The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-06
Plead Lack of Time
in Case of Cruzen

detriment of this country and its cause
in it's insuuar possessions there and else
where. 1t may not be out of place for
me to state that the gravity or delicacy
of the situation demands the most care
full handling by the authorities at Wash
ington in order that there may be good
and unreasonable administration.
This is said with especial reference
to the administration of the customs.
which should have at It's head as able
and well-seasoned a customs man as can
be obtained-a man of tact, as well as
executive ability-and such without MAX
ing invidious comparison. as it had in
the former collector, of whose admins
tration l have heard no criticism
AS TO the Irregularities cropping out
under the present collector, IL is but
fair to state that he had had no prior
experience whatever in customs affairs,
and these seem to have been largely,
if not altogether, through lack of ex-
perience and tact and, hence, not de-
signedly%
BAD instances quoted
Under the head Acceptance of valu-
able presents by collector from impor-
ers," Mr.. Cullom, after giving the ex-
PLANTATION quoted in the opening para
graph. said of the acceptance OF gifts.
zone instance was that Of a case OF
beer taken from the German steamship
Bolivia on December 81 1902. Inspector
p NJ. Matheson, when questioned on the
subject before the collector, stated that
on the date mentioned he went aboard
the vessel named, by direction of Mr..
Cruzen, and got a case of beer and de-
livered it in the storerrom Of the Gus
tom house. He was accompanied on the
launch by the three custom house boat
men and Inspector Tejidor.
Inspector Rodriguez and the store
keeper noticed the case in the store
room, where it remained for a, few days
when It was taken to the collectors
house by a cartman-one Mecho. The
/ collector admits these facts, and that
no duty was paid on the beer. which he
states was simply a voluntary gift from
! the agents of the vessel. Messrs. Mullen
hoff and Korber, and which member OF
this firm also states.
] when asked why. if they wished tC
make the collector a present. they did
not present him with beer that had pass
ed the customs. this gentleman. Mr.
Engle, seemed much embarrassed anC
nervous. as did also the collector. whei
( asked about accepting a present undel
such conditions. Mr.. Cruzen said tina
he hardly gave the matter a though
and did not realize the serious phase o.
it before his attention was at this Tins
called to the law and regulations gov
erning such matters.
Prominent Natives Gift.
Another instance occurred on Sep
| TENDER 8. 1902. when the collector sen
/ Inspector Tejidor aboard the French
steamer St Simon, from havre, with one
Of the ships agents. Mr. We're (Haitiar
consult. of the firm of J. T. Silva & Co.
and who brought ashore a case of wine
which the collector directed him tie
jidor) to take to his house in Santurce
which he did. going by trolley. No duties
were paid on this wine, the inspector
aboard-Pable Rodriguez-passing SAM
without permit. as he was told it wa
for the collector.
Mr.. We're. when interviewed on tn
subject, admitted the above facts an
stated that the wine was a present fror
Mr.. Paniagua. president of the chambe
of commerce at San Juan. and head O
the firm OF J. T. Silva & Co. Mr.. PAM
aqua corroborated Vere's statement, bu
embarrassment seemed to come to al
concerned when ii was inquired VIII
they did not give presents Of duty-pai
merchandise. and If tbey-the collecto
and the other two gentlemen-did no
know that there had been either an in
territorial or unintentional violation {
law, and serious one at that.
"Avowals that there was no intentio
or thought Of such violation were mad
in all these cases OF Irregularities.
Bought Presents for Collector.
Two other very large and promlner
firms Whose names will be withheld 70
the present. but furnished to the depart
ment later Of San Juan have mad
statements regarding the making c
D presents to the collector. 1t is state
! by the head OF one of these that hi
: firm presented the collector a case {
e whisky taken from duty-paid stoc
3. about last New Year. and that while III
? collector did not exactly ask for It. /
| limited that he would like to recei,
same. as was the Spanish custom
! and that accordingly the package
: whisky was presented to and accepte
q by the collector without giving II
name OF this firm (which they did n,
want done for obvious reasons) IT W;
u, not denied that a case OF liquor wa
received about the time stated, but u
!, collector claimed that in no case h5
. he requested or demanded such gifts
any way
The head OF the other firm referre
to stated that his firm made the co