The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-31
BY STEPHEN BONSAL.

simply requiring the duties to be paid some
nonths after the Jewels had slipped in duty
free because no stage of the transaction
except the moment of declaration. which
We all know was a slip OF memory-had
been marked by that secretiveness which
Is the characteristic Of the smuggler.
The Jewels were bought and worn abroad
at Longchamp and AK with a frankness
lmost approaching ostentation, and it was
Only when the Custom-house appeared in
view that these pretty baubles were laid
aside. and the purchase Of million-dollar
bagatelles slipped from memories that pass
in the street" for being very clear and re-
tentive. Secretary Shaw says the next
time a millionaire slips a cog in his MEM
ory he is going to punish him severely"
INSPECTORS SMILE AT
HINTS ABOUT SING SING.
There is talk Of Sing Sing and stripes
about the Custom-house. but the inspectors
who wait upon the docks and discriminate
between emugglers with a pull and the rest
simply smile.
One of them told me that II he lives to
be a hundred he does not expect to see a
millionaire go to jail for smuggling. and he
has plenty of data on the tip Of his tongue
for those who promise not to publish them,
which go far to show that his views are
built on good foundation.
Tn which cost these big,
broad-gauged men many thousands and
showed them to be. while the beneficiaries
of protection. in private life at least occa-
sional free traders was furnished by the
Treasury agents abroad. who, through
means best known to themselves. have a
way Of finding out whenever a large lot Of
precious stones has been sold to an Ameri-
can.
This Gordon OF special agents., while not
considered inefficient. is deemed by the pro-
tective association of dealers in precious
stones not to be sufficiently extended. and
they have taken measures inspired by the
purest patriotism and a desire to protect
their own business which characterizes all
American citizens to extend the line and
Reinforce the Treasury officials with agents
OF their own.
A large fund has been raised, and Mr..
Ludwig Nissen. the president Of the guild.
Is about to go abroad with large funds and
experience at his disposal.
| Mr.. Nissen does not attempt to conceal
the fact that the coming months Of crusade
that he is about to inaugurate for the bene-
ut of Uncle Sam and the dealers in precious
stones will be without parallel in the his
T, tory of the Treasury Department. He says
1t will be much easier for a camel to crawl
through a needles eye. for a rich man to
steal into heaven. than for a smuggler to
Introduce Illicit diamonds into New York
this summer. Special agents of the Treas
ury. 1 find. are nothing like as enthusiastic
as the members of the protective associa-
ton.
Say" said one Of the veterans to me,
Il think the protective association has
slipped Its trolley. Ten million dollars
worth Of diamonds you can carry IN the
palm OF one hand. and you can come in
with the whole Doodle in one Of your. vest
pockets.
W have thousands Of passengers coming
In here every month, nine hundred and
n~inety-nine Of whom treat the Treasury
square. or as square as you can expect
them to. and It's tbs thousandth man or
woman who brings In the diamonds. To
catch this smuggler you have to search
: vigorously svsry man. woman and child