Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-09
LIQUOR SMUGGLING
BECOMING MENACE,
OFFICIALS ASSERT
"Wet" Goods Trade Leading
to Illegal Traffic in Other
Commodities.

Liquor smuggling into the United
States has reached such proportions
that it has brought in it's wake a
large illegal traffic in other commodi-
ties, it was learned today at the
Treasury Department. Officials have
become SO concerned that they are
considering rearrangement of the
governments coastal criminal chas-
ing arms with a view to concen-
trating on what they described as a
menacing situation.
The customs service, charged with
protecting the country from snug
glers. has found itself wholly made
quate' to meet the situation. accord
ing to Assistant Secretary Shouse of
the Treasury, who is head of that
government branch. He declared the
customs officials were handicapped
both in men and in money because
of refusal by the last Congress to
appropriate additional funds with
which the service could be expanded"
Army Needed for Patrol.
1t would require a small army of
men to patrol the coast and border
territories. Mr.. Shouse said, but he
believed such a plan was the only
solution: He argued also that as the
stock of liquor in this country de-
creased the work of the customs
service increased proportionately and
that this outlook was not conducive
to an early improvement in the con-
dition.
Mr.. Shouse said it was no secret
been coming in. although customs
officers had confiscated thousands
upon thousands of dollars worth
from ships which attempt to conceal
liquor stocks on entering customs
ports"
Comes by Small Boats.
The larger supplies which officials be-
lieve have been smuggled in, however,
have come. not through ports, but by
landings of launches and small boats in
secluded spots along the Atlantic coast.
Information gathered by the customs
agents and prohibition enforcement Off
cials tended to show that immense
amounts of liquor and, in some cases,
shipments of other commodities have
been obtained from seagoing vessels
lying outside Of the three-mil limit and
then transferred to the coast by means
of small craft.
The Canadian border traffic, while
admittedly large, was declared not
to exist along the Atlantic seaboard,
and, with reference to liquor, par
ticularly between the West Indies
and Florida shores. Typographical
conditions lend themselves as an aid
to the smugglers in that section, Mr.
ShouSe said.
Change Their Stocks.
Customs officials reported that
smuggling of liquor have been found
to have changed their stock in trade
from intoxicants to legitimate COM
modities of commerce, They declared
that the disposition of most articles
was easier than that of liquor after
it once was on American soil.
Bureau of internal revenue officials
said they have been able to confiscate
much liquor which they ascertained
had been smuggled through. The
smuggling, however. has made the
enforcement work more difficult.
1t was expected that the customs
service. the bureau of internal rev.
enue and Prohibition Commissioner
Kramers staff would be able to ar
range some method of co-ordinating
their efforts to the end that more
men would be available for patrol
work. Mr.. Kramer's force is regard
ed by officials as small, and it is un-
likely that they can render much
aid. but the few men who will be
available from all sources will i'm
prove the defense against smugglers
to that extent, in the opinion of Of
ficials.