The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-23
TO EXTEND SCOPE
OF H0USECLEAN|NG
Government Has Still More in
Hand at the New York Gus
toms House.
SUGAR COMPANIES NOT
ALONE THE GUILTY ONES
Loss of Millions Through Crimi-
nal Acts of DressmakcrS
Charged.

w -AcIilNb lON, NOV. 2-.-lnsllIu-
ton of criminal prosecutions against
perpetrators of "slccper trunk Gus
toms frauds, with ramifications in all
parts of the country: the pressing of
existing indictments TO AVOID lapses
under the statute Of limitations, and
the customs investigation generally,
were discussed at lengthy conference
of the treasury department. today. Sec
retary of the Treasury MacVeagh. At
torney General Wickcrshsm, Collector
Loeb or the port of New York and
United States District Attorney Henry
A. Wise participated
After More Money.
incidentally, Secretary MacNeagh
announced that the 50 600, 900 which the
American Sugar Refining company had
paid over 10 the government on ac.
count Of evasion of duties was regarded
by the government as a complete set.
Element for all its uudcr~weighing
frauds, but that amount effected no
other evasions of duty and IN no wise
figured as 10 the other matters, and
that the government purposed TO re
cover much more money as the result
of frauds tho so.called trust had com
mitted.
After the conference. Secretary
MacVeagh smiIingly referred TO the
sugar frauds. overshadowing in inter
est one OF the most important phases
of the whole investigation, the com
mission of frauds by importers bring
ing in trunks with false bottoms, in
volviDg losses 10 the government of
millions of dollars.
Sleeper Trunk Frauds.
Collector Loeb explained that where
this had been possible in the past, rules
had been adopted under tho present
regime which would preclude any such
frauds in the future,
The sleeper trunk frauds, whereby
goods arc brought into this country IN
trunks with false bottoms, stretch to
many parts of tho United States.
though passing only through the port
of New York in cases about TO be
prosecuted
Beyond The generalization of millions
of dollars. nobody officially can esti-
mate the amount of taxes thus evadcd
Most violators of the law in this re
spect are dressmakcrs. The government
has much evidence. and tho prosecu-
tions promise to be sensational,
Collector Loeb said today that the
sleeper trunk frauds could no longer he
carried on successfully under rules he
has adopted, These provide for new
stamp arrangement for trunks and 4
limit 10 t':~ time n trunk may remain
on the docks lIcnccforth the trunks
cannot stay there long enough TO be
whislled away after nlghtfall. Instead,
tho government will stow the trunks
away.
Will Encourage Honesty.
An honest standard for all steamship
employees will be buttrcssed. This will
bc effected through the company IS dis
missal OF mon guilty Of abctting frauds,
( Some cases already have developed in
which the collector complained and the
companies acted promptly. Secretary
| MacVeagh declared today that he had
no knowledge of reported offers of
| 5000 900 and $500. .00O respectively, by
| independent sugar refining companies
TO the government to drop cases against
! thom.
Edwin T. Anderson, former en-
ployec Of the American Sugar Refining
| company, who has made "a claim on the
| treasury department for compensation
| for data he gave the government, called
with his counsel They talked with
Secretary MacNeagb Il few minutes and
| asked TO see the papers of Surveyor
| Richard Parr, who also has filed "A
| claim, PARIS claim was refused by As,
sistant Secretary Reynolds two years
ago on a ruling prohibiting customs
| employees from receiving any bonus,
! Mr. MacNcagh declined TO allow An
derson to sec the papers.