New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-11

from Paris. where he has been trying to
get evidence against the bevy of dressmak-
ers and milliners now under indictment in
this city.
He was scheduled to come back several
weeks ago, but it is said that the expecta-
ton of obtaining some important facts m
connection with the indictments has de
tanned him abroad.
Mr.. Wall came into the service of the
Treasury Department at this port shortly
after Mr. Loeb was made Collector and ii
was during his regime on steamship piers
that the customs night watchmen were
compelled 10 make secondary examinations
OF passengers as they left the gates. Mr..
Walls zeal and that Of the watChmen in
rummaging through women's handbags and
the overcoats Of male passengers as they
left the customs gates caused such a pro-
test from the travelling public and from
steamship owners that the secondary exam
nation was modified and subsequently
dropped.
The Collectors right hand man became
conspicuous by his absence about THREE
months ago, and It was learned on Saturday
that he had gone abroad in search of sucn
facts and figures from the foreign mo1istes
as might help TO complete the chain of eva
dence now in The hands Of the United
States Attorney.
Although the United States Attorney has
secured a number of convictions, in which
heavy fines and penal servitude have been
imposed upon the smuggiers. 1t is known
that some OF the indicted importers have
made il hard to procure evidence sufficien:
TO convict them.
j. is expected that on Mr.. Wallis return
the cases of the indicted dressmakers and
milliners. many Of whom were caught as
the owners Of sleeper baggage by Survey
or Clarkson and his deputies in 1907, 1905
and 1909 will be pushed with renewed
vigor.
Mr.. Wall has been in constant communi-
cation with the Custom House by cable and
by letter since his departure, and IT is said
that not only have the French deputies
been Indifferent in assisting him, but that
IL has been exceedingly difficult to wrest
from the French exporters the duplicate
bills or the exact prices paid by the Amer
lean dressmakers for their gowns
Mr. wall was sent abroad because the De-
partment OF Justice deemed it inadvisable
20 proceed with the trials Of some of the
important smuggling cases until such time
as conclusive evidence could be furnished
70 show that actual undervaluations wero
made and smuggling attempted from Paris.
the port Of origin Mr.. Wall was hurried 10
Paris 20 find out the actual cost of the i'm
ported goods and ascertain the difference
between this cost and the bills furnished to
the Appraiser by the dressmakers. as well
as the quantity of goods sent into this
country in sleeper" trunks which were not
appraised or seen by the customs officials.
One OF the stumbling blocks which Mr..
Wall is said 90 have encountered Is the In
difference on the part Of the French "ffi-
Gals TO giving assistance In getting the facts
required by this government They take
the view that any activity on their part In
this direction would ieopardize the foreign
gown trade with this country. upon which
Paris So largely depends. The nature or
Mr.. Wallis evidence had not been divulged
at the Custom House, but II WAS learned on
Saturday that. while the Department OF
il etice and the special agents In Paris nave
not been overwhelmed with evidence some
interesting prosecutions may be expected on
Mr.. Walls return.