New-York tribune., 1909-11-16

Vas concerned 10 make any special in
Nestigations 81 any kind. but TO do gen
eral work. There was nothing said or lnN-
mated st the time in regard 10 assign
Ing him 10 any special port or any sps-
cial work. II was deemed best by The
department that, cw'ing both TO ine
crowded condition Of the special agent
ufioe al New York at the time and 10
Mr. PARIS lack OF experience i'm the kind
of work he Was 10 do, he should nrst
serve an apprenticeship at a smaller
Port. Tie was acCof fdingly stationed Al
Portland. Ne. ana after a time he was
transferred 10 New York and assigned
Ia The Office OF the special agent Al the
custom House.
PARR LETTER QUOTED FROM
The irst connection the department
hsd with M. Parr as sugar investi-
gator was after information had been
lodged here and such information sent
forward for investigation. Mr. Psrr
himself IN a lettsr written 10 the depart
ment during the present year states;
'Nfncldlly the investigation OF the al
legged wrongdoing m the weighing of
suarS frss assigned 10 me November III,
lsei. b. Special Agent q. r. Gross
EveG in making his formal claim for
reward Mr.. fsrr gave not the slightest
intimation that he had ever spoken II
The matter OF sugar frauds 90 any one
connected with the Treasury Department
An Washington.
Mr. Parr states that on tn, eve Of
The sugar trisl he was sent on a trip 20
the West thus preventing him from
Carrying on the necessary investigation
ano preparation OF data. and that this
was done for the purpose Of hindering
and hsmpering the investigation. on
fhc contrary. II was 10 help this work
that he was ordered 90 make this trip.
II wss st the direct request ~ District
Attorney Stimson, as the following let
Ger viii show:
pepsrtmen' cf Justice
Washington. Dec. & lsos-
tniteo states agt American Sugar Rem
ing Company az New York. puty case.
Ihe Secretary of the Treasury Washing
SIR In aIr stiuson's recent letter 20
sou be requested YOU 70 instruct Mr.. Rich
ard Psrr. special agent. 10 proceed 10 Cuba
fcr the purpose OF conducting certain in
Nestiestlons there IN connection with this
sicians advise him very strongly against
gong 20 cuba. and. consequently. We do
rot feel like continuing on. that line
~fn sVthoriEe Mr.. Parr - proceed 70 san
Francisco instead. and there 10 investigate
the slgsr entries Tor the purpose. among
ether fhingE 81 comparison between them
snd the ones here IN SUIT. Very respect
fully. XNFRED 7. pENISoN.
Assistant United States Attorney se4then.
District of Sew York.
The reason for this action can be ex-
planned bv the District Attorneys Office.
which had charge of the conduct Of the
case as n vas cnly on their request that
the Treasury Department acted.
RELEASE OF THE sTRATHYRE.
Ir. Parr has something 20 say I'm re-
gard 10 the releasing 81 the vessel
etrsthyne IN November. 1907 after he
had seized H.
There Is no Information IN any Of the
reports of the deps rtTnent tending 90
show any violation Of the customs law
by said vessel her master or owner. II
Is assumed that the vessel had been duly
entered. her manifest filed as required by
Law and g permit OF delivery issued for
the unloadins Of the cargo. The fraud
discovered was m the weighing Of the
sugar after n had been landed from tho
Nessei. with which fraud the officers Of
the vessel were in no way connected
The fraudulent acts were in violation
cf section of the sct of June 10. 1890.
hich provides for the forfeiture Of the
MERCHANDISE or the value thereof. 10 be
collected from the person making the
entry. Jt Is optional with the DEPART
nent IN all such cases whether 20 make
physical seizure or bring civil suit II
IS often preferable in administrative
practice 10 do the latter. such action
IN this case in no way implied the gov
ernments remedy. ~ II had the right
snc power 10 recover the value Of such
goods from the importer suit was filed
Tor the recovery Of the value Of these
sugars and judgment recovered.
Mr.. Parr makes the statement that IN
the summer Of 1909 MT Bates. the reg
ulsr sugar examiner and expert Of the
department. was allowed 20 take part
fn the inVeStigs ton, in opposition 10 his
CMr. Psrr'sb wishes Whether or not
fhis Is true I do not know as I was
~ Europe al The time and had no con-
rection with the alleged incident.
This oisDoses Of the specific charges
~ Mr.. Parr. As 10 any general implics-
fion that the Office Of the assistant sec
re'sry in charge ~ customs Was some
% how in league with or under the infu-
enCe ~ the Sugar Trust I csn only as
ssrt most positively that In the four
wears snd q half Of my tenure ~ this
office 7 saw no indication that the said
trust attempted ~ exercise such infu-
ence no approaches were ever made 10
. ms by any ~ its officials or agents. and
performed my duties with none but
fhe most common knowledge ~ the ex-
N.aa- a -. naruH Hfrna