New-York tribune., 1909-11-17
FRAUD INVOLVES %
WEIGHERS WHO AID
ED SUGAR TRUST.
President Learning Conduct of
Prosecutions to MdcVeagh
and WickershGm.
IFrom Tn. Tribune Buresu ]

is being solved ,by the Department of
Justice. We did take up the customs
. frauds az New York. They are being
investigated by the Treasury Depart
ment and special representatives of the
Attorney General Prosecutions of those
who violate the Sherman law and the
revenue laws are i'm the hands of COM
petent. energetic and resourceful men.
and will be carried on regardless Of
who the offenders may be-"
The foregoing statement. made by
Cabinet officer to-day. accurately repre-
sents the attitude of the administration
in its policy of law enforcement. More
over. the administration deprecates the
published statements that the President
himself is taking a personal hand in tho
sugar fraud prosecutions. He is doing
nothing of the kind. He has the utmost
confidence I'm the ability Of the Depart
ment of Justice To deal with these frauds
or any others and to carry the prosecu-
tiOns to a successful issue.
That the President is heartily in ac-
cord with the general policy Of the
Treasury Department TO drive the ras-
Gals from the customs service goes with
out saying. He does not believe. how
ever. that any great crisis has arisen
which makes II incumbent on him 10
take under his own control the conduct
of prosecutions which are being carried
on intelligently and vigorously by the
Attorney General. In other words, Mr..
Taft is minding his own business, with
the full knowledge that Attorney Gen
eral wickersham is minding the business
OF the Department of Justice.
The Civil Service Commission tonight
made the positive statement that TWEEN
ty-two assistant weighers in the New
York Custom House have been irnplicat-
cd ia or are suspected Of having been
connected with the sugar frauds.
NOT DISCUSSED BY CABINET.
The fact that at the long session held
10y the Cabinet to-day-the first Cabinet
meeting since early in August-neither
the suit against the Sugar Trust for con-
sriracy in restraint of trade nor the
prosecution of the officers and en-.
Iloyes OF the trust for violations of the
customs laws was discussed. indicates
clearly that the President is convinced
that both the Justice and Treasury de
partments are alert to he important work
which they have in charge. The Presi-
dent is i'm close touch with what Secre-
tary MacVeagh and Attorney General
Wickersham are doing. but he is not di-
rccting their course of action and will
moi interfere with the execution of their
we'll laid plans.
Nobody realizes better than President
Taft that il is not the part Of wisdom 10
try lawsuits in the newspapers. That
this view is held by Attorney General
Wickersham has been pointed out from
time 10 time in these dispa tches. In the
Tribune of May the policy of this ad-
ministration with regard to the Depart
ment of Justice was outlined. and atten-
ton was called 10 the fact that Mr..
Wickersham would be quiet but effective
in his methods of law enforcement. IL
was stated that there will be no blare
OF trumpets about Mr.. Wickershana's s sd-
ministration. and he will doubtless re-
frain from pertinent witticisms at the
expense Of the trusts. but there is a
quiet determination about the new At
torney General and an evidence of ear
nestness and capability about the de-
l ariment since he assumed charge which
rresage no good 10 violators of the
federal law
This accurately reflects the attitude
or the Department Of Justice toward the
custom house frauds at New York. The
administration is convinced that Mr.
Nlckersham and his assistants are pro-
ceeding cautiously. vigorously and i'm
partially TO get all facts bearing on vio-
lations of law. They will not follow will
o the wisps and will not be led into the
institution of suits on insufficient evil
oence. They believe such a course
would be prejudicial 10 good admins
tration and possibly inimical to obtain
ing convictions in cases of real and sub
stantial frauds
MAC VEAGH IN EARNEST.
II is not necessary 10 talk at length
With Secretary MacVeagh on the cues
tion Of custom house administration TO
understand that the Treasury Depart
ment is leaving nothing undone to drive
rascality from all the ports of entry Of
the United States. There is thorough
cooperation between the Treasury De-
partment and the Department of Justice
as 10 the details of the policy which
has been adopted. and the confident pre-
diction is made that when Mr. MacVeagh
and Mr.. Wiokershsm finish their task
the result will be a record 10 which the
Taft administration will point with pride
Secretary MacVeagh expressed some
surprise to-day that the newspapers were
raising such rumpus" over the custom
frauds Investigations. He said that tho
Tolicy laid down in March for purging
the customs service Of thievery had not
been abridged or modified in any respect
and that the campaign for the rehabjli-
tation Of that service was making most
satisfactory progress. He explained his
use of the word rehabilitation bv saw
ing il was intended TO mean more than a
mere reorganization OF the service. He
purposed. he said. TO improve the tone
of the customs service 10 the end that
all customs employees should feel that an
honest collection Of revenue for the sun-
Port Of the government is a pat-iotic
duty.
CH REEN DENTEn