Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
HOOVER'S BORDER PATROL
PLANS TO END SMUGGLING
Proposed Change May Bring Into Being
Organization as Picturesque as
Marine Corps.

the various Federal service.
engaged in the prevention of
smuggling over our frontiers be reor-
ganized into single border patrol un-
der the Coast Guard. Few elements in
the reorganization program of the adj
ministration have a wider interest than
this, for the proposed change will bring
into being an organization that may
prove as picturesque as the Marine
Corps.
Smuggling today takes many forms
customs contraband, liquor, aliens,
criminals and plants and animals for
hidden entry. The new force. .operat-
ing under the Coast Guard, Will have
plenty to do, and if experience can be
taken as a guide, the life of the patrol
man will have an abundance OF thrills
and adventure, as well as touch OF
danger.
The United States already has bor-
der patrol, part of the immigration
Service, but its work is confined largely
to the prevention of the smuggling OF
aliens along the coast and Mexican and
Canadian frontiers. In 1925 Congress
appropriated 100000 to establish an
immigration border patrol. This fol-
lowed logically the enactment of the
quota immigration act.
Thousands Enter Illegally.
This restriction brought about a sit
uation in which the "bootlegging" of
aliens constituted major problem for
the law-enforcing agencies. Thousands
of aliens were smuggled into the United
States. and the movement attained such
proportions at one time that it threat
ened to defeat the very purposes of the
immigration restriction act. The need
for a border patrol was urgent, and
Congress was not slow in recognizing
that need.
The Department of Labor made a
survey and its officials came to the
conclusion that a force of at least 500
men would be needed as a nucleus.
There was at the time no civil service
register of eligibles for the position of
patrol inspector, so another problem
was presented, namely, how to recruit
this force.
The Civil Service Commission agreed
that until an examination could be
held the men for the new force could
be drawn from the railway postal clerks
and immigration inspector registers.
Yet difficulties soon arose, for it was
found, through the large turnover, that
the men on the registers were not quail
tfled for the arduous duties of the Dor
der patrol.
War Veterans in Service.
Finally the Secretary of Labor sue
ceeded in forming a patrol inspector
register, and eligibleS were selected for
place on this only after a careful ex-
animation to determine their fitness.
Many of the men selected were veterans
OF the World War or with other military
experience.
The land border, some 5000 miles in
extent, has been divided into districts,
and an immigration officer Of wide ex-
nQrinnre fS in rho rUo Of oanI, Sl{.Srsok
Under the law immigrant inspectors
alone are authorized to pass upon the
admissibility of aliens, and by having
In each district an immigration inSpec-
tor as officer in charge quicker DISPOSE
ton OF the cases of alleged Smugglers
has been possible. Each case can be
handled on the spot.
Though the primary duty Of the force
Is 70 prevent the unlawful entry of
aliens, the nature of the work brings
the patrol into contact with lawless ele-
mentS along the border, and the ON
GERS are called upon from time to time
to enforce other laws.
Inspectors Often in Danger.
The occupation Of the patrol inspec-
tors has been anything but peaceful,
for they are up against a lawless ele-
ment that has as little conjunction in
taking human life as the gunner of
the big cities. It is not an uncommon
thing for patrol inspector to be shot
from ambush, and some of the patrol
men have been killed in line of duty.
The force has never been really ade-
quate to the job that faces it, but apart
from this it has suffered from another
handicap. 1t has lacked, particularly
In the early days, suf1cient motor equip
ment and horses to give the force
needed mobility. There have been pa
troll districts where 10 men have had
to cover stretch of 300 miles, with
several highways crossing the interna-
tional boundary
on the land boundaries of the United
States. It soon became evident, how
ever, that to control the situation OIL
GERS must be stationed in Florida and
in other places along the Gulf and
ocean coasts. Cuba was long a happy
hunting ground Of aliens who hoped to
gain surreptitious entry into the
United States, and most of those who
made the Jump from Cuba tried to land
either In Florida or at the Gulf ports.
Patrol Praised In Report.
In his third annual report Harry E.
Hull, commissioner of Immigration
paid high tribute to the work of the
border patrol during the first three
JCdIS "a It's existence.
The border patrol is young mans
organization. 1t appeals strongly to the
lover OF the big outdoors-the primevaI
forests, the sun-parched deserts. the
mountains and the plains. The bust
ness upon which it Is engaged calls for
manhood, stamina, versatility and re-
sourcefulneSS in the highest degree u
MIR. Hull said. Honor first is its watch
word. Privation and danger serve but
as challenge which none refuses. Un-
1alling curtesy to all and helpfulness
sized above every other requisite.
IneSe young men are proud of their
JopS-proud OF their organization
with a code Of ethics unsurpassed bv
any Similar organization of this or any
otner day. In the three short years
OF lts existence 1t has created a price
less store of traditions
The year just ended has been marked
by great activity on the part of the
border patrol. Miles patrolled aggre-
gated 6,801 012, this being covered by
motor, horse, train, boat or foot The
number of conveyanceS examined, in
Guiding trains and buses, was 79l ,278,
and in addition more than 5000
pedestrians were Intercepted. Snug
gled aliens captured totaled 90, 568 and
ATT aliens were turned back. The av-
erage strength Of the patrol force last
year was $50.
Liquor Smugglers Watched.
The Customs and Prohibition Bu-
reaus both keep a watch along the Ca
madam and Mexican borders, the one
primarily for infractions of the tariff
law, and the other for attempts to
smuggle contraband liquor into the
United States. Agents of these two
bureaus may be found at the principal
points of entry, with men stationed
here and there between these two
points.
Both agencies report to Secretary