The Washington herald., 1909-11-12

New York. Nov. u.-Further investlga-
tion Of the sugar trusts thefts Of millions
upon millions from the National Treas
ury in the last twenty years reveals that
the trust not only controlled the sur
veyors' department Of the New York GUS
tom-house. but that OF the appraisers
as we'll
It stole from TO 10 per cent OF the
duties on sugar it allowed the govern
ment In the surveyors department II
stole just about as much in the apprais-
ers department
The appraisers fix the rate OF duty on
sugar through samples The trust doc
tored the samples. 1t got lower rate
thereby The trust. therefore. so per-
fected its theft system that it stole
through false duties on false samples or
false weights
No Records Remain.
10 records remain to fix the number
OF millions stolen through these false
samples Those who are Informed de-
clare the plunder was equally as large
as that obtained by false weights
This means that Of practically every
cargo brought into this port. where the
stealing was done and could be super
vised from III Wall street. from 10 TO 10
per cent Of the duty due the government
was stolen by the trust And there was
no government official 70 stay its thicvins
hand
When Wilbur T. Wakeman. the ap-
praiser in New York, told Secretary Gage,
OF the Treasury Department, in person
Of these samplinE frauds and produced
before Mr.. Gage physical proofs OF them
IN the shape Of actual bribe money. Mr..
Gage could not and apparently would
not believe his good friend" H. O..
Havemeyer, president Of the trust. would
permit any such wrongs
He actually sent Mr.. Wakeman 20 tell
Mr.. Havemeyer about them. and 10 say
that II any such thing was going on,
IT should be stopped. Mr.. Wakeman,
under orders. did tell Mr. Havemeyer.
The stealing went right on.
The trusts system did not stop with
stealing through false duties on false
samples or false weights. The trust stole
through fixing the returns Of licensed
city weighers. 1t kept these returns out
Of the custom-hoUse. Cargoes purchased
I'm New York on invoices required the
use Of city weighers. The owners Of
carCoes demanded correct weight for the
payment for their property. Later the
trust tried fixing the scales Of the city
welghers.
Trust Cleaning House.
The sugar trust itself is cleaning house.
Washington 3. Thomas. who succeeded
the late Henry o. Havemeyer as presi-
dent OF the American Sugar Refining
Company. issued a statement to-day in
which he said:
"Our company is Just as anxious as
the government 70 bring out the facts IN
the sugar frauds. We are doing every
thing in our power 90 aid Mr.. Stimson In
his Investigation.
Every bit Of evidence or information
that this company has is at the disposal
Of the government. Anything that we
have In the nature OF documentary evi-
dence the government can have. You
cannot state too strongly that we viii
leave no stone unturned to bring out the
facts and punish the guilty"
Mr.. Stlmson said President Thomas had
stated the case accurately
Mr.. Thomas has given to me every
thing I asked for" said Mr. Stimson 7
believe he is sincerely desirous 20 get at
tho facts"
II was a matter OF comment to-day as
% just how much documentary evidence
remains I'm possession Of the trust
whether the actual weights they obtained
20 keep one side Of their books straight
have been saved for the eyes OF investi-
gators.
At any rate, one OF the most prominent
officials OF the trusts staff James +.
Bendernagel. for many years the general
superintendent OF the williamsburg plants.
stepped down and out to-day. His place
was fled by II. A Morgan, who comes
from Philadelphia refinery.
STAFF Cut Down.
BendernageIs contract with the com
pany would not have expired until next
year. He had been with the company for
about thirty years. having worked under
the father OF Henry o. Havemeyer. He
was close to the late Henry O. Have
meyer and familiar with the affairs Of
the refinery and the business.
With Bendernagel went Frank Wenzel
who had occupied a confidential lob with
the sugar trust Wenzel had been IA
miliar with its affairs. William II. Wright
was another OF the principal employees to
get out.
Others who have quit the sugar trust
employment recently are Ernest Ger
brecht, superintendent OF the Williams
burg refinery; John James. chief engi-
neer Of the plant and William Fleming.
chief of construction.
1t is understood that the sugar trust
contemplates other changes I'm the person
mel OF its STAFF.