New-York tribune., 1909-06-19
WASHINGTON TO ACT
,1y5J. RIG SH1KE-UP DUE
CUSTOM HOUSE.
rorner H7eigher Says He Has Dis
charged .4fter Checking
Sugar Frauds.

,,,i.-, Z ,oeb fr Collector of the Port. prac-
bo, cca7pleted his investigation into the
u~'-. = rho men who were connected for the
-, in one way or another with the
sV eight frauds. and il was reported yes
+hat the final shake-up was due over
- Secret service men have followed up the
Of the government weighers, assistant
,.-s and others in the department theT
-.s are in the Collectors hands ana nave
.orsi5ered at meetings held in the last few
- When the shake-up comes, II Is slu
- r,cv- VIII fall from Washington
onv those who furnished most OF 'he
in the Collectors hands were the for
-ore--,rnent employees who were stationed
he f5ayeneyer & Elder docks and were
80 - the principal witnesses for the govern
- Is, the suit to recover duties one OF
.hesa Robert Y. Gascoigne. assistant Welgher
-, October. 1872 until December IA. 1894. a
,s.s-ar Of the Philippine skirmishes and mem
4,- of the Society Of the Philippines. Of Whlch
p-.ssenr Taft Is also a member. has determined
:. sus rhe government for back pay because OF
:. -,arrar in which he was dropped from the
ssr,ice He has also asked 10 be relnstaleu' anu
e. .,s first time since his first appeal to be
tssrd directed to Collector Stranahan, has re-
80 some announcement from Mr. Loeb
~ ;7ascofcne was seen last night II. l.
s.,,sor former United states Attorney. who
,-,s0-7,ra5 the sugar cases. has a long affidavit
t-o-, he former assistant weigher. His testi-
r,on- vas of much importance in the duties
,ase He told Of some Of his experiences. which
match The records Nr Loeb has regarding 9th
e-s who were dropped from the service before
tie raid OF November 1907. which led TO the
szits
The occasion when the complaint was made
thst led 20 his dismissal. Mr. Gascoigne said
Eas when he checked a method Of defeating the
records OF the scales on one Of the docks The
men using the trucks rushed them" that is
would not give the weigher an opportunity to
get the weight records accurately before the
trucks we're showed of the platform. Mr.. Gas
Cuigne manipulated the scale so that the rush
ing could not be done, and in that way saved
fer the government The duty on about sixty
pounds on each batch weighed.
FOREMAN N A RAGE.
Tie employees on the docks protested A fore
nan burst into the weighing house and swore at
Mn saying ne was delaying the handling OF the
esrgo- When tie assistant weigher threatened
70 throw him out the foreman retired. but made
threat 10 fix him The fixing" occurred
son afterNar1. and the words used in the rea-
sn given were that he lacked interest in his
h
Prer this Nr- Gasceigne had been sent
ter ny one OF The inspectors, nho has since been
reduced and was severely scolded for remarks
q an alleged derogatory nature to the govern
merit forces employed to DO the weighing oe i'm
ports. The assistant veigEer gave some Of his
experiences ana the attempts made 10 bribe him
but he Ras zilenced- The inspector said that
re would have Gascogne removed from the
service Tie removal occurred one afternoon
willie re was weighing nuts on a North River
doek
Not 2 word # expanation was given Al the
time. Bur Mr. Cfascoisne then began his cru
sace tcr reinstatement He wrote TO Mr. Strsn-
ahaa Nho referred him 10 Mr. Clarkson. the
surveyor Of the Port. Mr. Clarlson said that he
had beer removed for the coed Of the service.
Tie dismissed man wrote to the next collector.
with Tho same result When Nj Loeb was ap-
pented he received lirst letter telling of the
experiences GasooiSna had bad. and then the
appeal for reinstatement came Mr. Loeb an
sEered
Your letter # siay - making application for
leihst2tfI2ert - You; former position OF as
ssisnt ~ aish-r has been received and placed
aI9o-tunity
There was uo reference 20 Mr.. Clarkson in
ms. Gasooigne would NOT say last night that
he had not received another letter from Mir.
Loee The former assistant weigher passed a
c1Tl Service examination IN FebruaTy. 1893 for
lie c-stcms service. and received the highest
Ie7eentage- Z was special examination. but
I9ae Of tie applicants he said. had received ap-
F2-niInents ana another examination which he
&c not take part IN was held soon afterwaTd-
i vas sad last night That Gascoigne will
fave The backing or TIE S0ciety OF the Philip
ines in his >ait for back pay and his further
-glt FOR reinstatement.
ZIP fh-/sD u a. SDF n rTND I'M