Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-19
TRAPS FOR SMUGGLERS
AFFABLE AGENTS WHO TRAVEL on
THE BIG LINERS.
They Get Into the Passengers Conf
dence and Find Out just What
He is COncealinE.
From the New York Mail and Express.

tain imports. out now the government Oiil-
Gals put their hands on the violators of
the law is quite another story. A late col
lector of the port once said that there would
be smuggling in as many generations 10
come as one could count on his fingers, and
possibly longer. Some think it no crime to
steal from the rich" government. and trey
lay their plans to bring in dutiable goods
free cautiously and cleverly as does he
burglar who is about to break into house.
There isn't a wide difference between the
two in the minds of strictly honest citizens.
1t is not generally known to globe trot-
tiers, or even stay-at- homes that the United
States has several of the ''brightest rnen
in the customs service constantly on the 60
crossing and recrossing the Atlantic in
search for those who are likely to have DAD
memories when it comes to the point of
making declaration. The latter is strong
legal document to which every Incoming
tourist has to swear and afiiN his sigma
ture. So that when a traveller is found
guilty of bringing into the country that
which does not appear as an entry on ms
declaration. he is likewise guilty of per
jury.
The government employees who make
these regular trips the big liners IRE
III the pay of the Treasury Department.
1t Is obvious that they are obliged to have
a gentlemanly presence and an ahabt.ity
that usually marks the great traveller. This
affability IS worth a good deal to the gov
eminent and it has been the downfall OF
riany SmugglerS.
Condolences are exchanged while the huge
twin screws ar. churnng the water aStcrn.
and the man with the diamonds or otter
precious stones concealed In MS bicyc-e
tires or inside the cheap cigars that he mas
purchased abroad learns with great de'il
of interest that his agreeable companion,
who says that he is a broker or something
of the sort, also intends to devote ms c'ei-
gies TO defrauding Uncle sam VI course;
ri, ,i,,,,l does
to do anything of the sort. but this Is one
of his many ruseS for finding out no" me
wind blows the other side OF the renee.
He makes the acquaintance OF eNSi ppuS
worth knowing during each trip. ana ne en-,
tertains the smoker as well as the social
hall. with the latest and best stories w men
the ship reaches Sandy Hook he knows
most of the other passengers better than
any one else. He is the first man ashore
and in the examination of his luggage
comes the funny part of the whole thing.
Having made his declaration in the main
saloon coming up the bay the same as the
rest of the passengers subscribed to the
paper and received a square white card
with a blue penrilcd numeral Drawn across
its face, he presents this to the customs
officials on the dock, and an inspector. VINO
little suspects who he is, dives into his
trunks and hand valse. In the meantime,
and while the passengers are sWtrinllls 10
the pier from the ship and hundreds OF ped
room stewards are Juggling ashore the great
tange of trunks and personal effects the
secret agent of the government has run
within hailing distance Of somebody who
does know him.
They shake hands as warmly as If the
whole thing was not made up, and they act
as if they hadn't seen each other in twenty
years. The newcomer is on the collector
or surveyors staff, and he finds neatly
folded piece of paper in his hand when the
secret agent hastcns off in search Of his
baggage. This paper is known from A to 4
by its new owner within Il few minutes. and
int +ir,fr oh hGn Va
whole thing is over and the would-be snug
gler is alone and asks himself:
NOW how in the name of all that's rea-
sonable, did they know l had that jew
elry?"
Paradoxical as 1t may seem. an agent en-
gagged i'll this kind of work must be well
known, and at the same time not properly
known. 1t is essential that he should have
a wide acquaintance on both sides of the
ocean, but the moment that his occupation
becomes generally known his usefulness to
the government ceases. Under such secrecy
do these agents operate that even the navi-
gators of the ships on which they travel do
not know their calling. They pay full fare
and take out tickets in the regular way.
sometimes through main offices. but most
frequently through a tourists agency. Their
pay varies, but the minimum is $40 per day
and all expenses paid. They stop at the
best hotels while abroad for they find the
best for their laborS there.
In addition to these travelling agents the
government has in the chief cities of Eu-
rope secret agents. who keep track of all
the big exporting houses and large jewel
ers. These men get IS per day and all eX-
penses. Their business demands that they
become thoroughly acquainted with the
principal figures Of. all the large houses
that have American customers. They are
never seen in the company of the travelling
agents. though they frequently meet. There
are four of these agents in London, five
In Paris and three in Berlin. The land
agent abroad gets the majority of his
10Th ho y,Y,ln Of
where American purchases are made. That
the relns may be drawn as tightly as posi-
BILE on dishonest tourists the government
has a secret understanding 20 divide the
value of seized goods where the Informal
ton Is furnished by a disinterested party.
This rule is most profitable to both the
government and the one giving the infor-
nation.
There are certain houses abroad which
sell diamonds. silks or other dutiable goods
to American buyers and notify the treasury
agents Immediately. Thus 1t is that fire.
quently the moment a tourist steps on
board a ship on the other side with valu-
ables that he may forget" to declare on
arrival here the fact is cabled to this side
and the boarding officers and inspectors
pass him the compliments of the day on
the pier.
1t is perfectly legitimate for these Euro
pean tradesmen to give this sort of infor-
nation for a consideration. because snug
Gler who makes business of bringing
goods surrepttiously into the country can
afford to cut prices and sell at prices which
the importer who pays duty cannot pos
sfbly meet with profit. This is we'll under
stood by the European merchants, who find
1t to their interest to uphold prices. The
system does not apply TO Europe alone. one
large manufacturing house in Havana
makes it a rule to notify the government
agents when a tourist buys a large amount
of cigars without taking out an invoice.
There can be no escape from duties when
an invoice Is made.
The pay of these secret agents and the re-
ward that goes to the informant come from
the secret or contingent fund Of the govern
ment, OF which the public never learns.
kind. 3
To draw the strings around the dishon-
est ones tighter there gather at the pier of
every big steamer on arrival a staff of
treasury officials. whose sole business 1t Is
to discover anything that may have es-
capped the observation of the agents abroad
Among these are several inspectresses who
can spy bullying gown several cable
lengths away.
Brown and Donohue, two of the most ex-
pert inspectors, have saved the govern
ment the value Of their salaries ten times
over within the past fifteen years. Their
methods of operation are unique. When
they see passenger who appears to have
q protuberance to starboard or port they
brush up against him in the most acct
dental ia ShioO nd