The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-06-18
PROMOTION
Generally Understood That He Will
Succeed Chance.

july, secretary Shaw, Will, 1t is stat
ed, appoint new supervising agent
of the special agents in the treasury
to succeed Mr.. w. S. Chance, who re-
tires because of the delicate health of
his wife, to take up less exciting
work in another climate.
1t is believed that the gentleman
to succeed Mr.. Chance Will be Mr.. r.
w. Clayton of oskaloosa, state com
miteeman for the Sixth District Of
Iowa.
Secretary Shaw has given no init
nation of his intention to appoint Mr..
Clayton, but from hints and "hunch-
es" circulating about in the treasury
department the deduction is drawn
that Mr.. Clayton is the fortunate
man. 1t is understood that Mr.
Chance believes the Iowa man will
succeed him, and tips have come over
from New York tending to confirm
this view Of the case.
1t is known to certainty that a
number of influential senators have
exerted their influence in favor of the
appointment of Mr.. Clayton and othe-
ers have indicated a willingness to
make the matter a personal one in
case their influence should be needed.
So far as Mr.. Clayton is concerned
he is saying nothing. Whatever in
formation leaks out form other sourc-
es. Mr.. Clayton simply says he
knows nothing about the matter. He
admits having heard some things
that were not unpleasant to hear an
pleads guilty to the charge that the
appointment would not be declined.
Further than this he has nothing to
say. The matter will be finally de-
termined within two or three weeks.
The position Of supervising agent of
the special agents service is one Of
the very best positions inside the
cloak of the civil service. The COM
pensation is $40 per day, including
Sundays, and there is no lost time.
The supervising agent has his head
quarters in the treasury building in
Washington, and his duties involve
the supervision of the 2S special ag-
ents of the treasury. He is constant
ly in communication with the special
agents and directs their movements.
In icin
that diamonds are being struggled in
to the country to escape DUTY and that
there is reason to believe that GER
tain individual who departed from
Liverpool on certain steamer which
will arrive here on a certain date is
loaded with gems, the supervising ag-
ent instructs special agent to take
means to get aboard that steamer be-
fore she reaches port and have an in
terview with the aforementioned an
dividual.
This occurs not infequently. The
smuggler thinks he has everything
nailed down; that the deal is closed
and all he has to do is to deliver the
goods, when just as he is getting
ready to collect his personal effects
preparatory to landing he is introduc-
ed to a suave gentleman who enters
into general conversation, which in
the course of time becomes specific
and then peculiar questions are asked.
Then the smuggler realizes he is up
against a federal officer.
The cable is swift and very convent
ent and many a smuggler who sailed
from England or France congratulate
ing himself upon his artistic ma
neuvreing, finds himself face to face
with revenue officer, with blood in
his eye and facts in his inside vest
pocket, even before land is sighted on
this side This is what revenue cut
tiers are built for.
Assistant Secretary Armstrong says
a good deal of difficulty has been eX-
perienced lately with diamond SNUG
glers. On account of the exceedingly
small compass into which thousands of
dollars worth of diamonds may be
packed, it is a difficult matter to al
| ways apprehend the smuggler, yet act
ing in conjunction with the willy agents
of the government in Europe the spe-
cial agents as general thing get
the people who seek to evade payment
| of duty.
Of course the duty on diamonds is
very high, especially the cut stones,
and this acts as an incentive to the
crooked work, but the penalty is also
severe. A man with $4,000 worth of
diamonds, set, is called upon to plank
down $4,000 duty. He ponders the
proposition and decides to take the
chances of smuggling them through.
He makes the effort and fails. Can
he then put up the $4,000 and lug
away his gems? Well, hardly. He
loses the diamonds and there is no
way under heaven by which he can
get them back either. They are sold
at auction and if he gets them he must
bid more than somebody else is will
ing to pay.
Mr.. Clayton has been working most
Of the time in Canada since his ap'
1 l.