Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-11-25

FORMER ASSISTANT secretary hcyHoIuS
Gives Reasons Why Deputy Survey
or Parr Made Charges Against Him.
New York's Former Collector Cor
roborates PARIS Story.
New York, Nov. .S.-The New York
Bun today prints the following dis
patch from Washington:
In spite Of the reticence maintained
by government officials on the sub
Ject, enough has developed to show
that the administration is aroused
thoroughly over the continued expos
ure Of the sugar trust frauds at the
New York customs house. If any in
difference existed heretofore on the
part OF officials, they are now alive
and alert to the seriousness of the
situation. involving as 1t does allega-
lions that bring into question the in
tegrity OF az least questionable con-
duct Of persons important in the gov
eminent service and strike at the very
foundation Of the treasury manage
ment. Already the treasury depart
ment has begun to look into the new
evidence presented, and there is prom
Use that something of interest will be
heard by the country soon.
Acting on information contained In
the Sun, the United States civil serv.
Ice commission. at formal meeting,
decided to make thorough investiSa-
ton OF the charges that representa-
tivee OF the commission In New York
had been influenced by the sugar
trust In making civil service appoint
ments. Members of the federal COM
mission acknowledge that they were
greatly upset by what the Sun alleged.
They construed the statements as a
direct charge of fraud, and the meet
ing held was special session to con-
slider the information contained in the
Suns article.
eff we find," said General John c.
Black, the president of the commits
sion, that any official employed by
this Office was guilty of irregularities
incident to the employment of per.
sons in the customs service, we will
take summary action. II we find that
officials Of another department have
been culpable either in evading or yio-
lating the laws governing appoint
ments, we will make proper recon-
mendations in the matter. 1t Is the
purpose of the commission to ascer-
tain the facts and act accordingly.
The charge is grave one and comes
to us as great surprise"
Washington, Nov flames Bur-
ton Reynolds, former assistant secre-
tary of the treasury, in charge of GUS
toms and now member of the tariff
board, has given out a prepared state
ment in answer to allegations made
by Richard Parr, deputy surveyor of
customs in charge of Weighing at the
New York customs house.
In part the statement says:
1t should be remembered that It
was while / was assistant secretary
OF the treasury that the investigation
OF the sugar trust was made and the
trial held which resulted in the con.
viction Of the company in court. Dur.
ing all the time that held that Office
there never was TO my knowledge a
single effort made to influence nv
judgment In any way by the sugar
trust.
There is one thing to keep in mind
In order to give proper weight to the
statements that have been made. Mr.
Parr Is now. and las been for some
time, claimant for a share of the
100000 turned over to the depart
ment by the sugar trust. A rule which
I made as assistant secretary, and
which I rigidly enforced. stood De.
tween him and the money reward he
desires for his services as a govern
ment agent.
"That order still stands as the rul-
ing of the department until il is
changed, and, of course. is a bar to
Mr.. Parr receiving part of the refund
obtained from the sugar trust Fur
thermore. there are other claimants
for the same reward. Mr.. Parr knows
that should the order be rescinded in
this particular case he would still be
compelled to prove thai his was the
original information on which the de-
partment acted in making investiga-
ton with the subsequent results"
Mr.. Reynolds shows that he OBJ
tanned his original information against
the sugar interests through other
sources than Mr.. Parr