Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-23
TINE COZ EoToa DEyIEs
The Allegations Published in Philndel-
phia Friday of Official Negligence IN
CustOm SuporyIsiou MT Mariana Hank

Tho Allegations Published in PhiIndel-
phia Friday of Official Negligence IN
Custom Supervision at Marcus Hook.
The Philadelphia Record Friday morn
ing published the following sensational
statement affecting port under the
Jurisdiction of Collector George L.
Townsend of this district:
For some little time past it has been
known that petty smuggling of liquor
and other dutiable goods was being car
ried on by sailors in the oil vessels that
go to Marcus Hook to take on their out
ward cargo. In order to put stop to
the unlawful practice the revenue cutter
Hamilton was yesterday ordered by the
Treasury officials to proceed to that
place, and if necessary train her gun on
the violators of the custom laws.
sit was recently decided that the
Marcus Hook piers were within the
Delaware State line, and consequently
part of the Wilmington customs district.
This ruling caused Collector Cooper to
withdraw Inspector Swope, who had
done efficient duty there and since then
the piers have practically been without
government supervision. This state of
affairs exactly suited the old-time SNUG
glers, who used to- make Point Breeze
their base OF operations, as there was
little or no danger of detection.
$50 bold have the men who are con-
stitutionally opposed to paying duty be-
come, that while their vessels have been
waiting to be loaded they have boldly
taken ashore small lots of brandy, gin,
cigars, cordials and even wearing APP
parel, some of which they have openly
peddled in the streets of Chester, while
the remainder was sent to the smugglers'
confederates in this city.
1.-THE officers of the Hamilton will en-
deayor to put stop to this work, and
it is believed that the fact of the cutter
being on hand will be sufficient to cause
the experienced smugglers to cease
operations"
Collector Townsend was seen at his
office ut the custom house Friday morn
ing by a representative of The GAZETTE.
This is the first | have seen of the
matter" Collector Townsend exclaimed
as he perused the Record clipping. 80
far as know there is absolutely moth
ing in it.
ain regard to this districts super
vision at Marcus Hook, We could not fill
the letter of the law until we had a
Wilmington inspector of customs there.
This story is an implication against the
oil exporters at the Hook, because all
that could be done at the wharves must
be done in some way or other through
them.
~ have closely asked questions of
each OF the oil managers there and also
Of the experimenting manager of the
two companies In Philadelphia, Manager
4 ~,
there day and night on the wharf.
$50 far as the revenue cutter Hamilton
being ordered there l know nothing of
it. II would very likely, however, not
be done without some notification to
me. Since November 9Th the Whining
ton inspector, Mr.. Allen, has been there
every day. Nothing in the smuggling
direction has occurred during his super
vision and previous H. that every vessel
has been boarded by me or Deputy
Finn. The place has had regular gov
eminent supervision since then"
The application from Collector Town
send for an officer to be appointed at
Marcus Hook was dated October I'd.
On September goth or eight days before
the application was The first entry of
vessel at the port under the Wilmington
customs district. The Wilmington in
spector went on duty November 9th and
has been there every day since. Also
between the two dates referred to In
spector Finn and the collector were
both there several times, boarding
vessels entered in Philadelphia. These
journeys were made to the Hook at the
collectors personal expense.
Collector Townsend most emphaticaIly
contradicts the Philadelphia charges of
negligence as published Friday and stig-
matizes them as malicious.
Outside the collectors office the sensa-
tional story from Philadelphia is looked
uponin Wilmington as having developed
from the feeling of jealousy caused by
the fact of the transference of the port
from that city to the Wilmington district.