Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-19
CLUE TO SUGAR CRAFT
Sampler Discharged Seven Years Ago
Furnishes Evidence.
BRIBE MONEY is TURNED OVER
He says Appeals TO Secretary Shaw
for Reinstatement Were I'm
heeded-weiEhers Are
Indicted.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1s.-Henry c. Corsa,
who once was employed as a government
sampler at the American Sugar Refining
company's docks in Jersey City. added
further interesting material today to the
complicated controversy surrounding the
frauds charged to the and various
customs officials and employees.
Corsa was discharged from the govern
ment service seven years ago, by reason.
as he believes, Of his efforts to obtain an
investigation. He reviews the obstacles he
met and recites 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.
Wilbur F. Wakeman, a former appraiser,
brought Corsa's name into the case some
time ago. when he attested to the fact
Of his discharge after he had brought to
the governments attention convincing evil
dence Of graft, which, Corsa says, was
successfully pigeonholed after he was
ousted. His efforts to obtain reinstate-
ment, Corsa adds, were aided from time
to time by Leslie M. Shaw, former secre-
tsry of the treasury; Charles H. Treat,
former collector Of internal revenue. and
by several representatives in congress and
by other government officials, but none
Of them, he declares, 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 Whitehead,
who succeeded wakeman as appraiser.
Talk with Secretary shaw.
Corsa says Secretary Shaw. after a long
conference, said:
"Ill see that you are put back. / could
demand 1t right now, but things are work
ing so smoothly between Mr.. Whitehead
and myself that l don't want to break in
abruptly on him with this demand"
A short time afterward, according to
Corsa, he received a letter from Mr.. Shaw
stating hat Shaw found his hands so tied
that he could do nothing.
Corsa says his evidence against the sugar
company was TO the effect thai agents OF
the company had offered him brides in re-
turn for his assistance in substituting
sugar of a low grade in samples taken by
the government for tests upon which car.
goes were appraised. AS a part Of this evil
dence, he turned over to his superiors the
money given him as a bribe.
Many Employees Involved.
Richard Parr, who is still a deputy sur.
veyor Of the port, said today that receni
Investigations have shown that one mar
In every five among the employees in the
weighers division of the New York custom'
house has been found implicated in thu
frauds, or is under suspicion of the mos.
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 investi
cation will be opposed by at least som,
OF the officials in charge Of the presen
investigation. 1t was openly said toda!
by a government official that such an in
quiry would defeat its own ends in tina
many of the guilty importers would be abb
to obtain immunity by testifying for tn,
prosecution.
In fact, it is suggested that the import
ers themselves arr working for an inves
tigation by congress.
Weighers Are Indicted.
Although no official confirmation coul,
be had today either from custom
officials or from United States Dis
trict Attorney Wise, the report /
persistent that indictments have beel
found against a number Of govern
ment weighers, whom Special Attorne
General Stimson has connected with tn
weighing frauds perpetrated by the Amer
lean Sugar Refining company at its VIII
%lamsburg docks.
The report from Washington that a lis
Of twenty-five assistant welghers had bee
furnished to the United States civil servlc
commission by the collector at New Yor
Of men implicated in the frauds in ques
ton was confirmed by Deputy surveyo
Richard Parr.
Mr.. Parr admitted that a list Of 'unde
sirables' had been prepared by him an
forwarded to the secretary Of the treasury
, He lntimated, however, this list was muc
, longer than that referred to by the Unite
States civil service commission and tina
when the final "shake-up' came a cor
siderably greater number than TWENTY-FIVE
would be dropped.
The belief is becoming general that
congressional Investigation Of the Me-
York custom house will be ordered.
Colonel Edward s.. Fowler, collector {
tho port, today declared himself in fave
Of such an investigation.
Deputy Surveyor Barr modified n
earlier declaration that he had %discovere
fraud in the importation Of sugar at Phi
adelphia, by saying that possibly the dis
crepancies could be ascrlbed to natur,
causes, such as shrinkage and moisture.
At the headquarters Of the America
Sugar Refining company, President w
Thomas issued a denial OF a report thl
. he Intended TO resign.
A report hat A. H. senff had resigne
as director was also denied, it being e.
planned that Mr.. Senff had merely decline
a reelection.
GOLDEN WEDDING nE PIONEER