The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
TO WATCH CUSTOMS MEN.
THE MERCHANTS BOARD OF TRADE
GETS AFTER THE INSPECTORS.

VEIS EN- THE lNSIG tAVho |
1t Il Alleged That They vgnruliy Fail to En-
force the BaEEnEe unspectiop Law and Let
Thousauds or Dollars worth OF Personal
Enects Get Into the Country without Duty.
The Merchants and Manufacturers Board Of
Trade declares that 1t Is going to begin q system
OF espionage over the customs inspectors and
other officials who IRE charged with collecting
the duties on personal baggage under tho Ding
ley law. and that the laxities which, the merch.
ants say, now exist in the Administration, must
cease. A fund of 10000 at least win be raised,
and Y necessary twice as much, and this will
be used to hire able persons, thoroughly in
formed in customs matters, who will act as do
~tectives, to discover just which Of the customs
inspectors are guilty Of favoring passengers
either through simple neglect Of duty or by
completely In defrauding the United States.
Some Of these detectives will also follow up
this work by going into the Custom House itself
and ~ferreting out the higher officials, who, It is
asserted, also aid passengers In bringing dutia.
bic goods into the country without giving up q
proper amount for duties.
These detectives. it is declared. will be at the
piers hereafter. to watch the manner in which
the customs inspectors do their work and also TO
watch tho passengers themselves. Mr.. J. A.
Hickman, in speaking for the association yes.
tcrdav, said that the members were satisfied
that hundreds Of thousands OF dollars worth of
articles were brought into this port every week
in passengers trunks without paying duty.
Here was the case Of the Lucania, which
arrived last night" he said. "She had about
700 passengers in the first and second cabins.
1t has been estimated in times past that each
passenger brought over an average OF $500
worth OF foreign-bought goods. Put 1t at 1900
worth, and then take out the 300 which is ex-
i empt under the present law, and these 700
persons should have had $4,000 worth Of
goods TO pay duty upon. At an average Of 40
per cent this should have realized for the Gov
eminent $4,000 What was collected About
=, 900, l see by the newspapers.
This aCcords with what | should have eN-
pected as the result OF my own observations.
One big ship after another has arrived hero
since the law went into effect. and the personal
the Government $1,000 or $1,000 from each
ship. In each case some one or two passen,
ments or none at all. In one case it was a Van.
deEbilt who paid the creator part Of the dutic.
prominent person OF society who was the heavy
1T has come to our knowledge. both from
hearsay and from observation, that the meth
DDS OF inspection for baggage are very loose.
OF coures, II a person il suspected OF being \
smuSzler. a most rigid examination might be
made, both OF his baggage and person, hut in a
majority OF the cases we are satisfied that tho
down at the ends OF the trunks and look at
the edges Of The trunks contents. We even
have knowledge OF cases where the trunks
were merely opened and the contents were un-
W had the 800 clause Of the law passed.
and We believe that ii should be enforced. The
trouble lies, apparently, with the men in the
customs service who were brought up under
the old law. and who do not believe in the new
one. They are indifferent to its enforcement.
among some Of the higher officials. Even when
passengers have declared large amounts Of
dutiable goods it has not been uncommon for
these officials to red uce the declared amounts.
In one case that | know OF goods were declared
of a value OF $1,000, and this was reduced by
the appraisers 20 5000. In another case the
goods were declared by he owner 10 be worth
$3.50. The appraisers reduced the sum 10
81 1850, and the duty collected was 1898 instead
Of more than -, 900 AS 1t should have been.
These instances were 30 fragrant that Chief
Appraiser Wakeman has issued n circular
order to the effect that when II declaration of
value is made it Is no part or the duty OF the
appraisers TO reduce the amount. There is u
laxity in the Interpretation and administration
OF the law, and an evident attempt to bring IL
into disrepute by the men who should enforce
Il. II this continues we shall discover the OF
tenders and endeavor TO have them replaced
by men who will do their duty. IL IL Is Reces-
sary, some Of our detectives will even go to
Europe and return as cabin passengers IN order
to ger TO, the inside OF this netarious evasion Of
Mr. hickman said that the association had
about $50 members. and that these embraced
lines which are likely to be affected by the
smuggling OF personal effects. Some of those
Lord & 1 Taylor and Mills & Glib. dry goods;
4 Co, tailors; the John Ruzits Fur Company,
umbrellas. Hauptner & Co. and Samuel Budd,
mems furnishings; James A. Slater. shoes; +.
NJ. Walters, musical Instruments; T.. VI You
mans, hats, and the American Hair Cloth Com.
p"FP Se detective system will begin on Monday,