The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-17
Edward |. Anderson Files Claims
for a Million Dollars
He WORKED FOR HAvEMYER
Anderson Is the Man Who Gave the
First information About the Su-
gar Frauds and Who Will
Aid the Prosecution.

New York, November 16.-A new figure
was introduced tonight into the contro-
versy surrounding the investigation of
frauds charged to the American Sugar Re-
f1nng company when Edward 1. Ander-
son, former superintendent of docks for
the company, and close personal friend
of the late Theodore o. Havemyer, an
nounced through his attorneys that he is
the man referred to by James b. Rey-
nolds, former assistant secretary of the
treasury, az the one who gave the de-
partment the first specific information
concerning the frauds.
Anderson has filed claims with the au-
thorities for compensation. which he es-
Inmates will reach $1,000,00o. For the last
two years he says he has been engaged
in furnishing evidence to the government,
and 1t was through him, he asserts, that
Richard Parr, who now figures so promi-
nently in the case, gained his informa-
ton.
Anderson absolves Mr.. Reynolds of any
attempt to check the investigation, de-
clarng that the former assistant secretary
was at all times enthusiastic in his de-
sire for prosecution. In fact, the first ac-
tivity came as the result of encourage
ment which Mr.. Reynolds gave him, he
says.
Reviewing the case, both by means of
affidavits which were made several
months ago, and by verbal statements
tonight. Anderson Stays that the American
Sugar Refining company requested his
resignation after Mr.. Havemyers death
in 1903, on the theory that "he knew too
much.' He had then been in the COM
pany employ for 80 years. At that time he
says he had no positive knowledge that
frauds were being committed, but he sus-
pected it, and as a result of Investigations
which he then undertook he came into
possession of what he calls positive proof
that the government was being defrauded
of at least $4,000 year at the single re-
f1nery where he had been employed
Evidence Submitted.
When he laid his evidence before the
authorities at Washington, Anderson con-
tinued, the matter was at once taken up.
He made several trips to Washington,
meeting Colonel Gerry, chief of the GUS
toms department of the treasury; Beck
man Winthrop, an assistant secretary,
and others. Both Colonel Gerry and Mr..
winthrop promised him, he says, that his
claim for compensation should be allowed,
and he accordingly went ahead with his
investigation
AS does Parr. Anderson says that while
his Investigations were in progress he
was constantly shadowed by detectives.
and was SO far convinced that he was in
danger of attack and possible assassina-
ton that a special secret service agent
was assigned to act his bodyguard.
Acting on Anderson's first letter offer
ing his services to the treasury depart
ment, Acting Secretary Reynolds had sug-
gested that the matter be taken up with
the New York customs authorities. In re-
ply Anderson said:
Il am of the opinion that one might as
we'll take the importers themselves into
his confidence as to lay the matter before
the customs house officials of this city.
Many Under Suspicion.
Twenty-Five assistant weighers in the
New York customs house are known
to have been implicated in, or are under
suspicion of positive character in the
so-called sugar trust frauds.
This is set forth In a public statement
issued tonight by Chairman John &.
Black and Messrs. McIlhenny G. Wash
burn, of the civil service commission,
IN answer to charges to the effect that
appointments and removals in the New
York customs house were at the dictum
of the trust.
The statement of the commissioner is
designed to show the care which is
taken in the preparation and rating of
examination papers, how, by reason of
the methods in vogue, 1t is practically i'm
possible for the commissions examiners
In Washington to show favorttsm in
rating the authority givin appointing
officers to examine thoroughly into the
antecedents of eligibles and the power of
believed they had grounds for such
course.
Answering in detail the charges, the
commissioners say they have been of the
most general character and no name and
no person has bee>. mentioned in connec-
tion with them 40 is one of the commits
sion's force ie information regarding
the 22 assistant wsighers came from the
New York customS house. Two of the
assistant weighers were appointed with
20 having been appointed by
certification from 1885 to 1907. There are
now employed at New York 126 assistant
weighers.
Character of Applicants.
The commission sets out how careful it
has been in ascertaining the personal
character of applicants for assistant
weighers' position. requiring information
which embodied substantially a history
Of their past careers and vouchers certi- |
flying to their worth.
Appointing officers were authorized to
file objections to eligibles were given |
ample time to confer with applicants and
to make any Investigations deemed de- !
sra BILE into their antecedents.
The statement of the commission con-
cludes:
What the commission desires to em- |
phasize to the press is that it has used |
not only all precaution possible in the |
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