The Washington herald., 1909-11-18

The most interesting development Of
The day IN connection with the sugar
fraud revelations was the presence in
Washington yesterday OF Wilbur +.
Wakeman, former appraiser at the port
OF New York, who has asserted publicly
that while serving in the appraisers Of
fee he had discovered orookedness on
the part OF employees OF the custom-house
and representatives Of the sugar trust
and had laid his information before I.y-
man J. Gage, then Secretary OF tho
Treasury.
he made an appointment 20 see secre-
tary Macveagh at o'clock. When he
arrived at Mr.. Macveagh's Office he was
not kept waiting They had a conversa-
ton lasting about an hour
When Mr.. Wakeman came out OF the
Secretary OF the Treasury's Office he de-
clined at first TO tell why he called on
MIR. MacVeaeh. but said finally that it
was IN regard to the appointment OF an
Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury.
After a while however, he admitted that
the sugar inquiry was touched on
Knows Inside story.
Mr.. Wakeman said some other things,
however. which did not pertain TO his
visit to the Secretary OF the Treasury.
He intmatcd although he did not say
SO In terms. that he knew the inside story
% fffsr fr- all
came into part of the Information he
had while he was appraiser OF the port OF
New York he said and learned a good
deal more about the operations Of the
sugar trust since ne left the customs
service. IN 1901.
Mr. Waterman vas asked n he thought 4
Leslie NJ. iAaw. when Secretary OF the
Treasury. had been alert I'm preventing I
dcpredauons ON the revenues by the
sugar trust. HE did the best he could
in the circumstances" answered BIr /
Wakeman. There were obstacles In the |
way"
Mr.. Wakeman did not mince words IN |
paying his respects to former Secretary
Of the Treasury Gage. who used the
shorter and uglier word IN characteriz- /
ing Mr. Wakeman's cnarge that Mr.. /
Gage asked Mr.. Wakeman on one oc- 7
casion 60 visit Mr.. Havemeyer and ten 1
the then head of the sugar trust that I
the government was ia possession of facts 4
rejecting on the integrity IF the sugar
company. and that prosecutions r.iEht be .
Instituted If the company did not change 4
its tactics. on this point Mr.. Wakeman
said.
Mr.. Gage denies that went on this
mission al his request You will observe F.
that my story IS confirmed by Mr..
Howell. member Of the board Of general /.
appraisers OF New York. who served in
the Treasury as assistant secretary in
charge Of customs.
1T will have more TO say on this a little
later. I made my charges against Mr..
Gage advisedly. On the occasion in ques-
ton. did not visit Mr.. Havemeyer
alone. I was accompanied by a special
agent Of the treasury service"
Mr.. Wakeman intimated that he had I'm
his possession documentary evidence that
Mr. Gage was cognizant OF some OF the
crooked work.
Has Documentary Evidence.
Mr. Wakeman said that one Of the first
men TO know OF the frauds was George
+. Cross. former supervising special
agent. who gathered the evidence in tbe
original Williamsburg cases. Mr.. Wake
man said he knew who It is that fur
nished the Information used as the basis
OF Mr.. Cross investigation. but he de-
clined 20 name him. Cross is now al
buffalo. There are some people who he
lieve his transfer from the port Of New
York was due IN part at least 70 his
activity in the sugar cases.
The opinion was expressed by Mr.
Wokeman that the present inquiry .nto
the customs service at New York would
purify the service.
In connection with the allegations that
the sugar trust had something to do with
the appointment Of civil service employees !
az the New York custom house. II was
said ar the Office OF the United States
CIVIL Service Commission that assistant
appointed under the civil service
regulations had 10 take what was known
as second-grade examination with the
additional requirement that an spplicant
must have had one years experience on
beam scales.
But II was explained that this additIonal
requirement had been IN effect onI,, si,co
September Is last. when an exaninatior
was held. Another thing said I'm tba
Offices OF the commission was that a.
examinations or assistant yvelebors +bo
commission knew nothing OF the ante
rodents or character OF applicants excent
hat furnished by the applicants them
selves.
List Grows Larger.
The list Of employees Of the New yorl,
'ustom-house known to be concerned IN
the conspiracy 70 cheat the revenues. or
against whom there IS pretty positive evil
lencs that they were engaged in the con-
'piracy. IS said 20 be startlingly large.
The Treasury Department has received /
4 list Of these persons. and Il includes
not only twenty-five assistant weighers
who were appointed under civil service ..
rules, but a good many other employees
who did not have 70 pass civil service ex-
lminations.
Government officials. who have been ,
working on the sugar trust cases. say :
Continued on PEge $, Column 6.
Manfo1~ xo,4 s-a q, 80