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

narcotic drugs and the inspectors who
have connived at their receipt and pas
sage through customs. With the active
cooperation of the city Police Depart
ment. as well as that of the Federal De-
partment of Justice. il is hoped the Illicit
drug traffic may be controlled in this
port.
Many of those Collector Newton has
dubbed baggage hounds had grown
bold 70 brazenness in their methods of
eNacting graft When all the facts in
the more flagrant cases have gone into
The hands OF Assistant United States
District Attorney Earl b. Barnes for
presentation 70 the Federal Grand Jury.
il is said. there will be some startling
disclosures. One of the reports current
i'm the Custom House yesterday was
that certain inspectors have acted sys-
teinaticaliy in collision with habitual
smugglers of jewels. especially in the
smuggling into New York Of uncut
diamonds from Holland. At times, il is
said. the uniformed Government agents
even boarded incoming vessels al the
piers and received packages of uncut
gems from the smuggler before the
latter had left his stateroom.
Majority Are Honest.
In some safe place the return transfer
would be made. perhaps a day later. and
the dishonest inspector or examiner
then would receive the price OF his
faithlessness. II is even reported that
some of these customs crooks. knowing
that the smuggler could not "squeaf."
habitually held OUT 4 generous pro-
portion OF the gems as the self-ap-
praised value OF their professional SER
vices. The Collector wishes to en-
pllasize the fact, however. that the con-
scienceless crooks among the nearly oVe
men of the outside force are compare
lively small minority. "A majority OF
the men. he says. are as honest as inc
sun Scores of them have come to him
Jealous to aid him in Kidding the service
os those who have brought 1t into dis-
grace.
Tae fact that European travellers are
accustomed to distributing largess Tor
every possible kind OF service rendered,
customs officials say, is one OF the CIR
ctnnstsnces that have made easy money
for the baggage hounds-those men who
never have been in actual collision with
srnuggfers but who would not hesitate.
to accept proffered tip from re-
turning traveller who is anxious TO nave
his baggage inspection expedited.
One of the interesting facts developed
by this inquiry is that there are not a
few men of large means who make
trip to Europe yearly who. on their re-
turn TO New York. invariably hand a 500
bill to the examiner who passes their
baggage. They do it not because they
have anything dutiable that they have
not declared but simply as customary
gratuity on their part and TO assure
prompt and diligent inspection
One of this city's best known bankers
admitted recently that such has been his
habit. An examination Of his customs
declarations has disclosed a more than
commonly acute conscience in giving to
the Government every penny of it's due.
The banker gave the tip just as he would
have given it to head waiter who had
served him well or whom he expected
to serve him well.
Thirty pounds of gum opium. which
customs inspectors say is worth several
thousand dollars was confiseated yes
terday by Inspectors Hokensen and
Grumm, after they had found it hidden
under the flooring in the TO castle of the
steamship Blair at the foot Of Java
street Brooklyn.
Search for the opium was made after
Thomas E. Rush, Surveyor of the Port,
had received information that the drug
was being struggled into the United
States. Several ships were examined
before 1t was found OH the Blair