The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-13
CHEATING UNCLE SAM.
SMUGGLING WAS NEVER so CLEV-
ERLY DONE AS NOW.


New York Sept. 12.--The only house that
is doing jumping business this septem-
Der is the custom house. Here active
work set in when the fan passengers be-
gan to arrive. and 1t will last without
pause until the arrival home of all good
citizens in November. In this month the
force of inspectors is several times doub-
led and the employees work industriously
all day. 1t is the smugglers' season, ana
now there are being brought into the
United States enough valuables to sup
port in luxury the successful smugglers
for a year.
1t is estimated that st. 900 worth OF
diamonds come into this country in this
way every fall; and Sl,000OO0 worth OF
silks. The amount in laces and gloves
has never been computed. 1t is useless
to attempt it, but 1t goes well into the
ten millions.
smugglers, in the custom house, are
divided into two classes. There Is the
wealthy class, who bring over their own
coats and gowns, gloves and perfumes.
and many other articles of personal lux
ury. The other class is the professional
smuggler, who brings into the United
States diamonds and silks for the fan
trade and whose work defeats the tariff
laws to an alarming extent. II Is FOR
these that the great custom house staff
is employed and for whom 1t was orig
mated.
Every year sees improvements In snug
Cling New smuggling tricks are invented
and, IL must be confessed, they work sue
cessfully until discovered. Once known,
they are speedily told from one custom
house to another until the whole border
is posted on them. The next thief gets
caught. Then another ruse must be en-
ployed. Inspectors say that year after
year sees an Improvement in smuggling.
Tricks that were considered smart a few
years ago would be laughed at now, for
so much newer and better ones have
come up.
Messrs. Mccoy, Brown, Donnelly and
others OF the New York house were dis
cussing improved smuggling few days
ago Said one gentleman: 'If we tell the
tricks we make them common. Thieves
drop them and study up new ones. That
makes more work for us. SO we tell moth
ing"
one Of the custom house officials stood
leaning up against log of wood the other
day that was carelessly stood in a corner
Oh n tHths ANOtHillb HhNti abDhA AAhA cAa
piece OF wood, is there?" he asked. Moth
ing except that n was kicking around the
deck until an officer ordered It thrown
overheard. One Of the sailors objected so
strongly that the officer let II lie. When
the ship came In the officer mentioned It
to US and we caught the sailor Just max
ing Off with II In a boat. IL was full of
choice Havana cigars.
''As a general thing" said the custom
house inspector, 1T Is not the crew that
troubles u.s. on the contrary, the whole
ships company Is OF assistance TO the
custom house. A reward IL offered for the
apprehension OF smugglers aboard, and all
from the officers and stewardess to the
deck hands are on the watchout for sus-
picious people. Nevertheless, great deal
escapes us every year.
1--WE deal" said he, with the cleyerest
people I'm the world. II a man has a good
address and Is a genuine sharper he VIII
go into the smuggling business and viii
operate In spite OF you. With women u Is
still harder II Is almost impossible to de-
tect them. They are not known by face
and their dignined manners and simple,
ingenious looks deceive u.s. Even where we