New-York tribune., 1910-09-02
KEEP WATCH ON CUSTOMS
Old Regulation Providing for In
spection To Be Enforced.
COMMISSION ENDS ITS TASK
Two Reports on Local Apprais-
er's Stores-One Critical,
the Other Kindly.

President Taft and Mr.. MacVeagh, Secre-
tary OF the Treasury. have received the re-
port Of the special commission that has been
examining into conditions at the Appraiser 3
Stores; In fact. two reports were sent out
by the commission, and the members
we're equally divided two and two neither
could be called a majority report And
they were very different, it was said last
evening, one abounding with praise for all
things investigated. and the other critical
pointing out alleged abuses and suggesting
changes of drastic character
The commission began its work in April
Of this year. 1t was composed of j. {.
Cummings, head of the Treasury Depart
nlent agents in this city; Leslie Cuilom, OF
the Secret Service. of Baltimore; A. c.
Armstrong special Treasury agent. of Bos-
ton. taken from the police force in that city
by Mr. Curtis Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury. and ex-Judge Burton Parker, of
Detroit who was called from Ell Paso, Tex,
to take part in the work here after the COM
mission had been in session several days.
Mr. Cummings. who was said yesterday
to be H. and Mr.. Cullom sent in the rose
tinted report. Judge Parker and Mr.. Arm
strong sent the report on which, It was said,
Secretary MacVeagh would base his action
in the near future.
One of the things the Armstrong
report dvelt on was the necessity for the
transfer of several important officials. the
advancement of others and a substantial
increase in the pay Of examiners on whose
work the government must depend for hon
est results.
It has been determined to have investiga-
tions throughout the country once a year,
as the customs regulations of 1892 re-
ouired They were in force until about four
years ago. when James Burton Reynolds,
then Assistant Secretary of the Treasury,
discontinued the practice
In every customs port Treasury agents
used to make the investiga ations, and the
result was said to be very beneficial to the
service.
Secretary MacVeagh ordered the fornla-
ton of the commission soon after the dis
closures made at this port in the sugar,
cheese fig and other weighing frauds and
the irregularities in the valuation of goods,
Irregularities that it was felt, we're IN all
probability due to lack of care and lack of
system
In looking for authority TO order drastic
inquiry the Secretary was surprised to learn
that there was q regulation providing for
examinations The regulation follows:
For the purpose of ascertaining whether
the customs business is properly transact
ed and the public moneys are duly collect
ed and accounted for. the books, pa perS
and accounts of the Collector and other
customs officer within each agency district
will be carefully and thoroughly examined
by the special a gent in charge, in conjunc-
ton with agents to be especially detailed
for that purpose, at least once a year and
as soon as possible after the close Of each
fiscal year.
One of the results of the investigation
entirely apart from its intention was the
disclosure of the differentiation of Panama
hats. followed by the seizure Of many
thousands of dollars worth and the segrega-
ton of upward of one million dollars
worth. Other cases of characterization we're
discovered. and these have been placed in
the hands of the proper officers for further
investigation.
The commission will he disbanded, but
Mr. Armstrong and Judge Parker may be
sent to other ports parts Of other com
missions whose work will he the same as
that in this port. II Is part of Secretary
MacVeag CHS plan TO cleanse the customs ser
vice of the whole country.