The Monticellonian., 1916-09-21
CoPJ aght by ". @. Chapman

The enronterv of this special agent
you would quite naturally conclude.
was ridiculous. You approve of the
sort of courage that makes a man
willing t0 tackle almost any biz task.
but you also recognize the limitations
or tie individual Davi3 with his
sIipgahot had an obvious chance of
success. il lie could make a scratch
shot and land on the coco Of MIR. Co
liath he would win. But Special Agent
Billy Gard sailed forth nonchalantly
against the Whole army OF Rhilstines,
apparently without even slingshot.
The Philistl1es in this case were
typiaed by the customs crowd OF the
port OF New York That crowd was a
ring within the administration of the
affairs of that greatest Of gateways
that had built up a system for divert
ing a million dollars year from the
pocket of Uncle Sam and appropriate
ing the money to itself For twenty
five years the men of this inner circle
had steadily strengthened their posi-
lions, their hold upon those in author
ity, their power to shake down im-
porters. There is a great influence to
be welded by million dollars year
in the hands of willing spenders
The development Of this condition
of affairs was based primarily upon
the fact that positions in the customs
service are dependent upon politics.
The men who built up the system of
craft bod cGpurad their
pointments because they had political
influence. They afterward used that
influence and put their easy money
back of it. Their power grew. 1t
made it possible for them to dictate
appointments more important than
their own, even to the collectorship
itself. 1t made it possible for them to
bring about the removal of any small
er official who seemed to stand in their
way. Men not in the ring learned to
wink at many things that they saw
When an emissary OF the crooked Gus
toms crowd went to an importer. even
where he was honest, it came to be
known that 1t was wise to listen to
any proposal made, Thus did the ma
chine gather force.
Just one example of the workings
of the system. An Italian named Cos
tello was an importer of cheese He
was successful enterprising and
honest merchant One day he received
large shipment from Italy, upon
which he expected to pay duty of
$4,000. The cargo was unloaded and
weighed by the customs representa-
tives. That night an emissary of the
ring called upon the Italian merchant.
He showed the record of weights for
the cheese cargo. According to this
record Costello would have had to pay
duty of but $4,000 1t showed but
half the weight in cheese that had ae-
tually arrived.
I'VE save you $4,000 said the
spokesman. I'VE expect YOU to di-
vide the profit.
But | believe In dealing honestly
with the government" said Costello
II have always done so and have
prospered."
my tip to you" said the between,
n is to do as the weighers suggest
They could as easily charge you over
weight as underweight Besides, you
will save much money
The importer, a foreigner, thus ad.
yised by representatives of the gov
eminent of his adoption. took the tip
and thereafter protited through this
official corruption and shared the
duties thus saved. Costello received
most of his goods as part of what
were known as Mediterranean car
goes" cheese. macaroni, olive oil The
government was afterward found to
have been losing an average of SEQ,
600 on each Mediterranean cargo that
came to port.
The case is typical. The represen-
tatives of the government practically
forced the importers into these deeep
tions. The customs service and com
mereial New York became permeated
with this serf Of fraud
Henry S,imson was appointed
In ed States district attorney in 1909
and determined 10 clean up these Gus
toms frauds william Loeb. Jr was
collector o. II port and of The same
mino The tsvo men sat their heads
together nd coaaidsrad ways and
means A his cleanup followed and in
bringing II about the work 81 Detec-
tive silly Gard play 4 most impor-
N. part.
TINS young sPec.ol agent was told
10 20 out ana mes.e: ne detail OF New
Y3rk customs. d service that was new