Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-20

b. '>S' = ~ ~ WV tSs--SOltCCIOf
OF the Port Loeb today announced
the removal from tho customs
service Of seventy-three employees
and attaches Of the weighing and
other divisions of the customs
service here.
New York, Nov. 19.-The crisis pre-
clpitated In the customs service at
THIS port by the revelations made by
former government employees engaged
In the weighing and sampling of sugar
imports has reached an acute stage
with the abrupt dismissal of six
suspected employees by Collector Loeb.
AT the same time came the announce.
ment that a house-cleaning commits.
sion of eight customs experts-whose
integrity is unquestioned-has been
appointed by Mr.. Loeb to take up at
once the work of "making the New
York customs house model for the
entire country"
Although the names of the six men
dismissed were not given out, Mr.. Loeb
said that all Of them were customs in
spectors. Four were formerly assist
ant Weighers on the sugar docks and
are now under charges which are be-
lng investigated by Henry L. Stimson,
sheolal counsel for the government III
the su"ar investigation.
The direct reason for the disn,issa,
of the other two inspectors was said
by Collector Loeb to be their accent
ance recently of tips from steamer
passengers.
According to renort. more than fifty
other employees are also to be ousted
by Collector Loeb within a few DAYS.
The new commission, which is ex-
pected to decise a plan Of reorganiza-
ton for the customs administration at
the port Of New York, is headed by
John G. Williams deputy collector,
and Mark P Andrews, member uf
Mr.. Loeb's special board of legal coun-
sci. The other members represent all
the important departments of the GUS
toms service They are John J. Rasz-
kwiecz, deputy surveyor; William
Sprague, deputy collector; George
j. Smythe, member of the United
States civil service board, Matthew NJ.
Coneys, deputy surveyor, and John G.
Hathorn and Stephen W.. S. Tennot,
deputy appraisers.
Those 18 men, known as the col
lectors' advisory commission" held
their first session In the customs house
yesterday. Their meeting lasted until
late in the evening, but nothing was
given out as to the business which oc-
cupied their attention.
The house-cleaning which Collector
Loeb is preparing to inaugurate is be-
lieved to threaten customs employees
other than those having to do with
sugar.
The collector was asked If the twen-
ty-two weighers whose names he sub
mitted to the United States civil SER
vice commission as "undesirables,,'' had
been indicted bv the federal grand
jury for complicity in the sugar frauds.
but he declined to either confirm or
deny the report.
Shaw Says corsa's Statement is False
Chicago, Nov. 19-Leslie NJ Shaw
of Iowa, former secretary Of the treas.
ury, who was in Chicago yesterday on
business, declared that the statement
made in New York by Harry c. Corsa,
former government customs inspec-
tor, who says that he was discharged
after exposing customs graft, and that
Mr. Shaw tried to have him restored 20
his position, was false.
"Corsa was discharged before took
Office" said Mr.. Shaw, and never
considered putting him back, much
less promised to do so''
Mr.. Shaw was shown Corsa's state
ment that the secretary had written
him a letter SAYING that he would like
to restore the discharged employe but
'his hands were tied"
81 would give s1,000,000 for a COPY
of any such letter." said Mr.. Shaw.
Not that>I want it, or think it Of i'm
portance, but no such letter was ever
written"
Mr.. Shaw declined to discuss the
sugar frauds.
TX/, T,ac d.