The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-05
oLIro OK CHINA errAMrRs.
Costsms OMeers said TO Have Encour-
aged ard Prnctsced ID.


TACOMA, Feb. 4-ESpecial. lit IL al
legged that Special Agent OF the Treasury
Department r. q. Wood. of Detroit. who
came out to this district to hustle ont al
legged Republican smnggIers, is himself
guilty of smuggling. II Is alleged
that when the Northern Pacific steamer
Mogui YVES hero In June he bought par
rot and cage for $3.50. and again when the
Mogui returned in November bought an
other: that In neither case was the parrot
or cage entered as required by law, and
therefore Mr.. Wood IL guilty OF smuggling
and subject TO investigation by the United
States grand jury.
Mr.. Wood is not hear at present. bat
officers OF tho Mogni who were interviewed
today confirm the statement that customs
officers have baen in the habit OF winking
at goods subject to lawful entry, and thus
conniving at smuggling. The second
steward states that he brought over apar-
rot I'm June and another In November: that
he received ST. 50 for the first and IS. 30 for
the other. He IL not surc who bought the
parrots, but he IL positive that the Gus
toms officers allowed him to take the
smuggled parrots ashore here. In con-
nection with the last bird alleged TO have
bssn secured by Mr.. Wood. u 10 further
alleged that he forwarded IL TO relatives
or friends at Detroit on Northern Pacific
express frank borrowed for the occasion.
Being encouraged by these alleged petty
smuggling acts of officers of the govern
ment. IL IL claimed. the petty officers of the
Mogul have taken greater liberties in
bringing In dutinbls goods. ana this Ia
turn partially accounts for the seizure OF
various articles aboard the Mogul. referred
TO In the Posr-IsrErIIoExcER today.
Whether or not goods are dutiable they
must BE- entered here when brought on
foreign vessel. and IL they are not entered
the act of bringing them ashore 10 SNUG
Cling. In tho casa of the parrot alleged to
have been purchased by Special Agent Of
the Treasury Wood, IL was not dutiable,
but the cage was. Mr.. Wood. on the other
hand, had no right to enter tho bird. and
the member OF the crew who brought It
over certainly did not enter II.
Regarding the goods seized yesterday
Capt. Golding. of the Mogui, says,
AZ want that seizure made void. pro-
pose TO light IL, and will have the papers
sent at once 10 the proper officer of the
British government at Washington City.
] am now fighting the right claimed by
the customs officers to prevent visitors
am the only person who shall
deny the right of any person TO come
aboard. Under the claim that IL is necss-
sary III order to prevent smuggling. the
customs officers assert the right to say
when visitors may come aboard. The Gus
toms officers have no rights aboard my
vessel 90 Gar as looking after goods that
visitors may smuggic. Ii Is their place TO
remain on ehors and detect smuggling
Ashore they can do what they please with
people who visit this vessel.
s.The goods seized We're the personal ef-
fects of the officers or the members of the
crew. protest because the articles were
declared at the customs Office. and no at
tempt WAS made to conceal them. When
our vessel was searched no coutrabsna
goods were found, and IN the face of that
the customs officers come aboard and seize
articles already declared. IL is most un-
warranted and unprecedented. These goods
ware placed under the seal % the cas,om
house. and were intended not for this port
but Tor our friends in the United King
dom Some OF the articles were aboard
when the vessel was at this port several
times before. We purchased them intend
ing to take them with rs when we re-
turned 20 England. That hAs been our
custom heretofore when entering the port
of New York. We declare tho goods at
the custom house. and when We leave the
goods arc released,
tits understood among customs officers
that some of the articles seized were 10
have been gwen or sold TO friends Of the
officers in Tacoma. On the other hand
the officers can prove that some of the
articles have been ABOARD the ship for
over year, and were personal effects
Cart. Golding Is Of the opinion that Col.
lsctor Saunders ordered the seizure, and
that the local officials regret having 70
carry out his orders