Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-05

tnc PCTC OF new YORK an alb
sorbng little drama began, in
volving a babys rattle young
couple and their infant child
professional smuggler and q
couple OF enterprising agents of the United
States Customs Bureau
Properly speaking. the story begins with the
young couple justly proud Of the unusual in
telligence of their infant and exhibiting the
child to the interested passengers. Outstand-
ing among these was well dressed gentleman
evidently of very good breeding. So taken
up with the ycungster was he that apparently
in the spirit of friendly generosity, he pre-
Sented him with shiny new rattle.
or course, It would have been insult to
refuse the gift, SO the couple accepted it,
However, tie evening following their arrival
something just bit strange took place. The
kindly gentleman visited their New York home
and offered the child a more expensive and
attractive rattle in lieu Of the one presented
on the boat. Somewhat mysti6ed, the couple
accepted the offer.
But they We're not mystifed long In STEP
ped two customs agents. who. after introducing
themselves expressed considerable interest In
the original rattle. Well they might! Inside
the baube some exceedingly valuable
precious stones AS for the well groomed gen.
tlman, he turned out to be rather q well known
professional smuggler.
THIS anecdote is only of many lid by
r. x. A. EDte united states comm 2oOner
OF customs, in describing some of the most re-
cent ruses of smugglers. professional and other
wise, in attempting to outWit Uncle Sar1A in
spectorS. During the last several months some
Of the outstanding tricks include: False teeth
containing drugs automobile spare tires filled
with liquor and hollow heels, trick vests, fake
magazines. shaving cream and even tooth
paste used to bring in other contraband goods.
ut is only when individual leaves
America" Mr.. Eble points out land returns
either at one of the seaports arrives at one
OF the many ports of entry along the Canadian
or Mexican borders that he is brought face to
face with the customs officers. As most of us
already know. all articles acquired abroad
whether by purchase, gift otherwise. must
be listed on the baggage declaration. Willful
failure to declare makes guilty of SNUG
Cling.
Customs inspectors are what might be
called in military parlance shock troops 1t is
they who meet the returning traveller upon his
arrival at port of entry The inspectors must
examine all baggage brought into the country
and they must also determine in connection
Herewith whether all requirements of the law
have been fulfilled In the performance Of
this duty they are required to exercise extreme
care and tact
There approximately 700 inspectors To-.
Gated at the various ports of entry along the
Canadian and Mexican borders. In addition
force of more than 600 officers constantly
patrol the international highways at our borders
as well as at our river and lake fronts.
I'm addition to about 10000 employees that
comprise the Customs Service in the United
States and its territorial possessions Offices arc
maintained in the capitals of the principal
countries OF Europe, as we'll as in China and
Japan Each of these officers is in charge of a
customs Official known as a Treasury attache.
This officer has under his direction q corps Of
assistants whose principal duties are to ascer-
tain and verify market values in the country of
expectation
"The use of the airplane is constantly ex-
banding and numerous airports of entry have
been designated within the last year or So At
the present time there are IA airports of entry
along the Canadian border and 7 along the
Mexican border, where airplane traffic is in
spected by customs and immigration officers
The owner of an airplane arriving at any point
In the United States not designated as an air.
port by the Interdepartmental Committee on
Airports Is subject to a penalty.
III LIKEWISE, automobiles or horse-drawn
l. vehicles Of any kind must report at q
regular customs port of entry when returning
from Canada or Mexico. No such vehicle shall
proceed farther inland nor shall discharge or
land any merchandise, passengers baggage,
without receiving permit therefor from the
customs officer The failure to report ones ar
rival under this law subjects him to a fine of
800. Consequently, every automobile that
crosses the borders must be inspected and it's
baggage. If any, examined
MANY new and improved highways have been
constructed in the last decade, with the result
that during single year about IL. 900 auto
mobiles cross the international boundaries into
the United States. individuals arriving by this
means alone reach a total of more than 34-
100000. In all, more than 46 900 900 persons
entered the United States from Canada and
Mexico by automobile and boats during the
last fiscal year.
"Some idea of the vast amount Of automobile
traffic may be had by noting the travel over
the Ambassador Bridge at Detroit. During a
recent month more than 114,000 cars crossed