Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19
Rods Going Into Pickle
To Balk Customs Crooks
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

If Congress adopts plans which are
being drafted in the Treasury Depart
ment, the already pitted path of the
customs crook is going to follow q much
shorter line to the penal door.
These plans have no relation to the
eighteenth amendment or its enforce
ment laws, which form quite another
story. The fact is that commercial
smuggling OF merchandise, as we'll as
fraudulent undervaluations, constitute
problem which carries its own burden
for officialdom, although the spotlight
OF publicity may throw its rays in quite
another direction.
The Treasury Department appropria-
ton bill, with which the House has been
concerning itself last week, gives hint
OF what is forthcoming, for it contains
items increasing the regular personnel
or the Customs Bureau and also in
creasing the fund for payment of re-
wards to informers.
survey has been made of the per-
sonnet needs of the bureau which, with
other requirements to bring about re-
organization on q basis of higher eff
cheney to protect the revenues Of the
Government at the ports, will be sent
to Congress In some form within a few
weeks.
X y
actment will provide money for the
employment of "a additional employees
In the Customs Bureau headquarters in
Washington and 228 in the field, the
latter being distributed among "a differ
ent districts, with the major number, "A,
assigned to New York.
Commissioner Frank x. A. Eble esti-
mates that If 1t were possible to admin
ister the customs laws with full eff
HWn hn -
fully one-fourth in the amount of rev.
enue collected, or from the approxi-
mately $600,000,000 now collected an
1ually to around $750, 900, 900. This does
not mean that the difference is due
wholly to smuggling in its various forms,
or to fraud of any nature; much of it
may be charged to errors caused by lack
OF sufhcient personnel to handle all
cases perfectly.
That deliberate smuggling is matter
OF major moment, however is not to
be doubted In the face of plain evidence.
There were $3.50 seizures last year for
violations Of the customs laws, apart
from those concerning liquor. The year
Immediately preceding there were 6,705
seizures. The appraised value of mer-
chandise seized last year was So, 500, 900,
an increase of nearly 100000. How
much got by that was subject to seizure
is matter of conjecture.
Jewelry and precious stones valued at
1923 900, laces and embroideries ap-
praised at $671 900, silks and other tex
tiles worth $198 900, furs valued at $685.
600, and perfumery and toilet articles
assessed at $4,000 were among the
seizures made last year. The list of
commodities which professionals and
amateurs attempted to get by without
giving Uncle Sam his legal dues is far
TOO lengthy to include in this space.
n n "
For many years there has been a pro-
vision in the tariff acts by which any
person informing the Federal Govern
ment OF customs fraud shall be paid
one-fourth of the money recovered after
the recovery actually has been convert
ed into the Treasury. For the last few
years the appropriation for this re-
! ward money has been $500 annually.
The amount for the next fiscal year has
been raised to $250,000 and a similar
total will be required for the current
fiscal year, apparently, and deficiency
appropriation will be sought to thus
increase the $150,000 available for the
purpose.
The jewelers. of the United States
maintain a highly organized detective
bureau to help Uncle Sam guard against
smuggling, OF precious stones in par
ticular. 1t is probable that much of
the expense of this bureau Is covered
by the rewards received from the Gov
eminent. 1t is to be remembered that
the smuggling of diamonds became so
general, and on such a commercial
scale, that in the pending tariff bill
the Senate finance committee proposes
to remove the duty from diamonds and
other precious stones In the rough and
to reduce 1t by half If they are cut, a
concession intended to remove the in
centive for smuggling such valuables.
y \
Diamond smuggling became so prev
alent two years ago Congress author
lied q special customs squad to handle
this activity alone, giving an appropria-
ton of 100000 a year. This squad
Brought 1853 cases last year. involving
a return of-$794, 900 to the Government