The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-15

mat the government was mulcted 10
the extent Of 5000 on one cargo Of sugar
discharged at the docks OF the American
Sugar Refining Company. at Williams
burg, n. Y. was the statement made yes
terday IN the Office OF Assistant Secretary
Of the Treasury James B. Reynolds by
representatives from the Department Of
Justice and from the Office Of the United
States district attorney. William J.
Young, in Brooklyn.
The matter was brought up because Of
visit paid 10 Washington yesterday by
Selah y. Strong. Mr. Youngs repre-
sentative. He laid before the Department
of Justice mass of evidence relating to
the cases pending against the employees
Of the sugar company. growing out Of
the discovery that there was in use
device for reducing the weights on the
scales at the company's docks.
It developed yesterday that Mr. Young
- not content TO rest with these cases.
but is Of the opinion that such a condi-
ton Of affairs could not have existed FOR
any length OF time without the knowledge
OF some OF those In authority, and il was
intimated that there may be develop
ments that will arouse more comment
than has yet been made concerning the
cases.
Has Pictures of Device.
Assistant Attorney General Edward T.
Sanford. Of the Department OF Justice,
has had charge OF the case for the gov
eminent. and it was with Mr. sanford
that Mr.. Strong conferred yesterday.
Pictures OF the scales, showing how the
device was used, were shown. and il was
after this conference, the visit was made
TO the Treasury Department
So far, the indictments and arrests have
been only Of the employees and officials
closely connected with the weighing but
Mr.. Strong's Office proposes sitting the
case 10 the bottom before 1t is closed.
The photographs OF the device, by
which, il Is claimed the government was
cheated in the weighing OF the sugar at
tracted much attention in the Treasury
Department yesterday. The device is
nothing more or less than a corset steel
so set IN the scale that il exerts a slight
pressure on the scale bar. lifting il so
that the average loss Of weight is about
twenty-eight pounds to the ton.
The sugar IS weighed when Il IS IN
loaded at the company's docks. Govern
ment representatives are al hand and
supervise the work
Weigh Four at a Time.
-Four bags OF sugar are weighed al a
time. and the customs duties are based
on these weights. When the device was
discovered the vessel unloading was the
Strathyre. from Java. with a cargo Of
about 5000 tons AT the rate OF twenty
eight pounds 70 the ton. the loss 10 tho
government on that one shipment alone
would have amounted % 1900. and Il the
peculation has been going on fCr a num-
Der OF years. as is suspected, II IS almost
Impossible 70 estimate the loss 10 the
government
Several OF the cOmp2ny's employees are
under arrest or Indictment Oliver Splitter
is under $500 bond, accused Of having
attempted 70 bride an inspector at the
time the discovery was made. Thomas
Kehoe is under $500 bond. charged with
having knowingly used a fraudulent de-
vice. and Walter J. Wright shipping
clerk for the sugar company: Conrad
Heller. and Fred Schwartfeger are charged
In a special presenment 10 the e~and
jury as having received money in counec-
ton with covering up the facts in the
cases