Omaha daily bee., 1886-09-12
A PICNIC FOR SMUCCLERS.
Our Unprotected Frontiers and How They
Are Taken Advantage Of
CUSTOMS FORCE INADEQUATE.
Excitement in Washington Over tho
False Report That Cleveland
Was Shot-Thc Presidents
Body Guard.
A Rad state OF Affairs.

A Rad state Of a Anairs.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1l,-[Special Telegram
to the BEE "A grave question which the
treasury department must meet at an early
day, and over which it has puzzled for several
years past, is the matter of the protection OF
our northern and southern frontiers against
smuggling. The infringement upon our
tariff laws has grown from year to year to
enormous proportions, until 1t is now totally
beyond the control of the forces of the Gus
tom house. An eX-trcasury official stated to-
day that while the whole force of the govern
ment had been turned out to prevent SNUG
Cling at few great points like New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston and
San Francisco, our northern and
southern frontiers are neglected and
are open gateways for contin-
uous and enormous frauds upon the customs
revenue. He said: while our officers at
New York are snatching half dozen bottles
from the cabin OF some foreign sailing vessel,
or taking a few yards of cheap silk off some
poor sailor, or Juggling a few reels of cigarettes
or half dozen cigars from the state room of
officers or some ocean tramp, the whole
frontier is at the mercy of rich and powerful
combinations engaged in this business. Con-
gratulations on the reduction of smuggling
at the great seaports may be in order, but it
means, not that those combinations and syn
dicates have been driven out of business, but
that they have simply transferred their opera
tions to Canada. Our tariff imposes heavy
duties upon many articles that
are consumed in this country. These
things are all free or ceYNred by
u low rate under the Canadian schtdule, and
they are imported in large quantities into the
Dominion. To bring them thence across the
border is the easiest thing in the world, for
our custom houses on the border are few and
far between, and the meagrc supply of off
cials furnished by our government is barely
sufficient to carry on the routine duties of
the custom house. saying nothing of watch
ing hundreds of miles of frontier. We have
on the st. Lawrence and New England
frontier a stretch of nearly 1900 miles to be
covered by some hundred or two inspectors
and special officers. The result is that through
the logging roads of the Aroastook, down the
line of the Dead river into lower Maine and
Vermont, and along the whole st. Lawrence
to the head of Lake Ontario, a systematic
system of smuggling is being carried on.
Brandy, cigars and woolen goods are con-
stantly coming in in large quantities. and the
officers find 1t impossible to check 1t.
"Our northwestern frontier is becoming
miles this whole border lies unprotected, and
skins, furs and the products of that region
are brought by the wagon load into the Uni
ted States. The collector at st. Vincent has
a large part OF this border under his charge
and is given half dozen officers all told. He
was recently given an inspector at S1.50 per
day. to reside at Bismarck and to look after q
frontier of over 500 miles in length.
The Mexican frontier, of over 800 miles,
has always been source of serious trouble to
custom officers, and of late years they have
given up the attempt to protect it in despair.
Add to this the petty smuggling done on our
extensive coast line at both sides of the con-
tinent, and you see how utterly inefficient
and inadequate is our present system.
service, with little inefficient aid from what
is known as fraud roll appointments are
trying to stay this tide, put the task is one
altogether too great for them.
You can gain some idea OF the extensive
business that is done through Canada when
it is known that one single Maiden Lane
firm of diamond importers are suspected of
having smuggled in one year ovel 100000
worth of diamonds through Canada by way
of Detroit and Chicago, thus defrauding the
government of $50, 600 in duties, This is but
one of hundreds of like cases 1t is a matter
that must be met either by treaty or force in
very short time"
a STARTLING RUMoR.
The rumor that the president had been shot
caused great deal of excitement here last
night and to-day, and large number of dis
patches were sent from this city to the retreat
in the woods, asking for a denial or con-
firmatlon of the story. The denial caused
great Tclltl. OUCH Il GulllOT recalls Tie 1.lct
| that only by an accident could the president
be shot. 1t is hardly possible for an assassin
to get near him, for besides his guides, he
has with him his faithful detective, Dwyer.
This is an old Albany man who has travelled
with Cleveland since last year. Dwyer made
his appearance at the white house OH New
Years day. lie was thought to be the
chief of the Pinkerton detectives, "Imported''
for that occasion. He, however, remains
about the executive mansion, and whenever
the president went away he was with him
and became known as his body guard.
Dwyer is good, looking, jolly fellow and
makes friends easily, The president likes to
have him around The other day when in
| New York met Dwyer in Union Square.
| He had run into town for short visit and
| reported that the president was in excellent
| health and enjoying his stay III the noun
| tains exceedingly There Is very little use
| for detective in the woods and so Dwyer
| was of for vacation. He will not return
| here, however. until the president comes
| home and viii join the party in the Adrion-
| dacks before they leave there. The president,
| somehow, always likes to have detective or
| 4 guard about him when he travels.
POSTAL CHANGES.
Frank Jancamp was to-day appointed
| postmaster at Mum, Cedar county, Ia, vice
| L. L. Mum, removed. Herbert Bat onberg
| has been commissioned postmaster at Hay
| Springs, Neb: Mary j. McGraw at Lett,
| Neb.
Work OF the Labor Bureau.
L