The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-18
EMPLOYE TELLS
WHY He WAS FIRED
Doings of Sugar Trust Are
Told In An Interview
SHAW'S HANDS WERE TIED
Secretary Leslie Shaw Promised TO
Have Employe Reinstated In Gov
eminent Service But Sugar
Trust Was In Way.

New York, November 17-Henry c.
Corsa, who once was employed as a
government sampler at the American
Sugar Refining company docks in Jer-
sey City, added further interesting ma
terial today TO the complicated contro-
versy surrounding the frauds charged
to the company and various customs
employees. Corsa was discharged from
the government service by reason, he
believes, of his efforts to obtain an in
vestfgation. In lengthy interview to-
day he reviews the obstacles he met
and reciteg experiences similar in many
respects to those of Richard Parr and
Edwin Anderson, who are defending
their respective claims to being the
original exposers of corruption In the
customs house. William F. Wakeman,
former appraiser, brought Corsa's
name into the case some time ago.
when he attested to the fact of Corsa s
discharge after he had brought to tile
governments attention convincing evil
dence of graft, which Corsa says was
successfully pigeonholed after he was
ousted.
His efforts to obtain reinstatement,
CoTsa says, were aided from time to
time by Leslie NJ. Shaw, former Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and Charles q.
Treat former treasurer of the United
States. and by several representatives
in Congress and by other government
officials, but none of them, he de-
cIares, was able to overcome the grip
the Sugar company had on the New
York customs service. or to get for
him the Endorsement OF George White
head, who succeeded Wakeman as ap-
praiser
In his interview of today Corsa set
forth that he went to Washington TO
present his case to Secretary Shaw and
the latter. he says. after a long con-
ference, said
I'll see that you are put back. L
could demand it right now, but things
are working so smoothly between Nj
Whitehead and myself that l don't
want to break in abruptly on him with
this demand.
From this time afterward, according to
Corsa, he received letter from Mr.. Shaw
stating that Shaw had found his hands
so tied that he could not do anything.
Corsa says his evidence against the sugar
company was to the effect that agents of
the company had offered him brides in
return for his assistance in substituting
sugar of a low grade in samples taken
by the government for tests upon which
cargoes were appraised. AS part of this
evidence. he turned over to his superiors
the money given him as bride.
Richard Parr, who is still deputy sur
veyor Of the port, said today that recent
Investigations have shown that one man
in every five among the employees in the
weighers department of the New York
customs house has been found implicated
In the frauds or is under suspicion of the
most positive character"
The conviction that a speedy investiga-
ton by Congress is certain was expressed
today by Edward S. Fowler, former col
lector of the port of New York.
The proposals for a congressional in
vestigation will be opposed by at least
some of the officials in charge of the
present investigation. 1t was openly said
today by a government official that such
an inquiry would defeat its own pur-
poses. in that many of the guilty import
ers would be able to obtain immunity by
testifying for the prosecutors. In fact,
1t is said, the importers themselves are
working for an investigation by Congress.