Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-12
WOMEN 0ET1IMES
led 10 ShUGGLE
BY SUGGESTION
Foreign Shopkeepers Blamed
for This by Asst. U. S.
District Attorney
OFFER TO MAKE OUT BILL
FOR LESS THAN PRICE PAID
Too Many Persons Regard the
Cheating of Uncle Sam as
a veniaI offense
EBy Latest Mailf

NEW YORK Two reasons are
assigned by Assistant United States
District Attorney Frank Carstarphen
In charge Of the prosecution of SNUG
glers, for the Increase In smuggling
by women IN the last few weeks.
"One chief reason" be said, IS
thai at this season everybody ID com
ing hack from Europe. while q few
weeks ago the tide of travel was all
the other way. The other reason Is
the practice Of SDreign shopkeepers OF
offering to invoice goods at any price
the customer may wish.
" wish s. .sey Will say to a
prospective customer, we win make
out bill so that you can easily save
the duty going through the custom
house n
There Il the suggestion, and many
women who might never have thought
of smuggling or undertaking things
fall for 1t. The result Is that when
their goods are examined and CON-
pared with the bills they present, the
deception is very apparent to an APP
praiser. Then there are tears and
pr0testati0ns ct the pier, the custom
house and here when the case comes
up for prosecution.
Another thing that helps along is
the knowledge that some other wo-.
man has escaped paying part of her
duties. It gives them something to
talk about and boast d, and it is diff
cult to make the qxerage man, much
less the average woman, think there
is anything wrong In itself IN snntis-
Cling. Given reasonable assurances
Of getting through without difficulty,
very many persons who would never
think of breaking any other law will
break the customs laws without the.
slightest tWinge or conscience.
Sometimes, IN q way, the women
try to smuggle Of necessity. They
spend more money abroad than they
intended to, and not having the nee
essary cash to pay their duties, and
being averse to letting husband or
father know just how extravagant
they have been they trEs.to cover.
themselves up by false declarations.
Others hesitate to draw upon their
capital or future income IL they can
possibly avoid It.
a practice of some firms having
stores here and in Europe is also con-
ducive to smuggling. They give pros
pectiys customers to believe that they
are buying goods at less than the
same could be bought here in their
New York stores. For example, when
was in Paris year ago I saw q
beautiful gold cigarette case II
thought I'd like to buy for a friend.
asked what l. could get the same
hing for in the New York store, but
1t first could get no definite infor1na-
ion. Later ] learned that the price
IN New. York was identicaHy that Of
he price in Paris. But the American,
thinking he was getting bargain.
would pay New York prices and then,
I he was honest, pay SO per cent duty
n addition when he returned home.
do not say all firms do that, but the
me have in mind is one Of the best
lnown in the jeweIry trade.
Jail sentences will not stop women
rom smuggling. though they might
,elp. Not long ago q pr0minent off |
,iAl declared That if sSfnueg4ing we're
made capital offehse the only per.
ions who would be cured Of the |
labit would be those executed. For
mother thing. 1t Is difficult to get
judges to sentence women to jail for |
You see, they have wives |
md daughters of their own at home.
lnd there ID natural reluctance to
END respectable woman of good
amily to jail for smuggling.
As matter of fact, Gen. Henry,
he surveyor of the port, Furnishes
hem more than Jail sentence would. |
lie takes all their pretty things away |
rom them before he sends them up |
lere." .<>-..
DO distriet.attorneys ever ask for
all sentences for women smuggiers?,'
he reporter asked. -
No; 1t is q wise district-attorney
Who knows enough not to ask for /
What II Is certain he will not get. !"
Judge Hough, before whom many of |
he smuggling cases are tried, is In /
lined to think that all women, ire
pective, of their stations in life, have
mall respect for the custom laws.
lie so declared himself a few daysI
IgU in passing sentence upon a wo-
nan of moderate means when coun- !
eel suggested that she did not realize |
he seriousness of her offense.
In that" he replied, she Is like
III the rest of her sex. Rich or poor, |
hey have small regard for the laws
against smtiggling 49,. 49,.