New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25
SMUGGLING By MAIL.
Government authorities Constartlg
on the alert.

There are thousands Of persons" said cus-
tom house officer. who seem 10 think that Cncls
Sam is not smart enough TO appreciate tha
smuggling possibilities in the mail service They
believe. for some foolish reason. that he has nd
right to open a sealed package. and they acs
accordingly 1t never seems TO snter their heads
that every foreign package is viewed with sus~
picion and that fine is the penalty II this sus-
picion Is justified.
Foreign goods Up to a certain amount ara
allowed To go through the mails without fine.
but anything over that value Is condemned
Again and again open packages from Francs
and from England, TO find choice candy. but THAI
Is not rated high enough 10 call for fine. Gin
gerbread is often sent from France through the
malls. and I never could see that it was any
better than the old fashioned New England
brand why any should take the trouble
10 send 1t 70 friends here Once box OF cut
flowers came from Canada. mostly roses. and
they were sight when we opened the box-al
faded and fallen TO pieces OF course, there was
no fine due on them. but don't believe the
recipient very much re1oiced when sha
opened that box.
Sometimes people try to get around the law
by sending half Of the goods in one package and
the other half in a separate package. II Is al
Iowab1e TO send one OF pair Of gloves. for tn
stance as a sample, but if. IN a few days. anoth~
er package comes addressed TO the same persons
1t is likely to contain the mate 70 the first glove
OF course. in such case the addressee Is in
formed that We would like little talk with him
or with her. and fine is the result Epaulets
from abroad are often sent through the mails
in this way. as are shoes. stockings and even
embroidered garters-
An actress came near quilting Uncle Sam ouc
Of a fine or duty on a diamond ring Tha
ring came TO her from Canada. and she de-
clared that she had pawned 1t while hard up in
Canada couple OF months before. and than
she had just been able TO redeem II. The ring
had pawnbrokeTs tag fastened on It. came In
the box OF a pawnbrokerage Arm. and everythtns
looked o. K According to those facts oe
course. it was not dutiable. for II was goods
originally purchased in the United States a
little investigation. however. showed that 10
was a cooked-up scheme. and that the ring was
a present from a Montreal admirer.
along about Christmas we sometimes havs
gifts from foreign countries which are prompt.
" sent back because the recipients reruse To-
pay the fine. I remember especially hand
some solid gold belt buckle with a setting o.
turquoises which addressed TO . pretty
little stenographer- But 1t had to go back. for
she did not have enough money 10 pay tho
fine. although she was IN tears at losing the
trfnket / told her the next time 70 tell her
AOIeIsia oCIi1II. - = --eSo@+ roO- -r-o-L
wanted 10 give ner a pIeseII- "A PooR woRA =
fngnan came in here about New-Years Day 10
pay a fine on a pair or silk suspenoers. neavly
embroidered and with silver trimmings. which
his lady love had sent him from England He
didn't want them and certainly couldn't at
ford suspenders TO that tune, but he didn't want
10 offend his sweetheart BY refusing 10 pay the
fine.
packages contain pictures. There are pictures
Of every body, from that OF the newest baby 70
those of the saints or course. they are noe
dutiabe. Cheap jewelry is also frequently
sent through the mails. and this, too. Is gener-
ally OF little value that IL Is not dutiaole-
"A young woman came in here the other day
In answer to my notice that / was holding a
silver chain from Cuba because II was dutiable.
She was very indignant, and tried 10 tell me
my business. There is no such thing duty
on goods from Cuba she declared. and you
know il very we'll yourself. Why. how can
there be? Cuba is part OF the United States
I expressed considerable surprise, and con-
fessed that 1t was news 10 ME. She said she
had the proof. and brought me a letter from
Cuba bearing twO-Cent stamp She was GER
tain that the fact that IL costs only two cents
10 send a letter from Cuba 10 the United States
was proof that IL was or Uncle Sans pos
sessions. although I carefully pointed out that
il was not United States stamp / kept tho
chain for two weeks before she woke up.
Questionable pictures and souvenir postal
cards under Jurisdiction. and when
find bunch OF these things from some for
etgn source We inform the recipient that they
are TO be destroyed II he wants to fight IL
the goods are held until the matter is thrashed
out in the United States courts. and some
times II costs this government a pretty penny
10 maintain It's side OF the controversy. And.
mind YOU. this government does not get a cent
out OF IL In any event. but has the satisTac-
ton 81 guarding the morals OF the United
States People to whom these packages are ac-
dressed give al sorts OF excuses. A package
OF questionable pOStals came 10 a young fellow
the other day from France. and he had the
nerve 10 tell me that he had sent a sum OF
money across with tAe order TO send on a
package OF good sellers He claimed that h.
did not know what the package was going 20
like such an vnsOphisticated chicken. ana ~
s0rned the postals into zInokA.