New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-03
HE SMUGGLED CIGARS.
Superintendent of Registry System,
Found .UisaaRg Mails.
rERox TIE rEIBUxE ErFEAUl

rERoM TIE TRIBUNE RUFEAUl
Washington. sept. 2.-Louis KempneT. super
intendent of the registry system. Postcffice De-
partment. has been found by the Postofice in
spectors to have carried on systematic SNUG
Cling Of Cuban cigars through the registered
mails. Proof has thus Tar been obtained Of the
importation Of between fifty and sixty boxes Of
cigars. on which the payment ~ duty was
evaded and many of which were sold for prices
in the neighborhood Of s. a box.
When confronted with the facts Kempner. who
has long been under investigation. attempted 70
beIittIe his offence on the same ground that
has been pleaded by all 81 the postal officials
thus far detected in dishonest practices. claim
ing that he amount Of which the government
had been defrauded was too small 70 warrant
official action in the premises
Inquiry at the Treasury Department to-day
revealed the fact that in all instances where
registered mail from foreign countries comes ad-
dressed 70 private individuals the person 10
whom il is addressed IS required to come 70 the
Postofice and open the package in the presence
of customs officials. and 1t is therefore claimed
that Kempner must have used his official posi-
ton ia smuggle the goods and have had the
cigars sent to him concealed in packages Of Of
fetal registered mail
The last consignment Of cigars sent 70 Kemp
ner was seized by the inspectors and turned
to the revenue officials for apprsisernent.
and it is believed that it will be left for repre-
sentatives Of the Treasury 70 deal with the Of
fence
Among those ~ whom Ksmpner is said 10
have sold cigars are Postmaster Merritt. As
sistant Postmaster Madison Davis Superintend-
ent Of Registry Granville Hunt. and other off,
Gals in the Washington CITY Postof1ce. and at
least one washinstonian who is not in The gov
eminent service
TIME CLOCK CONTRACT.
state Senator George Edward Green Of Bing-
hamtcn y. Y. has been before the District Of
Columbia grand fury within the last Two DAYS
in connection with the Bundv time clock con
tract Former Superintendent Beavers is Sc
riousIy implicated in the contract for these
clocks which were purchased st S125 each. and
which we're placed in hundreds Of Offices where
thew could he Of No possible use. as in many in
stances there were only two or three postal en-
ploves 70 be checked bv the time recorder. II
is also asserted by the postal officials that me
evidence which uplcates Senator Green Is 81
damaging character Mr. Green appeared
before the grand jury this time in the capacity
If = witness although II is predicted that ne
NAV be again called 70 Washington 70 answer
charges IF serious nature That he antlci-
pates that such NAV be the case is indicated by
Washington which would have been 4 solace
had he been detained here
KNEW WHERE BEAVERS WAS
The rur,or. widely circulated that the gov
eminent officials have not known where Bea-
vers was rs emphatically denied tonight. az the
inspectors have not only seen but talked with
the indicted ex-cficisf in ~ev-Tcrk on several
recent occasions It Is further known that a
personal friend of Besvsrs's. acting on me pre-
Aictior made in The Tribune that the latter
would soon be indicted by the Washington
grand Jury. came 70 Washington this week and
made arrangements for the immediate bailing If
his principal in case true bill against him vas
returned From this friend also it is learned
that Beavers is residing in New-York City
Another instance Of the willingness Of certain
members Of Congress TO mulct the government
whenever postal official we're willing 70 ne
partv 10 the scheme has Just come To light IN
the case Of q Western city 4 prominent mem
her Of Congress who has been loud in his con
demnation of the methods pursued IN the post
office investiga tion. has been round 70 nave peei
instrumental in almost doubling the expense of
his local postoffice 10 the government The De
partment held a lease on desirable buldlns
occupied by the pOstoffCe At $50" year
Through the instrumentalitv OF This member OF
CONGRESS Beavers was persuaded 70 raise the
rental 70 81 .20n a year. which price the depart
Hrent is now paying
The bonding companies IN Washington ere
snioviug a harvest a. a result Of the postal in
vestigation. Some time ago an official whose
practices were exposed in The Tribune nastened
70 The bonding company and mace arrange
roents for a hail in large amount. although no
step has been taken toward indtcttng him only
Yesterday another official who had been sum-
moned 10 testify before the grand jury took the
same preCaution. and still others have made
ARRANGEMENTS for bonds i'm oase they are ar
rested This is of great assistance to the in
spectors. as II assures them that they are on the
right track