New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-11
By David w. Howe
oSS from the pilferage of mer.

storage is an international
problem. In the general let
down of morals since the war this evil
has taken tremendous toll from the
manufacturers of all countries and
eventually from the public. 1t is a
problem that merits public attention,
Tor. just like preventabIe fire loss, it
is adding to living cost.
American exporters in 1890 report \
total of $4,000 900 losses from cargo
footing alone and the per capita loss
IN European countries was at least as
great. All over the commercial world
the flow Of goods is being chokcd and
hindered by thieving until shippers are
sending up a cry that it must be
stopped and word has gone out on both
sides of the Atlantic through chambers
OF commerce and manufacturers asso-
Citations that study. effort and organi-
cation must be employed to reduce such
an acute condition.
The methods employed against pill
xerage of goods in transit and in stor-
age may be grouped under four heads:
~ Activity by the carriers to stamp
1t out within their several jurisdic-
tions; ~ organized activity of the
shippers; CD Few legal methods; 90
mechanical preyentiyes.
A comparison between conditions In
America, England and Continental Eu-
rope brings out several interesting
points. The writer found from four
months personal investigation in four
countries that America was the first to
recognize the problem and to grapple
with it and that organized interests ia
the United States have a program
worked out which will in the course of
time meet the problem or make it less
acute. Great Britain, a little late in de-
veloping box sealing systems, has re-
Gently paid more attention to this than
any other country and probably will be
the first to apply all tho correctiyes.
France, Belgium and the Continental
countries in general have had severe
pilferage losses and have thus far
shrugged their soulders at the evil and
reduced it somewhat as the labor stu
alton became easier by employing more
and better watchmen wherever mer-
chandise IL stored or unloaded, thus
renedying the situation In part during
the first six months Of this year. The
state controlled railways, however, have
been inclined to pay claims eventually
after interninabie delays, and no one
has had Keen financial interest In re-
ducing the amounts thus wasted. sal4
To get proper angle on present
conditions in this country consider the
time when fire loss had Just begun to
be approached from all sides as an
evil that the public must help TO re-
duce by every possible measure. Proper
criminal laws were passed. RESPONSE
biiity was fixed for fire losses. Fire
resisting materials were studied and
adopted. Extinguishers and automatic
sprinklers came into use. Watchmen
were made more numerous and more
useful. Building laws and inspections
bS CIVIC OaiVltiS AOl&oWcAs LILO III
surance companies bearing the risk Of
most Of the fire losses aided and de-
veloped all good measures. Fire pre-
vention became complex science and
absorbed the time and interest OF
many experts.
PiIferaga Prevention Problem
Is More Complex Than Fire
Pilferage prevention is more COM
pick because it seeks to protect mer-
.chandise more or less exposed, more
or less portable, more or less capable
Of being at once consumed or sold, and
theft is moral problem which cannot
be classified as readily. as fire risk
problems.
To picture the present situation
further think of the hold-ups and burg
laries and safe-crackings that you have
read about since the latter part Of the
war and think that practically all the