Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-04
LoEe's NEW POLICE.
Customs Collectors Force to Seize
Smusplers at New York.

SnuSolers at New York.
Every pier OF New York city at
which is tied Il vessel containing duti.
able goods is being watched night and
day by new federal police force to
npprehend smugglers. This force was
organized few days ago as the out
come Of Collector William I4oeb's de-
termination to stop leaks in the collec-
ton Of customs revenue. Within six
days an average OF two smugglers a
night We're detected and the goods
they sought to sneak through free OF
duty confiscated.
There are 215 men in the new force
Colonel w. Lutz. former chief Of the
insular police force Of Porto Rico, has
been named as commandant His
assistant is A. NJ. Beardsley.
There are three lieutenants, twelve
roundsmen and 26o 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. m, to 4 p. m, lesser number from
4 p. m. to midnight. and still smaller
number from midnight until 8 a. IN.
There is at least one man to every
pier in the city where vessel is tied
containing dutiable goods.
New Force Cots Busy.
Tho n.
organized July 81. Colonel Luh 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. n number of
finely wrought fancy boxes. valuable
jewel case and boxes of cigars and
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
were either asleep or oblivious to what
any of the crew might bring ashore.
There will be strict discipline main
tanned of the new force in order t,
demonstrate that it's organization and
operation may prove it's usefulness
The rcundsmen 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 il
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 ths
$685." authority, as Colonel Lut,
terms 1t. This means that they hav,
the police and governmental right II
stop, search, SEIZE" The watchmer
are instructed to take no chances, bu
seize on suspicion IL there is the slight
est thing to warrant such suspicion
1t Is expected that hundreds Of thou
sands of dollars will be added to tn.
treasury by this increased vigilanc,
before 1t will become generally under
stood that there is no use trying tt
leave a dock or pier with dutiablt
goods. When that particular time ar
rives Colonel Lutz says he will reduc.
the force somewhat. but never to tn,
point where 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 reputation for his ener
getic preservation Of order.-Nev
York World.