The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1920-02-25
RGANIZATIONAT
WORK STEALING
krchandise From Steamships Is Be
lief Expressed In Report U. S.
Chamber Of Commerce.
Associated Press

BUEN0S AIRES, Feb. 25-Beliet
Rt widespread international or
IMITATION is at work stealing mer-
Rndise from steamships is express
ip report Of the United States
amber of Commerce in Argentina
Ne chamber investigated the loss OF
luable merchandise by pilfering
bm ships plying to this port and
nnd "that the same characteristics
visible in thefts of merchandise
bm Italy, Spain and England as
bm the United States"
The investigation was made at the
luest of the Allied Chambers of
>mmerce which asked all the mem
rs to make similar Investigations.
'The increase in pilferage during
+ past few months had been alarm
"says the report. "An effort was
ade to deduce from the evidence re-
iyed the value of the goods stolen,
4 this was impossible although in
neral terms it would seem to run
10 hundreds of thousands of dollars
Id.
sOne curious feature developed
bich was that pilferage occurs with
equency in articles sent by parcels
BIT, for which there is no recourse
no value has been declared.
THE thefts have all the character
hes Of systematized robbery by peo-
who know the merchandise and
% know the peculiarities Of the
shippers. 1t would seem, more
er, that widespread international
Examination was at work for the same
characteristics are visible in thefts
X merchandise from Italy, France,
5bain and England as from the I'm
Ia States.
|.One house imported a lot of 30
6tomobiles. 1t is the custom of this
ctory to pack the set of tools in one
ecial corner Of the case. A hole was
/ into this particular corner of 20
ses and the tool sets were removed.
apparently the thieves knew exactly
< 4 . !. -.
here to look for the articles they
6sired.
TAnother house which imports dry
pods found that zinc-lined cases had
3een opened, the silk contents remov-
III and an equal weight Of coal put in
y the cases which were nailed up.
mother house which also imports dry
7bods had several cases of silk velvet
rifled and in the cases
ERE found cotton goods Of an infer
n quality. Each of these cases in
|blved losses amounting to nearly
10000 gold. One exporter Of silk,
tom Europe, with the idea Of deceiv-
IL the thieves changed his form Of
Rcking and also his shipping marks
BIT the thieves went direct to the
hckages and rifled them as though
hey knew before hand what they con-
pntained. Two separate shipments
kch containing 10000 sewing mach
fe needles were stolen, the empty
pxes arriving in Buenos Aires, al
hough in this case the shippers have
pmplete security that the merchan-
|ise was loaded on the steamer in
roper condition in New York. A
Merchant makes his Custom House
eclaration in harmony with the
hipping documents received from
broad and must pay duty on goods
hat were stolen.
"The British steamship companies
It first and more recently the Amer
ban steamship companies have in
Ruded in their bills of lading clause
b the effect that the steamer will not
Ie responsible for pilferage in all
|ases in which loss can be covered by
Insurance.
Insurance companies are increas-
ng their rates and threaten to make
till more increases. The attitude Of
he steamship companies and the cap
aims is , direct invitation to unre-
'tricted theft on board ship. As theft
insurance rates will in
.rease and the eventual prejudice to
legitimate commerce threatens to be
yery grave. w
3The opinion Of responsible mart
me insurance agents and adjusters
Who are in close touch with the sit
iation is that the only remedy is for
he steamship companies to reassume
responsibility for pilferage and in case
hey are unwilling to do 50 govern
mental pressure should be brought to
year to compel them to eliminate this
'lanse.'
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Design British