Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
ON SERIOUS CHARGES
Ralph lizard, Inspector Of Chi
nese, Suspended.
HAS 8 DAYS TO ANSWER
SUMMONED FROM NEW YORK By
IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS.
Result Of Investigation Begun by
Treasury Department Several
Months Ago.
HAS 8 DAYS TO ANSWER

Ralph lizard, United States Chinese IN
spector for the northern border of Vermont,
New Hampshire and New York, with head
, quarters in Brooklyn, was temporarily sus-
pended from office today pending his an
swer to certain charges, said to be of a
grave character, preferred against him by
Frank P. Sargent, United States commits
sionar general Of immigration.
Mr.. lizard was. summoned to Washington
by Commissioner General Sargent. He ar
rived last evening and copy OF the
charges was presented to him by Mr. Sar-
gent this morning. He glanced them over
hurriedly and to Mr.. Sargent ridiculed the
idea that there was any truth in them.
lizard Has No Statement.
Leaving the commissioner generals office
Mr.. lizard went to room 159 on the same
floor He was engaged in reading the
charges, which covered a score or more OF
typewriter pages, when reporter for The
Evening Star found him and asked him II
he had any statement to make.
Il do not care to say anything at present,
as you can readily understand" was his re-
ply.
''Will you have any statement to make
for publication after you have read care
fully the chafges?'
Il do not think that shall"
Not for Publication.
When Commissioner General Sargent was
asked for a copy of the charges he said
that he had no personal objection but that
he would produce it only on an order from
the Office Of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
Secretary Shaw being away from the city.
the reporter was referred to Acting Secre-
tary Taylor. This official said that the did
not consider 1t fair to make the charges
public before Mr.. lizard had been given an
opportunity to answer them.
Charges have been preferred against
MIR. lizard. but that is about all care to
say he said. -i---a-s--f=s--.t-
In answer to a question Mr.. Taylor said
charges were preferred against Mr.. lizard
something about year ago, but his an
swer to them at that time was considered
satisfactory.
Commissioner Sargent's Statement.
Commissioner General Sargent dictated
this statement:
''The charges preferred today against Mr..
lizard are of such a serious character that,
unless they be disproved by positive evi-
dence. shall be compelled to recommend
to the Secretary of the Treasury his dis
charge from the service"
Ralph lizard entered the service Of the
immigration bureau OF the Treasury De-
partment. December 5. 1893 He was first
located at Boston. His headquarters were
In that city when the previous charges were
preferred against him. lizard was then
transferred to Brooklyn.
Complaints Of Misconduct.
Complaints of the alleged misconduct OF
Mr. lizard were again brought to the at
tention of the Treasury Department and
Commissioner General Sargent last sum-
mer. The case was placed in the hands of
w. H. Otis, experienced detective in the
employ of the Treasury Department. Mr..
n ya1 occyI, d.
about the first of September and the re-
suit of his investigations was the basis for
the charges preferred against lizard today.
The charges against Mr.. lizard are said
to involve certain questionable methods al
legged to have been used in the matter of
admitting Chinese to this country. The doc
ument is voluminous one and includes, 1t
is said. large number Of alleged viola
tions of the law.