The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-23
A QUESTION ASKED IN THREE
DEPARTMENTS.
Custom House. Internal Revenue and
Police Views-Extensive Smuggling
Said to be Going On.

Three departments,-two federal and
one territorial,-are discussing the
opium business in Honolulu, each pass
ing the burden of suppressing the busi-
ness to the others. The customs people
say that the immense quantity of opium
now being used in the city is not com
ing from Hong Kong, but from Califor-
mia, and that it is not the business Of
customs men to watch for opium from
American ports. Internal Revenue Col
lector Chamberlain and his men say
that they have nothing to do with
opium that is here, unless it was manu-
factured on American territory, in
which case it ought to have had ten
dollar pound stamp when it left the
factory, presumably in California. Dep
uty Sheriff ChillingwOrth says that the
the town is full of opium from Hong
Kong.
In the meantime the contitions des-
cribed in The Star two weeks ago be-
come steadily worse. The number of
Cinnamon using opium every night is
up in the thousands, and they may be
seen from the sidewalks in some places,
quietly smoking the deadly drug with
out fear of interruption. An immense
quantity of opium from somewhere is
being consumed.
Relations between the police and the
custom men have never been exactly
cordial, when the subject of opium was
under discussion, the two departments
long having been rivals in seizing the
drug in Hawaii. The police depart
ment is out of it now, on account of
the decision that the territorial opium
law was unconstitutional
Internal revenue collector Chamber
lain said that those who had brought
his bureau into the question of dope
using here did not know the law. 1T
is the duty of our department to col
lect ten dollars pound on opium man
ufactured in the United States" said
Mr.. Chamberlain. The drug is stamp
ed when it leaves the place where it is
manufactured California opium that
comes here is stamped in California.
OF course we are looking out to detect
any violation of the law but this de-
partment has nothing to do with opium
from Hong Kong, though all depart
ments naturally cooperate in enforcing
laws and we should help if opportunity
offered"
Anyone who doubts that opium is
being smuggled might be quickly con-
Vinced by an Interview with Deputy
Sheriff Chillingworth, or a visit with
him to sene of the joints. There is un-
stamped dope to be seen right ard left
in Honolulu, according u the deputy
sheriff who is thoroughly familiar with
all the joints and acquainted with the
men VINO run them. ChllIingWOrth
made a speciality of opium raidlrg for
long time, and he is we'll posted on
the subject.
yes there is any quantity of opium
in Honolulu" said the deputy, both
stamped and unstampeI, If any one is
really anxious to see il can take them
at any time and show it to them III
large quantities. i do not care about
making any statements in the matter,
either general or specifc,-sceing is be-
lieving,-and If anyone is really anxious
to know whether or not there is opium
in the islands that has not been regu-
larly received, 1 can give them ocular
proof of the same on ve:y short no.
tice."
The smuggled opium may have beer
smuggled into California and shipped
here from there, though this would he
a very roundabout way IF getting it In.
to Hawaii. However it 60 nes the fac
that it is here, unstamped. smuggled in.
| to American territory III !trge quar-
| tits is one which the customs bureau
has to face. Uncle Sam is being heavily
buncoed somewhere and his local re.
presentatives are worrying over tn,
| nroblem of how it Is done.