Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-05
GENTEEL SMUGGLERS.

/ the Government SWindIed Out OF
Millions by Returning Tourists
Baggage Rings in the Custom
House.
Washington Correspondence Of the New York
Herald
The Commissioner. of Customs, in
his report Just submitted to the Secre-
| tary of the Treasury, made some COM
ments on the practice of American
tourists returning from Europe in
bringing in dutiable goods under the
head of wearing apparel. The estimate
of the Commissioner that the value of
goods thus brought in reached the sum
of Sl2S, 200, 900 yearly has been pro-
nounced excessive. The Commissioner,
from additional informs alton which he
has received since the preparation of
his report, is well satisfied that his es-
innate was under rather than over the
mark. The people of the United
States, at least that portion whoremain
IN their own country, have but little
idea of the extent to which this fashion
able smuggling Is carried on by their
Weather neighbOrs, who annually pass
between this country and Europe. As re-
markedto-day by the COMMISSIONER, the
smuggler of the present Is not the
smuggler as described by Scott and
Marryatt. He is not the brawny,
bearded desperate with murder in his
heart and a cutlass in his hand, but a
fine lady or gentleman, dressed In silk
or broadcloth, whose gold coin or
greenback quietly dropped IN the hand
is a more potent weapon than the cut
lass or the bludgeon. 1t is not intended
to charge that every American citizen
returning from Europe deliberately de-
frauds his Government, but from the
reports Of special agents, wIo have
been detailed at the principal sea-ports,
it has been ascertained that the vast
majority of returning tourists bring in,
duty free, large lots of choice fabrics,
either for their friends or as merchan-
disc to be disposed Of for gain. A case
has been reported, Of a lady moving in
the most fashionable circles of New
York, who makes an annual tour to
europe, and who has been known TO
boast that she realizes more than her
expenses abroad by the sale of the
silks, velvets and laces which
she brings IN as her own
wearing apparel. Persons who would
repel with Indignation any temptation
to take the least advantage in their
business relations with individuals
seem to consider it as rather creditable
than otherwise If they can evade the
payment of their Just dues to the Gov
eminent. Some time since, a resident
f Massachusetts,, who had represented
his State In Congress and filed other
high positions, returned from Europe
with fifteen trunks. On his oeclara-
ton that they contained only the per-
sonal effects of himself and family they
were passed. Afterwards it was dis
covered that probably one-half the con-
tents were intended for lady friends Of
the family. The Government, in this
one case, lost probably $1,000, to which
it was rightfully entitled. The Com
missioner Of Customs received to-day
report from one Of the special agents
at New York, detailing case which
occurred on the steamer Java, on
its last inward trip. A passen-
ger, closely allied with some of
the oldest and proudest families of
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, had five
trunks, which were passed on his de-
claration that they contained only his
personal effects. The agent, however,
suspected duplicity and Swallowed
the trunks. The result was that three
cut of the five were found to be intend
ed for and were delivered to other par
ties-one to the wife of a wealthy citi-
zen of New York and one each to two
ladies IN Princeton, n. J. An exami-
nation of the trunks disclosed that they
were properly dutiable to the amount
of 81. 39l. The person who brought
them over at once offered to pay the
full amountof the duty and the penalty,
which was S4,2SS.
These cases are only given as samples
of many which are being constantly
reported. Mr.. A. T. Stewart has stated
that in instances which mad come to his
knowledge, where he was being under
sold in certain articles, the articles
aforesaid had been brought in by these
so-called tourists. 1t is, in fact, estab-
lished that at some of the custom
houses regular baggage ring" exists
which has tended to facilitate the OPP
erations of those who defraud the Gov
ernment in this wav