.
have heard rumors to that effect -r,,+ - closet
had been entered into by individual that ] conld
a5 sugar was on th n o9r % the ngXt ReTe ned
IN by Mr.. Jacobs for that very same reason that
they were suspected of taking money.
ebin on t6e lsFgR Jersey %s city ! disrct oo
Q.-Who was sampler in charge? A.-Peter
o.mThat was that large cargo? At not on
the district I could not say
Q.-Who is James Vail? Ale is sampler for
Q3Who is Jack Doane? Ale is under Mr..
OLWhat are their duties? A.-They follow us
up IN most cases. IN saInPlsd Pcnrsdinr to what is
right and according TO the rules ana resuiationS'
and If they notice that are not sampling ac-
cordine 10 their liking they of course kick against
il and tell Us sample differently: Later II they
found anything they did not like they complained
TO draw and get the test Of the sugar as We get
II and what the difference Is
HE NOTICED MANY QUEER THINGS.
o-haye YOU ever heard that they offer any in
ducenep.s3 Awhile ] over in the Jersey
City district / noticed very many queer things:
When / sampled sugar ] noticed that different
and experienced sampler was with me dlo ~ ne ,!,
always had While was in that district Mr. Vail
told me one day that he going out Tor sur sur
Of clothes. ! asked him how much he intSn4Su S;
10 pay for them. and he said about sli tod MN MN
7 had friend over in New York who made and
nake him a suit order for about Sl5. He SAID
u that the case he would go over wltn IN M; M
About months after that was sent 10 me
Williamsburg refinery. Mr; D%ane caIne 96 weII
said: You know We are not allowed 70 'alk
together and il would be hest for US not 10 be
witn YOU in Jersey city," / said What do you
mean2" He said: In any way" | said: Il do
not know what you are talking about" and We
Q~You think the purpose open a way to
Q-Who was that talking TO then? A.
DOane. He IS with Vail and ha- charge Of the
BROOKLYN district
William C. Jacobs supervising examiner of
sugar. in 2 letter to the appraiser, dated Oc-
'ober 81, 1858. said, in part:
For the last two months have had reason to
samples furnished this office on certain importa-
was 81 lhe American Sn Sgir 5 fSnnes Ken es C9mpany @
were running considerably belo" the actual set