Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-29
CANADIANS DISCUSS
BORDER PROBLEMS
Customs Commission Confers
With u. S. Officials on
Smuggling Prevention.

Methods Of combating smuggling
and other illicit border practices were
discussed at the opening session to.
day of a two-day conference between
the Royal Canadian Customs Com
mission and American officials. The
meetings are being held in the Fed
eral Reserve Board room at the
Treasury.
Four major problems were laid be-
fore the Americans by the Canadian
commission, which was appointed in
July 1926. to investigate and report
on the operation of excise and Gus
toms laws. These problems were: Con-
sular invoices, ports of entry. ap-
praisements and the operation OF the
anti-smuggling treaty of 1924.
The adoption of the consular In
voice system was urged as methoo
of combating fraudulent invoices on
goods shipped between the United
States and Canada. The certltlcatlon
of shipments by a consul at the point
Of shipment, Newton Wesley Rowell
of the commission explained, would
serve to eliminate much OF the fraud
now practiced in making out invoices
which enable dishonest shippers and
receivers to make big prof1ts.
Fewer Ports Considered.
The Canadians also sought advice on
the matter of reducing the number OF
ports of entry. Although the Umteo
States is much larger than Canada,
if has only about half as many ports
of entry, and the commission was con-
siderine the advisability of recon-
mending that the number Of ports IN
their country be cut with view OF
better guarding against smuggling
Appraisement problems also were
discussed with a view to eliminating
many minor difficulties.
The proposal to revise and ampilly
the anti-smuggling treaty found favor
with the officials of both countries
A more drastic supervision of liquor
shipments was advocated by the Amer
ican officials.
Mr.. Rowell said that traffic in both
liouor and narcotics goes on from the
United States to Canada, Before the
new method of government control
was adopted in Canada, he said. large
quantities of recooked alcohol was
smuggled into bone-dry Ontario. The
alcohol was taken across the border
at Niagara Falls in cans. he said.
Although some narcotics are smuggled
into Canada from the United States,
close co-opera ton between law enforce
ment agencies has succeeded in keep
ing this traffic at minimum, Mr..
Rowell said
Canadians to Make Report.
The Canadian commission, which
sought the conference to ascertain the
opinion and methods of American pro.
hibition and customs officials of the
condition of smuggling on this side of
the border, will include their findings
in report to their government. The
commission includes Chief Justice
James Thomas Brown of the Court of
the Kings Bench. saskatchewan.
chairman; Justice William Henry
Wright Of the Supreme Court OF
Ontario. Justice Ernest Roy Of the
Supreme Court of Quebec. Paul
Leduc. Kings registrar, and Mr.
Rowel. Kings counsel. The commits
sion. which is stopping at the Carlton
Hotel here, will leave tomorrow for
ottawa, where the final sittings will
be held and the report drafted.
The American officials participating
in the meeting include: Assistant Sec
retary Johnson of the State Depart.
ment, Assistant Secretary Lowman or
the Treasury. in charge of prohibition.
customs and the Coast Guard; Pronipi'
tion Commissioner Doran and Rear
Admiral Billiard, Coast Guard com
mandant.