The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-29
LOEB TALKS ABOUT
CUSTOMS SERVICE
Millions Saved to Government
During Past Year
EVERYBODY MUST PAY
No Tips Nor Favors VIII Get Goods
Through Customs Houses Uuder
the Present System of
Management
EVERYBODY MUST PAY

New York, August 27.-{Special Seat
ed beneath Nine green chrome of Col.
Theodore Roosevelt, done in three-quar-
ter size of heroic proportions, William
Loeb, Jr.. collector of the port of New
York. said today that we are in the midst
of the greatest shakeup in the history of
the United States custom department. and
if confederation were necessary one might
point to the incident of Friday morning,
when the great steamship Mauretania,
just in from England, was searched from
hold to bridge by customs sleuths while
fair women wept and returning tourists
CRASHED their teeth in rage.
Collector Loeb has literally taken the
bull by the horns in this custom business
The easy old DAVIS of superficial survey
and baggage merely glanced at are gone
Noblemen of wealth and power, Americ-
an magnates of millions and pull, fair
women of rich and powerful families are
all treated alike. Their luggage and their
effects get the same treatment in these
days as is accorded to the third cabin
chap whose goods and chattels are done
up in oilcloth and tied with a rope.
IWelVe MILLIONS saved
Last year Mr.. Loeb saved the United
States government about $12,O00,0OO and
figures this year will exceed the returns
of last.
WELL he began, 1.-The problem was not
so difficult as it might appear at first
glance. All that was necessary was to
make not only the public but my subor-
dinates feel that 1 was sincere in my eff
forts to better conditions-that is, to make
people pay the money rightfully to the
government.
I'VE are in the midst of the greatest
shakeup in the history of the United
States customs department. More en-
ployes have been dismissed since l took
charge than in all the previous history.
IT had to make everybody feel that !
had the determination and will he said.
mot to be detected from my purpose or
course, nothing could have been accomp-
lished unless l had first got the men un-
der me in sympathy with my purpose and
methods. Having secured the confidence
and let me emphasize that the rest was
easy-they soon realized that l would
back up to the limit the men who per-
formed their full duty. They next lost
the fear OF the old days that they might
get into trouble and endanger their posi-
lions IL they reported Irregularities on the
part of people who had at their command
influence-either political or financial or
social And any subordinate was made
to feel at once that if he failed to do his
duty he would be summarily dealt with.
and no sort of influence would avail to
save him.
No Tips Allowed
"Of course, 1 am constantly impressing
upon them that / will not tolerate In the
service the acceptance of tips of gratui-
ties, as the taking of money IN any form
by customs officials is not consistent
with their sworn oath to protect the rev.
enues of the government.
1T Is short step from the tip to the
bribe.
my investigation showed that there had
always been immense frauds at this port.
that had their inception in the tips for
working overtime the tip for expediting
the work the tip for relaxing the Gus
toms regulations in various ways. 1t must
be borne in mind that 1t Is not only on
the passenger docks that we hare to look
out for attempted frauds, but all along
the 15o miles of water front of this port.
Just then a secretary stepped in and
handed a slip of paper to Mr. Loeb on
which were several pencilled names.
why, here's an example of just what
7 was saving" remarked the collector
with smile.
Increase In Jewelry
"Outside is a committee of gentlemen in
the precious stone business They are do