Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-08-13
[OED'S NEW POLICE
Customs Collectors Force to
Seize SmuggIers at New York.
SEVERAL HAVE BEEN CAUGHT


and Day to Prevent Smuggling In OF
contraband ooods-coiensi W. lut1.
Commander. Has T~e Hundred and
Seventy five Men on Duty.
Every pier OF New York city at
which is ttd a vessel containing duti-
able goods is being watched night and
day by a new federal police force to
apprehend smugglers This force was
organized n few days ago as the out
come Of Collector William Loeb's de-
termination TO stop leaks In the eollec-
ton OF customs revenue. Within six
days an average of two smugglers
night were detected and the goods
they sought TO sneak through free OF
duty confiscated.
There are 275 men In the new force.
Colonel w. Lutz. former chief OF the
lnsular police force Of Porto Rico. has
been named as commandant. His
assistant IL A. NJ. Beardsley.
There are three lieutenants. twelve
roundsmen and $50 patrolmen or
watchmen. as they are officially desig-
mated. The men are divided into three
shifts of eight hours each. The greater
number Of men are on duty from
a. IN. to 4 p. H., n lesser number from
p. IN. to midnight. and still smaller
number from midnight until a. m.
There Is at least one man to every
pier in the city where vessel Is tied
containing dutiable goods.
Now Force Gets Busy.
The new department was formally
organized July 81. Colonel Lutz got
his patrolmen busy at once. In eight
Instances they caught members Of the
crews Of different steamers trying TO
take ashore packages containing goods
on which no duty had been paid. A
valuable lace spread. number Of
finely wrought fancy boxes. q valuable
| jewel case and boxes Of cigars aud
bottles of bay rum were among the
finds. In every case they were being
brought ashore when 1t was supposed
the customs officials had gone for the
day.
Never before In the history Of the
customs service has watch been kept
at night. The steamship companies
have always had watchmen at piers.
At least they were supposed to watch.
but according to general report they
We're either asleep or oblivious to what
any Of the crew might bring ashore
There will be strict discipline main
tained Of the new force In order 70
demonstrate that its organization and
operation may prove its usefulness,
The roundsmen will be held account
able for the detection Of delinquent
patrolmen at piers where one man Is
assigned on the midnight shifts. The
lieutenants will make unexpected trips
to see that their immediate subordi.
mates are really making the proper
rounds.
Forty. eight Piers Watched.
The force until recently had under
surveillance forty eight piers. 1t Is
stated that the force will be increased
to 500 patrolmen just as soon AS II
can be done.
The members Of the newly organ
lied force are all clothed with the
"S.-S.-S." authority. as Colonel Lut7
terms 1t. This means that they have
the police and governmental right tC
stop. search. seize" The watchmer
are instructed to take no chances. but
seize on suspicion II there Is the slight
est thing to warrant such suspicion
1t is expected that hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars will be added to the
treasury by this increased vigilance
before it will become generally under
stood that there is no use trying L
leave dock or pier with dutiablt
goods. When that particular time ar
rives Colonel I.uta says he will reduc,
the force somewhat. but never to thu
point where a pier Is not covered BY
at least one man constantly.
Colonel Lutz had several hundred
police under him In Porto Rico for tel
years. The body was organized afte
the fashion Of the new federal fore,
he commands. All below the rank o
major in the insular police force wer
natives. During the labor strike OF
the island three years ago Colone
Lutz gained a reputation for his ener
getic preservation Of order.-Nev
York World