The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-09
CUSTOMS PROBE
OPPOSED BY TAFT
Sends Special Message to Con-
! gress Giving Reasons for
/ Objections.
MIGHT CAUSE IMMUNITY
President Thinks Investigation
Might Embarrass Executive
Department in Present Work.

WASHINGTON. d. C.. May s.~Pres-
itient Taft opposed congressional in
vestigation of customs frauds in spe-
ciai message to the House to-day. stat
ing that 1t would embarrass the Elk
ecutive Department anG might result
in immunity 10 persons now involved.
The message was in reply to a resolu-
ton which asked him TO submit facts.
"if any now exist" which Congress
should not proceed. In part, the presi-
dent said:
The executive investigation and the
investigation by the grand jury for ne
purpose of bringing the guilty persons
to justice are not yet complete, The
danger of granting immunity by con-
gressional investigation while the ex-
ecutive and grand jury Investigations
and trials are proceeding Is still seri-
Gus one.
This Is sufficiently Illustrated by the
case of Charles r. Heike referred TO
in tho report of the secretary of the
treasury and the attorney general.
Heike Ii the secretary of the American
Sugar Refining Company. and Is the
highest official of the company said to
be implicated In the frauds. except Its
late president III, O. Hevemeyer. who
died two weeks after the first discov-
cry OF tho frauds.
I'm the investigation before the
grand jury as 10 whether the Ameri-
can Refining Company is now party
TO an illegal combination. under the
Sherman antitrust act. Heike was
summoned officially as the secretary
of the refining company to produce Ger
tain documents and furnish certain In
formation respecting the inquiry under
al 1.x In, hA vi oil M a
indictment found against him for COM
plicity In the frauds on their revenue
effected by the false weighing of sugar.
he filed a special plea in bar claiming
immunity from the prosecution of the
indictment by reason of his evidence
before the Grand jury In the antitrust
case. His plea was overruled in the
circuit court, but the question was car
risd TO the Supreme Court, which re-
fused to pass ON # because not prop
eriy before the court. now leaving Ii
still to be raised In the event of con-
viction, upon appeal from the Judg-
merit OF the circuit court
!, Cases Nearly Complete.
1.-THE investigation into and prose-
cution OF the frauds In the weighers'
ONCE are now nearly complete. though
there are q number of indictments
! yet Il fftfiea The executive and 5a-
diciai Investigations into the frauds
In the appraisers Office. however. are
still proceeding. 1t will take a con-
siderable time TO complete them. 1t
may be added that the character OF
the investigations into the weighers
and appraisers offices Is such that
congressional committee would have
to wait upon such an expert search
an is now proceeding TO make clear
the frauds.
"A congressional investigation at
. this time xauld~ enharEass- the exaea-
tive department in the continuance
and completion of the investigation
of the appraisers and others officers
ct the customs service. AS soon as
these investigation by the executive
and the grand jury are at an end
shall bring the fact to the knowledge
OF Congress.