, 1891-04-30
POLLING SMUGGLRRS
MAILS FROM ABROAD EXAMINED BY
CUSTOMS OFFICERS.

SoAAtNts
The mails offer such an obvious tempta-
ton to would be smugglers that it is often
asked what steps the government authori-
ties take for preventing the use of them
for the importation OF goods free of duty.
As a matter Of fact, not q few people have
an idea that they can get ahead Of the Gus
toms officials by sending dutiable articles
from abroad through the mails, but when
they act on this belief they in virtually
every instance are disabused Of this mis-
taken impression. To make his lesson
the more effective, the government when
ever the intent to smuggle is clear, CON
hscates the articles, although, when the
goods are sent into this country through
an evident Ignorance ofthe law, the simple
payment Of the duty is all that IS necessary
to secure possession of them.
To understand fully Uncle Sans plan
for getting his Just dues one should follow
the mails from the time they leave the big
transatlantic liner to the time they reach
their destinations. When an incoming
vessel is first sighted word is sent to the
postofice. II the ship reaches quarantine
before sunset, in time to be inspected by
the health officer or his assistants. the
mails are not landed until the ship reaches
her pier. Then the pouches, hundreds in
number, are hurried ashore. Those for in
land points are dispatched by the various
railroads, while letters, newspapers, par
GELS. etc, for New York city and its vicin-
ity are sent to the general postofice.
GETTING H MAILS ASHORE.
II, however, the ship reaches quarantine
at night and is compelled to remain there
until after sunrise, tugs in the service of
the postotice come up to it and take of
the mails. The pouches for other places
are forwarded by the earliest trains, while
those for this city, as in the other case, are
sent to the ~postofice here as quickly as
possible. Nearly all the parcels that seem
to contain books or other dutiable goods
pass through the New York postofice, even
NJ they are directed TO distant points in
the United States. This is the only class
OF mail matter for places from this city
which suffers delay here.
In the mean time three inspectors of the
postofice customs bureau have been sent
for at their homes, that is, if the mails ar
rive when the men are not at their work.
and no matter what the hour or the wealth
er the three hasten to the postofice. When
the pouches arrive there they are opened
in the presence OF the customs inspectors.
Every letter or parcel that looks as If it
might contain books, etchings, litho1rapbs.
jewelry or other dutiable goods is picked
out OF the heaps OF mail matter and
stamped. II, for instance, the parcel is
made up Of silk handkerchiefs which can
be seen through holes in the wrapping ma
per it is stamped Subject to duty" II
the package is securely wrapped so that
its contents are invisible, Supposed to
contain goods subject to duty" is stamped
on it. The employees OF the p~ostofice who
handlet the mails aid in picking out par
GELS likely to contain dutiable articles.
An idea of the task of the customs men
will be gained from a few figures of the
mail brought by the Servia from Liverpool
a few days before Christmas. She carried
about 1850 pouches, containing in the
neighborhood Of $4,000 letters, papers.
parcels, etc. This was the largest amount
ever brought to this port by a vessel.
Nearly one-third of it all was for this city.
CERTAIN PARCELS PICKED oUT.
Long practice has made the men skillful
in picking out the parcels with dispatch.
About 5000 suspicious looking letters. etc.
were taken in handby the customs officers,
OF this number perhaps 90 per cent. con
tanned books or printed matter which NAV
under the law be imported through the
mails. These, except the few which are
sealed and therefore subject to letter rates,
are sent to the big room of the customs
bureau on the fifth floor of the postofhce
building, together with the other unsealed
parcels. A force of men at once-sets to
work examining these packages, every
one Of which is opened.
II the books are more than twenty years
old, or printed in a foreign language. or
addressed to institutions of learning, they
are admitted free of duty and at once for
warded. Newer ones are appraised by men
who have become experts at it. II the
books are consigned to places outside Of
this city they are sent to the postmaster Of
the town or city, with a statement and
entry, aud he collects the duty on them.
a f~avOrite trick of would be smugglers
Is to cut out the heart of a book and pack
contraband goods in IL. Anumber Of such
books have been confiscated. Some con-
tanned valuable laces, others silk handker-
chiefs, gloves, jewelry and the like. 1t is
sheer nonsense to attempt his form of
smuggling, because all books are exam
ined and the detection is certain.
The customs officials have an apparent
difficulty to face in the case of sealed par
cells supposed to contain dutiable goods.
The law that sealed matter shall be opened
by no one except the person to whom it is
addressed must be obeyed by the govern
ment employees as well as by other persons.
In fact, an infraction of it is punishable by
a term Of Imprisonment. The customs
people, however, get past this stone wall
easily. While they annot open the sealed
ie'OeI UT pdICel they can compel the person
to whom it is addressed to open il in their
presence. This is just what is done. The
postmaster sends notice to the person to
whom parcels for this city are addressed to
call on Mr.. Burke, whose office is on the
mezzanine floor Of the postofice building,
and open the suspected piece of mail mat
ter. As soon us the man opens it Mr..
Burke examines its contents, and if they
are dutiable and of more thar trihing
value he has them appraised, either by one
of his men or by some one at the custom
house. Should the man refuse to open the
parcel it is returned forthwith to the
sender.-New York Tribune.
stunned the Walter.
Waiter, " said a man who had been ex-
hausting his strength trying to put a knife
through an alleged steak, 81 wish you
would bring me a flea nice, sharp file"
What are you going to do with the fle2"
aElaI n Waa4 "a L.