New-York tribune., 1909-11-18
OPPOSE CONGRESS-
SUGAR INQUIRY
CONSERV1TITE VIEW
IN WASHINGTON.
MacTeagh and Wickersham
BelieCed to Haze Situation
Hell ip Hand.
IRON II. rrisun. slr.su J


Washington. Nov. 1T.-Menbers OF
Congress who are inclined TO stop. look
and listen before they take a radical
step. do not view with favor the suz-
sestion that the customs frauds at New
York. particularly the fraudulent prsc-
tees of the Sugar Trust. shall be in
vestigated by a COMMITTEES OF Congress-
II is taken for granted that Democrauc
members will demand an investigation
Of practices al the Port OF New York
and that in this purely political effort
they will have the support % certain
impetuOus Repu blicans who are not ia
miliar with the facts
Those members OF the Cabinet uho ars
directly interested in the customs fraud
Investigations doubt the propriety Il
discussing at this time the possibiIity
OF an investigation by Congress. II 10
believed. however. that they will not
spproee any plan Of investigation by
Senate or House COMMITTEES or a joint
committee OF the two branches OF Con-
gress. The truth is neither Secretary
Macveagh nor Attorney General Wick
ersham believes that a situation has
arisen AT the Port of New York which
is beyond their power to control They
have been pursuing their inquiry with
striking success and are convinced that
they will be able TO show results. They
have no desire to shield anybody or to
cover up anything. and II Is their pur-
pose steadfastly 70 continue their task
OF making the customs service honest by
the elimination from il OF dishonest
practices and opportunities and by driv-
ing from II dishonest officials. Wherever
the facts disclosed warrant prosecutions.
all the powers of the government Will
be employed to send the guilty men To
prison.
LAW HAS RIGHT OF WAY.
Experienced members OF Congress. who
saw the Postofice Department rehabili-
tated. reorganized and made clean
through the regular channels Of admin
istration. do not hesitate 10 express. their
approval Of the editorial comment in Ths
Tribune OF to-day on the proper means
of handling the New York situation.
They concur fully in the expression that
the law lis already on the track and has
the right of way" Furthermore. as
pointed out by The Tribune. the inves-
LEGATIONS now going on are steadily
tracing criminal responsibility upward.
! and there is nothing that Congressional
COMMITTEES could do toward punishing
the guilty that the federal prosecutor
cannot do better il left 10 himself.
II must be remembered that resolu-
tions of Congress calling on a Depart
ment for information give the executives
hold such information. provided its pub
Hcity would be incompatible with tho
public interest IL il regarded as doubt
ful if either the Secretary Of the Treas
ury or the Attorney General would re-
gard il as a wise policy 10 inform Con-
gress what steps have been taken TO
bring TO justice offenders at the Port OF
New York. The publication Of the facts
in the case before the completion OF the
investigation would. IL is believed. serve
only to befOg the issue. Moreover. the
summouing OF witnesses by a committees
of Congress might prove most embar-
RAISING TO the law officers Of the Cow
ernmeut. as II would furnish an Oppor~
tunitv for both the suspected and ths
guilty. persons to interpOse pleas Of I'M
munity.
CONGRESS- COULD NOT HELP.
without the active cooperation Of ths
Department. of the Treasury and the De-
partment OF Justice COMMITTEES or con-
ersss would be at sea in searching ous
fraudulent customs methods Frauds
agains+ the revenue cannot be detected
,.-irh ease. The Treasury Department.
qruU as~~f
Al New York as "intrenched fraud. and
ir has been demonstrated that brass
hand methods of getting at the facts
will not yield results.
Government officials are confident thar
Secretary MacVeagh and Attorney Gen.
eraI Vickersham have adopted Courss
which eventually will mean a clean house.
al New York and will have a salutary
influence in the customs service through-
ont the country. They fail to sea how
Congress could further the work oc
thorough investigation or could do mora
than muddy the water and make II pos
sibIe for some Of The guilty 20 escape
Secretary MacVeagh had a conferences
today with Attorney General Wick
ersham concerning some OF the details
Of the New York investigation IL -
the aim Of both cabinet officers 20 fur
tber the cooperative work between Cot
Jector Loeb and his assistants and for
mer District Attorney StimsOn and his
assistants who have charge OF the legal
work. Everything Is proceeding satis-
factoriIy along lines laid down at the be-
eirning OF this administration In March,
said Mr.. MacVeagh. we are rehahilt-
| tating the customs service.
WAKEMAN AT TREASURY.
Wilbur F. Wakeman. former Appraiser
/ of the Port OF New York. was visitor
/ IN Washington to-day. He spent some
/ time az the Treasury Department and
had short interviews with Secretary Mac
Veagh and ex-Assistant Secretary Rey-
nolds IL is known that Mr.. Wskemar
/ did not discuss the customs frauds with
/ either OF these officials. Mr.. Wakeman
said he doubted IL an investigation OF
/ customs frauds by a committee OF Con-
/ gress would accomplish anything. and
expressed the opinion that the co-opers-
| tive work OF the Treasury Department.
| and the Department Of Justice would