The Washington times., 1910-06-20
LOEB PLANS SWELL
CUSTOMS REVENUES
Port Collectors Law En-
forcement Increases Re
CeiptS s., 281,563.

NEW YORK, June 20.-If Uncle Sam
were badly in need Of money and had
70 call On one OF the heads OF his num-
erous departments 10 make a touch,
it's pretty safe 20 say that the old gen
tlsman would instinctively turn 70 the
collector OF the port Of New York, VII
liam Loeb. II. For in the fifteen months
that Mr.. Loeb has held down the col
lectorship he has been increasing his
employers bank roll and, by the same
token, making it harder for folks who
think II isn't a sin TO cheat the customs
to slip through the fingers of alert and
watchful officials.
While from time 10 time Uncle Sam
hears complaints about custom officers
beng a bit too inquisitive or annoying
he may be excused for hesitating about
criticising his collector For 1t is just
this character Of activity. instituted by
Mr.. Loeb, IT Is claimed, that today
shows . bigger balance on the credit
side OF tEe L. S. a ledger, and is at
the same time responsible for the smile
% contentment and self-satisfaction
Uncle Sam is wearing.
Loeb's Fat Contribution.
Here's a little example in subtraction
that Uncle Samuel has been pondering
for some time, thoroughly contented
with the result: Put down S2,3S7. $50 Sc.
Underneath it write $685. 1855. CThe for
mer figures represent the amount OF
custom house fines, penalties and for
FIXTURES from April I, 1873, until March
81. 1910. and the latter figures money
derived rom the same sources the pre-
viOus twelve mOnths.)
Substract the smaller from the larger
amount and yo- have $2,2S1. 5636l
This is Just one little contribution
that Mr. Loeb has put into Uncle sam s
pocket since he began collecting moneys
al the port Of New York.
While the figures show that the col
lection OF mail importations and returns
from the sale Of small seizures have
not been quite as good as they were
the pre- -Ous year, Mr. Loeb ACTIVITY.
however, in enforcing court fnes and
detecting systematic smuggling, there
by bringing about compromises, has
greatly enriched the Government
Receipts Are Increasing.
From March, 1909. when Mr.. Loeb
took office, the rigid enforcement OF the
customs has shown month by month a
greater increase over the revenues col
Iected during corresponding months OF
preceding years, particularly through
Ia. receipts from passengers baggage
Inspected at this port.
In round figures increases are SHOWN
as follows. I@9-May, $1,000 June,
So, O03: July, $500: August, $1,000,
September, Sl7l.O0G: October, Sl9. 90;
November. 5000. December, S+y'VvO-
19I0-JanUary, 5000; February, 5000.
Further than February OF the present
year the records Of the custom house
nave not been compiled so as TO permit
a comparison But inquiry at the Gus
t':n house revealed the fact that the in
creascs have continued month by month.
Fines Collected by Loeb.
Nearly $4,000 in fines has been i'm
posed and collected through the instru-
mentality Of the customs officials in in
voking criminal prosecutions Of offend
ers against the custonlE laws from April,
1909. up 10 the present late.
January last three Snes were col
lected, amounting TO $1,000. Out OF the
so-called sleeper trunk Eases the Gov
eminent Treasury, th~,Ugh fines, re-
ceived S12.z75 last FebrIary.
Comparison Of tie SutieS collected
during the first twelve months OF Mr.
Loeb's term with those q the previous
year shows an increase II 40,S1l, S59-S3-
During 1S)S-1st9 accCr, -ES to tie sta
Iistics of the custom house, SI7S5G0 -
1871 was collected from the regular
sources and in duties or passengers
baggage. During the same period of
ISc9-I9lO. with Collector Loeb in charge,
the fgUTe mounted 10 $220.312, 1910.
Custom house officials, discussing the
vast increases in revenue, say that in
large measure Mr.. LOeb's policy OF
treat the rich VOyager and the pOOr i'm
migrant exactly the same Is respons-
ible. With the present administration,
they claim, all smUgGlers LOOK alike, and
in the enforcement Of the laws no IA
vOrites are being played.