The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-27
CUSTOMS
MEN NEGLECTFUL

DAN NA4NNloN w. DeNtlib'l ~ D
The special agents of this city are
still investigating the scandal i'm ref
,rence to the smuggling of the two
hundred cans of opium from the
steamer Siberia, week ago, onto the
'oal barge, and later the transfer Of
he opium to Olkland
1t is said that the special agents
are working on the theory that some
If the customs inspectors are in real
ty members of the opium ring, and
he officials receive brides to keep
heir eyes closed when the opium is
lowered over the side of the steamers.
INTO awaiting boats Special Agent
Tidwell refuses to discuss the result
Of his investigations so far, but it was
learned yesterday that all the special
agents of this city have dropped all
other work in the attempt to try and
locate what officials are guilty of the
negligence.
A lengthy report is to be forwarded
to the treasury department at once,
and it is said that more than one Off
cial will later be called up on the car
pet and thorough examination OF
the affair will be held
1t is generally known around the
custom house that several inspectors
nave been under suspicion loT some
time, and it is suspected these same
inspectors have been in the habit OF
standing in with the opium ring IN
this city, receiving from time 10 time
their regular dlVldehds OF PIoiilS'
What makes this argument more con
vincing to the special agents is me
fact that the price OF opium mas Deeh
gradually lowered month by moh'h
until today it can be purchased up IN
Chinatown for S2l tin.
At one time, when a crusade was
first instituted against the opium Uat-
fic, the price of opium scared to SAG a
tin.
1t is also said that q person VINO
carries the opium ashore now only re-
ceives s. a tin for his trouble, while
less than a year ago sailors who have
been arrested for the crime OF Snug
Cling have made confessions in which
they have told the court officers they
we're to be paid $40 a tin for carrying
the opium ashore,
Confession Clears Men,
SAN FRANCISCO, December 10
The recent scandal growing out OF
the capture by the Oakland police OF
$4,000 worth of smoking opium Snug
gled into this port on the steamship
Siberia and carried to Oakland by
Emil Fielder and David Powers, was
/ Investigated yesterday by United
States Customs surveyor duncan Il
Mckinlay The inspectors VINO were
on watch on the Siberia on the mgh'
|of December llth were examined DS
McKinlay in the presence OF Specla
Treasury Agent IldWeli ana customs
/ Agent Smith. The inspectors were
Mencke, CrowelI Halliday Balk
| Craigie and kilemade.
The statements, coupled with a pre-
yious examination into the physlca
conditions surrounding the siberia d
the dock on the night mentioned con
WINGED the surveyor that none OF th'
inspectors was to blame Tor the re
moval of the opium from the VesseI
The steamer is GOO feet long and o"
ing to the darkness that preValie'
around the vessel and the coal Oare
lying alongside, it would have been III
possible for the most viglIant oIIlcer u
have seen the drug transferred iron
the steamer to the deck OF the barge
There was introduced at the lhquir
Head on December 10 by Emil fleC
Ter in the Oakland jail. The conlesslo