New-York tribune., 1909-11-13
BACK ME, SAYS LOEB
TAFT AND MACVEAGH.
Collector Tells Diners about
His Crusade.

Collector Loeb told appraisers. collectors
and assistants representing about hfty-nve
customs ports and departments in this
country, assembled at dinner in the Re-
publican Club last night that he had the
support Of President Taft. Secretary Mac
veagh and the higher oficiais in the
Treasury Department In his work Of clean
ing out dishonest employees IN the customs
service here and In the punishment Of
vioators Of the customs laws. Further
more. he said. he was going to have that
support until the work was done.
The dinner was given for the visiting
customs officials by Appraiser wanmaker.
and, including the men in the government
service. there were about 100 persons At
the tables in the large rooms on the tenth
floor OF the club building In West nth
street. ". p. Luck. appraiser Of New
Orleans. was the POSTMASTER. Mr. Loeb
sat at his right and Mr.. Wanmaker at
his left. Mr.. Loeb had made the stipula-
tion before the dinner was served that he
would not speak unless newspaper men
were excluded. There was none present
when Mr.. Luck introduced him. Mr. Loeb
said:
I am not man of many words. My
speaking ability II invoiced and entered at
this port would be returned from the Ap-
pnast prsisssts ofies as oS no value; But ut am
and expect the help of the appraisers In
cleaning house. SO that the honest men IN
the department viii get their dues. VIII
lished this morning that I intended TO
make defence tonight OF my admiuistra-
tion OF the Custom House. IL doesn't need
In the work at the Custom House am
doing some housecleaning. and I'm going
Sno@ Ssep thst az qTs have " the hearty % support Of
the President of the United States and OF
the head of the Treasury Department and
of the higher officials in that Department
and I'm going to keep on having that sup
port until the work is done. Those who
are dishonest will have 10 go. and every
violator Of the law will be punished IL he
Is caught.
The underlying current of nearly every
speech was one OF accord with the Collector.
G. ". Gardner. Collector at Providence.
said Mr.. Loeb should use vacuum cleaner.
and Mr. Wanmaksr. who followed. said
there was less friction in his department
than ever before, and that both he and the
Collector knew that they had the strong
support of the Treasury Department In
their administrations.
Charles p. Skinner. a deputy appraiser
here. an ex-Consressman, said:
a clean house. We know he will accom-
plish that. II has been said thar there
may be 8 Congressional investigation We
are all ready for II at any time II II
should be held the result will be that the
Collector and Appraiser will stand out clear
and justified in what they have done to ad-
minister the customs arratrs OF this port
in clean way.
Mr.. Skinner referred to reports that
merchants were compelled to pay brokers
to expedite their shipments He said that
a merchant who did that knew he was
doing something dishonest. and he should
know that he could apply to the head Of
the service for justice and would get ~.
He objected 20 placing works of art Of a
certain age on the free list. saying that
persons who could afford 70 paw high
prices for them could afford 10 pay a high
duty. He said one result OF the free ad-
mission was that all foreign works OF art
were declared 10 be within the free age
limit
Charles P. Montgomery. chief OF the
customs division of the Treasury Depart
ment. praised the progress Of Mr.. Loebs
work for reform and also praised Mr.
Wanmaksr. Thomas y. Skuse. represent
ing the naval officer. referred 10 Mr.
Loeb's speech as an assurance Of reno
walton. and then T. OShaughnessy. ap-
praiser az Chicago. said that appraisers
and collectors wanted men in I'll. customs
service who would do their full duty with
out fear or favor. The collector and ap-
praiser al New York. he said. were setting
a splendid example TO all customs officials.
an example that all were ready and eager
10 emulate.
There were other speakers from other
ports, and during a lull letter Of con-
graduation was read from James Burton
Reynolds. former assistant secretary OF
the Treasury. Mr.. Luck handed Mr. Mont
EomsTy a pearl pin for Mr. Reynolds as
a gift from the appraisers and others as
ser1oled at the dinner. Mr. wannraker's
guests are here at a yearly conference
which was begun early this week and
will closs on Tuesday.