Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-20
H0UsECLEANNG ACT CONTINUES
Hundred Twenty-Four Employees Of
Customs House Dismissed.
MANY OTHER CHANGES MADE
Hundred and Twenty-Three Men Re-
duced in Rank.
END Is NOT YET IN SIGHT
sccretHry Indicates More Changes
Are Coming at New York and
That other Ports Are TO
BE Investigated.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The elimina-
tlon from the customs service OF Acting
Deputy Surveyor James r. Vail, the aboli-
tlon OF that office IN the New York
customs house, the dismissal Of 14 men
and demotion of 1873 other men at New York |
from March 4 up to last night, together |
with about a score of other changes In
cluded in Collector Loeb's statement today
from New York were announced by Secre- |
tary MacVeagh tonight.
There will be no further grants of i'm
munity in the customs Investigations at
New York Secretary Maoveagh made
this clear, explaining that no received this
assurance when he was in New York COD
ferrlng with Collector Loeb and others
J Collector Loeb the secretary said, as
tured him that there would be no further
occasion for IT, that they had accomplished
what was needed by the immunity pre-
riously promised.
The three weighers who confessed to the
authorities and whose evidence has figured
30 largely in the investigation, have not
been disturbed in the service and they will
remain 70 far as the government is con-
eerned But Mr.. MaeVeagh pointed out
that Il was questionable whether they
would care to continue in the limellght
very long.
Mr.. Vail, who drew a salar yof 5000
year as acting deputy surveyor at New
York, was until quite recently the foreman
of weighers at that port. He passes out
OF the government service with the dis
continuance OF the office. Secretary Mac
Weigh tonight said there were no charges
against Vail mad indicated shat the fact
that he had been the head of the weIgfers
while the frauds were in progress was at
least largely responsible for his decaplta-
tion. He said there was no present inten.
tion to prosecute Vail
End Is Not Yet.
The end Is not yet in sight. according
TO the secretary. and the collector will
keep right on until the rehabilitation is
complete. So far no action has been taken
at other ports looking 70 anything like
the sweeping character of the investiga-
tion. and the secretary said he had moth
Ing to say as 70 these other ports, but he
has previously declared his intention to
have a general house cleaning of the
whole customs service
Many Of those affected by the changes
covered in today's statement appealed to
the president after, getting notice of their
dismissals but the secretary had already
conferred with the president and the ap-
peals were without effect.
Secretary MacVeagh's statement gives
Exchanges IN the personnel in the customs
service at the port OF New York from
March 4, 1909, to and including Novem-
ber IS, 1909" The reductions during that
period consisted of seventy-nine inspee-
tors, sixteen assistant weighers. two sugar
samplers, four unolassified laborers. one
foreman, one gauger. one skilled lsborer,
one deputy surveyor, six special employees,
af,I,v
keeper two roundsmen.
The dismissals were: Slxty-four un-
classified laborers, fourteen watchmen,
one foreman Of weighers, seven assistant
n tweighers, three clerks, three inspectors,
\ four weighers, four classified labOrers
three openers and packers, one elevator
conductor.
The salaries paid these reduced and
dismissed men range from 50 a day to
1900 per annum All Of the vacancies
said Secretary Macveagh. have been filled
No names except that OF Vail. were
=, given in today's statement
The changes announced from New York
by Collector Loeb were supposed to be
supplemental 20 this list Mr.. Loeb's list
being the changes made today. But Sec
retary MaeYeagh. after glancing at the
total OF the changes announced by Mr.
Loeb, thought there had been some dupii.
tations In the two lists and that today's
changes would add only twenty TO the
Figures given in the statement here.
Announcement by Mr.. Loeb.
NEW YORK, Nov. ls-CoIlector OF Por-
William Loeb jr.. today announced the re
moval from the customs service of seventy
three employees and attaches OF the welghinl
and other divisions OF the customs servic,
rhere Among those dismissed are Jame.
r. Vail formerlv dqpitv survpvor ~ ~
weighing division; George E. Beden, an In
spector formerly chief clerk OF the weigh
ing division; James p. Hyland ana Josepl
o. Carroll. exforeman OF weighing divisions
Besides those enumerated the removal
include ten assistant weighers. three IN
spectors, formerly assistant weighers en-
inspector, formerly an assistant gauger.
Tho collector stated that since March
East, the day he took office. he has re
moved from the service for irreguIaritie
IN the weighing department eighteen othe
y officials, six Of whom are now under in
dictmenL
In other branches OF the service he ha
removed for cause thirty-six officials, max
ging the total number OF removals from IN
.service since March 4 seventy-three.
The collector Is continuing his investiga
lions.
Notice OF demurrers to the indictment
returned against James r. Bendernagel q
the American sugar Refining compan
ma the six minor employees OF the com
pany entity indicted with him was serve
today on Special Assistant Attorney Gen
eral Henry l.. stimson-
The demurrers viii be argued befor
Judge Hough on Monday.
..... Copper a. GsinG Up.