The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-12
Fund Of $4,000 Demanded to
Get rack Former Positions.
PROMINENT MEMS NAMES USED
4 'Asiatsmant Held Gut 10 Fifty Former
Custom House inspectors Tor
Generous Bonus.

New York, June 13.-An attempt to
raise fund OF s25.O0O. 20 be used, tho
promoters alleged in obtaining political
!nfuencc necessary to reinstate so GUS
som house inspectors removed a little
over year ago by Collector Bidwell. was
brought to sudden end yesterday
through an investigation made by repor-
ters. The promoters disappeared mys-
teriously and the inspectors began a hunt
for them in the hope of getting their de-
posits back.
Just how much of the fund had been
raised when the exposure came Is not
known. hut those in a position to Judge
declare that the amount will reach well !
into the thousands.
The scheme was worked on the theory
that political influences in Washington
and New York could be brought 10 bear
which would reinstatc the inspectors. but
there is doubt as to the real destination
Of the money.
NAMES OF BIG MEN USED.
The names OF Senator Patt, MIR. Bid
well and even President Roosevelt were
freely used by the promoters OF the fund
who. while they admitted that none OF
the men named was aware os the pro-
posed ic'nstatements, declared that the
money I'd be used 10 "sweeten poll
tician, wro had strong influence with all
three.
Ii was pointed out that Senator Platt
had agreed 10 submit the matter to tho
| president some time ago II Mr.. Bdwcll.
who was collector when TIE inspectors
were removed would designate such men
as he believed were entitled TO return 10
the service.
| II promised that Influences would
be brought TO bear whereby Mr.. BidweIl
would %. N. ceIiain number ol
| names. and that the men 10 profit would
! be those who subscribed to the -tiaHd.--
Mr. BidwclL who ls now connected
| with the International Fire Engine com
| pany. OF No. lao broadway said vester-
day that he Rad been aware OF tho
scheme for some days. hut did not
pose II, as he hoped TO catch the perpe-
| traitors who were using his name.
THREE SEPARATE DEMANDS.
The fund was started three weeks
! ago, and since that time three seraTatc
demands have been made. The operators
nave worked carefully and have made
collections varying from $500 TO $1,000 per
| person.
The first demand was for $50 per
ment or 5000 I'm all. The second was for
$1,000 I'm advance and the third for $500
In advance.
! So confident of success were the opera
! tors that written agreements were adj
| vanced at the time OF the first demand.
and in several instances they were signed
| by the inspectors.
| The 90 inspectors were removed durirn
| February and March OF last year W
| abolishment OF their offices. and at the
-. a..
the storehouses. The reason. Mr.. Bid
| well says. was that they were not salts
| factory men.
Under the civil service law a rcinstate-
| ment could be effected within one year OF
| the time OF removal but after that the
| rules would have to be suspended by tho
| president OF The United States. Just af-
| ter the year limit had expired. Mr. Bid
well was replaced by N. N. Stranahan.
BIDwELL TELLS OF PRESSURE.
| Shortly before left the service great
pressure was brought by Brooklyn poll
| ticians TO reinstate men from that bor-
ough." said Mr.. Bidwell. when seen at
his Office yesterday. They went TO Sem
ator Platt and tried TO secure his in
| huence with President Roosevelt. but ne
| informed them that the offices were abol-
ished for sufficient reasons and that he
! would not interfere unless l indicated
| that the men had been unjustly removed.
| This refused TO do
Il was. therefore. surprised. when sew
! eral days ago. some OF the men came to
| me and said that they had been offered
| their places back for consideration. One
| OF the men named Davidson called On
me yesterday and said he had been ap-
! preached. ! told him, like the others, to
| keep his cash in his pocket. as / would
not recommend the reinstatement of
single inspector"
! According to the agreement each man
who agreed TO pay $50 per month was
10 be one of twenty to be appointed when
| that number OF inspectors was added to
! the custom house stan. so confident
! were the inspectors that the scheme
would go through that six. IL Is said.
signed the contract In one day. II was
/ sNortiy after this that they were again
an, coached and told that the figure had
! beer raised 10 $1,000. and that the entire
amount must be subscribed" in advance.
This rt-ulted i'm row that nearly up
set th, stNeme. Few II any OF the 90
wcult aSret to ray such sum, and the
collectors az er some haggling. agreed to
,akt ysst casN. In several instances the
none, was in uedately put up: I'm others
~ payment was made as evidence OF
goot fait anf the rest was TO be raised
within few days.
ENcws MEN APPROACHED.
Aired Grin !. one of the few men who
wer, not an cached because OF his at
tituds toward Collector Bidweli. was seen
a. hi home No. 13i West One Hundred
I ant Slrteerth street. last night. Mr..
| 0rif.i SAID frankly that he had heard Of
4 th, scheme and had been told that man
| wouh cal on him.
| y maze IL plain that 1 would have
4 nothing to do with the affair and they
4 dit ~ come near me-" he said III
4 they had ! should have taken the So
l cs,sd contract and kept Il for evidence.
.Nl,a Inst nd
J II 1 ever get back to the service II viii be
4 I'm an honorable way. I know men who
have been approached and promised rein-
statement II they would put up the money
| demanded"
Others. who were approached. told re-
r. that they were not only asked
up $500 for Immediate reinstate-
| ut were informed that n they
Il pay they could never hope 20
! be Dyed by the government In any
4 at ftsfa fpsa n q the N IL