The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-05

Madame says that at first she did not
quite understand his meaning. But as
the Ferret" continued digging deeper
into her trunk she realized he was look
ing for something that was not there,
but in her purse. She stopped beside
him and gave him a ten dollar bill He
tncked 1t away. continuing his rummag-
ing through the tllls and then varied
his previous stage whisper TO a reiter-
ated Come again, Madame: come
again T.
With growing Indignation Madame ex-
tracted from her handbag an additional
five spot" and tucked II into the toe of
one of her evening slippers which at the
moment was the object of the '1'erret's"
interest. She says IL did not remain
there five seconds. The examiner still
was unsatisfed. she AYERS. whereupon
she lost her temper and began to ex-
press her views in voluble French. Then
the Ferret" she says. fearing appa-
rcntly that her expostulatious might at
tract attention on the pier, Gained her
by closing the trunk and hurriediy plac-
ing his mark upon all her baggage
The French woman was indignant
when she told her story. which was
amply corroborated by her maid. Her
attitude suggested that her temper was
rufTled not so much. by the need of Tip
ping" n uniformed subaltern--she is ac-
customed 10 that everywhere in Europe.
she said-as by his alleged insolent man
ncr.
Thomas L. Rush. Surveyor of the
Port issued long statement yesterday
in which he declared that the newspaper
interviews in which Collector Newton
has been quoted show n gross lack OF
information readily accessible to public
officials. He denies the Collectors
statement that fifty inspectors have
been dismissed or suspended. and de-
clares that according TO the records of
his office up 10 $50 o'clock yesterday.
two inspectors had been dismissed and
ten others are under suspicion.
No Revenue Loss. He Says.
Investigation will disclose the fact"
said Mr.. Rush. that the reprehensib1e
practices which arc the foundation of the
charges were brought to the attention
of the acting deputy surveyors and stafr
OF inspectors Of the baggage division
more than year ago. Immediately after
transatlantic travel began TO resume on
a large scale. The suspected men. who
are included In the list of those dis
missed and suspended. were warned By
the baggage deputy surveyors. Is well
as By the surveyor in person. ana by
Special Deputy Surveyor Buschler.
mo information has been received by
the surveyor that any revenue was lost
as result Of the delinqueucies OF the
inspectors in question One casc was
regarded as a deliberate holdup and IN
the other cases the offending inspectors
called at the offices OF various passen-
gers, and no complaint. ora! o. written.
was ever made to the surveyor or 20 any
representative Of his by the passenger
held up or by pa ssenscrs offering Eratu-
ties, or by tho agents or representa-
tives"
Special agents WHO have been working
under the collectors direction have dis
covered that collision with tho sys-
tematic smuggling into this country OF
narcotic drugs from Europe has been
one OF the most pvollri, sources OF graft
which unscrupulous men Of the customs
service have been sarrcring in rich
harvest.