Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
Powerful interests Bent Upon
ENDORSING Him.
CONGRESS TO WELD WHIP
Customs House Investigation Likely
to Be Means Employed.
TAFT WILL BE APPEALED TO
Importers and Government EN-
ployes United In War on Col
lector Of Port Of New York.

1cCJOI Oh xOIL VI Now 8OIAs
A Congressional inquiry into the New
York custom house is the program ar
| ranged by a powerful group of New York
| importers. They make no bones Of their
purpose to get the oficial scalp Of Will
liam Loeb. collector Of the port Of the
metropolis.
According to the plans which have been
rumored about the White House and
Treasury, the New York delegation in
Congress will ask for a special committee
| to probe into the affairs of Mr.. Loeb's Of
| fee within a day or SO after the opening
Of the national legislature. The greater
portion Of the members representing the
Empire state. IL is known. are not par
ticularly friendly to the collector. and will
use the recent frauds in the office. as well
as the collectors conduct of the cases
against the malefactors. as their provOca-
ton In asking for the inquiry.
Foremost among the influences against
Mr.. Loeb, according to the Information
at hand. IL the sugar trust which Is
under charge Of having benefited to the
extent OF several millions In short weights
by collision with bribed customs in
spectors
While the powerful influences are bring
ing weight to bear to cause the Office to be
overhauled by a Congressional commit
tee the smaller importers. who, 1t Is
claimed, have also from time to time
benefited by false weights reported by
the inspectors. are also dong all in their
power to get a crowbar under Mr.. LOebs
omcial foundation and do their part In ...e
ousting process. They are ready, too.
when the slap stick time comes to get In
their part of the work at the same time
that the big fellows make their resound-
ing whacks as Mr.. Loeb leaves the Of
fee.
Taft to Bear Brunt of Row.
The beginning of the fight is not ia :
OF, SO the wise ones are murmuring. The
appearance Of the President at the White
House within a week and the return of
Secretary Macveagh of the Treas
ury to the city shortly will be the signal
for the first big gun of the campaign to
begin.
The President likes Mr.. Loeb, and so
does the Secretary Of the Treasury. That
much everybody can bet on. The col
lector knew what he was doing when all
the intricate questions came up between
him and the grafters recently. Every
question that was apt to complicate mat
tiers subsequently went to his superiors
for decision before the collector gave
out his official action In the matter.
When he started his housekeeping
campaign In the New York custom house
he had the support Of both the President
knew what he was going to do. Word
was passed to him to go ahead"
Then the big fellows started the ball
rolling against the collector. 1t has Just
begun to gain momentum.
The regiment of customs oficials who
have for years been standing shoulder to
shoulder with the importers are also aid
ing In the effort to discredft the collector
While they may not come out openly and
do 1t. still they are doing II.
Mr.. Loeb knows 1t better than any one
else. He Is holding his trusty ak In
exactly the proper position to do the
deadly work Of decapitation whenever the
occasion arises.
Immunity to Wrongdoers Cited.
The fact that Mr.. Loeb Is now employ
ing in the customs ONCE certain con-
fessed wrongdoers, in order that they
may assist In convicting other grafters
Of the ONCE who are now in the tolls, Is
said to be one Of the chief complaints
which will be cited as making It urgent
for a congressional inquiry into the gov
eminent of the customs ONCE.
In line with the installation of the new
automatic self-registerihg scales on the
sugar docks I'm New York and other ports
of entry the Treasury officials were to-
day met with an editorial in New York
newspaper In which comment was made
on the fight on the collector.
New automatic. self-reeistering, invio-
liable scales are to be substituted for
those now In use in this port and in Bos-
ton" II recites. This, 1t 10 explained
with an righteousness and a simplicity
almost appalling, will do away with all
possibility of wrongdoing by the char
tered and privileged thieves whose well
fare is Mr.. William Loebs special care"
After perusing the editorial the officials
OF Uncle Sans strong box simply sit
back and have nothing to say. They are
awaiting plainly the first days of Con-
gress, when the New York delegation is
expected to start the fur to flying.
There may also be something doing
most any time after the President and
Secretary Macveagh come back to town.
But the really big things will probably
not happen until the wheels of Congress
begin to revolve. Then, indeed. it Is ex-
pected William Loeb jr., will have the
greatest battle of his career.
He will be at somewhat of a disad-
tage this time, il Is indicated, because
the President will probably stand by and
declare his desire that the truth be
brought out fully. instead Of rushing into
the fray at the first auspicious moment,
like his distinguished predecessor. WELD
ing the big stick In the most approved
fashion on the heads OF those who would
detract from the record which has been
10 hxrt IA