The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-05
TAKE TROUBLE Il
TO PRESIDENT
New York Merchants After
LOeb's Scalp.
WILL ASK SQUARE DEAL

Believe That True Conditions In
Customs House Have Been Con-
cealed From Taft and Want Him
to Understand Extent Of Graft Sys-
TEN That Has Prevailed For Years.
Fear Collectors Policy Of Protect
ing Thieves VIII Prove Disastrous.
New York, Nov. 5.--Merohants and
importers who are disgusted with
conditions in the New York custom
house are planning to ask President
Taft to remove William Loeb, Jr.,
from his job as collector of the port.
It was learned that representatives
of number of large importing con.
Germs have held a meeting to talk
over how the matter shall be put UP
to the president when he returns TO
Washington. 1t was stated authori-
tatlvely that more conferences would
be held on the same.
Representatives of mercantile con-
Germs that have been squeezed by dis
honest officials in the appraisers de-
partment as well as by grafters in
the surveyors division have made up
their minds to ask for square deal
from the president of the United
States. At the same time they want
congress to send commission TO
New York which will comb the GUS
toms service out and not permit its
representations to be pigeon-holed in
the treasury department.
The merchants who think that the
only chance of securing permanently
improved conditions in the New York
custom house is by easing Mr.. Loeb
out of the custom Office intend to tell
Mr.. Taft number of things which
have been concealed from him hith-
erto-matters that have not reached
the president, either through the
stupidity of some officials or through
the friendliness of others to grafters.
II was brought out in the meeting of
interested merchants that none of
them believes that the president Is
informed of the conditions that have
sprung up since Collector Loeb
adopted the policy of securing the
conviction of men with money by the
testimony of protected thieves who
are shy Of cash.
"They intend to tell the president"
said one of the merchants, that they
are getting afraid to have dealings
with the custom house under Mr..
Loeb's incumbency. They hesitate to
order large consignments from
abroad because recent events have
shown them that there is nothing to
prevent the thieves of the customs
service from going before Collector
Loeb and charging them with fraud
Mr.. Loeb has proved that he will pro
tect any dishonest man who tells a
tale that duplicates an importer.
"The Christmas season is coming
on. 1t is the fattest time of the year
for the custom house gratters. II is
the season in which the grafters go
house demanding presents. Every
year. as the holidays approach, mer-
chants and importers have been visit.
ed by employees of the custom house
who hold out their hands for any
thing they can get. They ask for
wines, liquors, cigars, dry goods, silk
dresses. ribbons, laces, provisions
and cash. Merchants, unfortunately,
who are of integrity in other ways,
have submitted to this extortion be-
cause they knew the power of the
custom house graft ring to jnjure
them in business.
while Mr.. Loeb has stated that
he had kept only n few thieves In
Office, 1t is known that he has be-
friended more than 80. Other Gus
toms officials under suspicion are
waiting for good opportunity TO
turn government witnesses so they
can wiggle out of personal danger
and hold their jobs. 1t is known that
they are only waiting for a chance
la frame; I'm sufficiently likel.'