The Washington herald., 1909-11-13

"A nest of corruption" was the way
Franklin MacVeagh. Secretary Of the
Treasury. referred to the New York
custom-house yesterday.
Mr.. MacVeagh has been aroused by the
conditions that prevail. and apparently is
determined TO get at the bottom.
1t is asserted at the Treasury Depart
ment. however. that it was his intention
from the time he assumed his present
Office TO make a thorough inquiry into all
branches OF the Treasury service, and
that his current activity IS in line with
that determination.
We think our houses are clean some
times when they are not" said the Sec
rotary Of tho Treasury. thine passes
rapidly. and when we come to look into
the matter of house-cleaning we discover
that it was not a year ago that the
last cleaning took place. but four or five
years ago. We have made such a dis
covery and are starting in TO clean
house again.
MHcVengh Examines StimsOn.
1t became known yesterday that when
Mr.. MacVeagh had a conference with
Collector Loeb and others in the govern
ment service in New York on Monday
night, with the object Of finding out by
personal examination all about the trou-
BILE in the custorn-house, former District
Attorney Sumson. who was employed by
the government after the expiration Of
his term of office TO prosecute the sugar
trust frauds, was present, and was ex-
amined by Mr. MacVeagh.
Attorney General Wickersham Travelled
from Washington 20 Philadelphia with
President Taft Thursday night. and It is
the understanding that the prosecution Of
the sugar trust was the main subject Of
their three hours conversation Mr.
Wickersham returned 10 Washington yes
terday afternoon, but no statement in his
behalf could be obtained at the Depart
ment OF Justice
one Of the first steps in Mr.. Mac
Neagh's housecleanng process will be a
reorganization OF that branch Of the
Treasury Department to which the corps
OF special customs agents Is attached
These agents constitute the secret service
Of the customs administration, and are
regarded by Mr.. MacVeagh as the right
hand Of the Secretary OF the Treasury IN
his effort 20 protect the revenues from
fraud inefHcieucy. and carelcssness-
May he Detached.
It is probable that when Secretary Mac
Neagh acts in the matter he viii detach
all special agents from permanent en-
DlOyment at custom houses and use them
thereafter solely for the purpose of max
ing special examinations at periods not
fixed. Apparently the intention is TO en-
ploy them as national bank examiners are
employed The desire is to avoid having
any agents remain for n considerable pc
Rod OF time at any one custom-house.
II was explained that the investigation
which the Secretary has Instituted Is TO
be Of a sweeping character. Not only
viii II affect custom-houses, but will be
applied TO all other branch establish
ments Of the Treasury Department, in
Guiding subtreasuries. minis, public build
ings. and internal revenue collection
offices.
differentiation Reported.
A conference which Mr.. MacVeagh held
yesterday at the Treasury Department
with Marion De Vries. chairman Of the
board OF general appraisers at the port
OF New York, and G. Frank Lloyd. deputy
assistant attorney general for the Gus
toms Court, brought 10 the attention OF