The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-02-25
STEALING MERCHANDISE
FROM STEAMSHIPS
Widespread international Organization
Is Believed to Be at Work-In-
vestigation Is Being Made.

Buenos Aires, Feb. "a. Belief that a
widespread international organization
is at work stealing merchandise from
steamships is expressed in a report OF
the United States chamber OF com
merce in Argentina. The chamber in.
chandise by pilfering from ships plying
to this port and found that the same
characteristics are visible in thefts of
merchandise from Italy, Spain and
England as from the United States
The investigation was made at the
request Of the allied chambers of com.
merce, which asked all the members
to make similar Investigations
"The increase in pilferage during the
past few months had been alarming.
says the report AN effort was made
the value OF the goods stolen, but this
was impossible, although in general
terms it would seem to run into hun
dreds OF thousands of dollars in gold,
"One curious feature developed which
was that pilferage occurs with fire.
quency in articles sent by parcels post,
for which there is no recourse il no
value has been declared.
The thefts have all the character
istics of systematized robbery by peo
pie who know the merchandise and
also know the peculiarities of the ship
per~ Ia would seem, moreover. that
widespread international organization
was at work for the same character
iatics are visible in thefts of merchan-
disc from Italy, France, Spain and
England as from the United States
"One house imported lot of 30 au-
tomohiles Ii is the custom of this
factory to pack the set of tools in one
special corner of the case. A hole was
cut into this particular corner OF %
cases. and the tool sets were removed.
Apparently the thieves knew exactly
whore to look for the articles they de
sired
Another house which imports dry
goods found that zinc-lned cases had
been opened. the silk contents removed
and an equal weight of coal put into
the cases which were nailed up. An
other house which also imports dry
goods had several cases Of silk velvet
completely rilcd aud in the cases were
found cotton goods of an inferior quail
ity Each of these cases involved losses
amounting to nearly $4,000 gold. Ono
exporter Of silk. from Europe with the
idea OF deceiying the thieves changed
his form Of packing and also his ship.
ping marks, but the thieves went Iii
rect TO the packages aud ritled them.
as though they knew beforehand what
they contained Two separate ship
ments. each containing 100000 sewing
machine needles, were stolen, the emp
tv boxes arriving in Buenos Aires. al
though in this case the shippers have
complete security that the merchan-
disc was loaded on the steamer in
proper condition in New York. A mer-
chant makes his custom house decla
ration in harmony with the shipping
documents received from abroad and
must pay duty on goods that were
stolen.
"The British steamship companies at
first and more recently the American
steamship companies have included in
their bills Of lading clause TO the
effect that the steamer will not be re
sponsible for pilferage in all cases in
which loss can be covered by insur
ance.
Insurance companies are increasing
their rates and threaten to make still
more increases. The attitude of the
steamship companies and the captains
is a direct invitation to unrestricted
theft on board ship. As theft in
creases. insurance rates will increase,
and the eventual prejudice to legiti-
mate commerce threatens 60 be very
grave.
The opinion Of responsible maritime
insurance agents and adiusters who
are in close touch with sthe situation
il that the only remedy is for the
steamship companies To resssumc re
spousibility for pilferage and IN case
they are unwilling 70 do 50 govern
mental pressure should be brought to
bear 20 compel them TO eliminate this
clause.