Evening star., 1932-06-05

worlds aid after able lawyers. only toe
familiar with the new order and its
power. had counseled them.
These distinguished lawyers knew
that the administration of the under
world of organized crime and corrupt
politics is terrible in its effectiveness
and efficiency. 1t never has a budget
to balance. for when it goes into the
red it is never in ink. 1t maintains
its own intelligence service, with all
modern inventions at its disposal. 1t
has its own chain of radio stations
along our coasts to keep in touch with
its ships at sea. There are 176 ships
flying the black and crimson flag.
When Rear Admiral Frederick c. Bill
lard. commandant of the Coast Guard
until his death few weeks ago i'm
parted this information under oath to
the House of Representatives on Febru-
airy %, 1882, he told Congress that
the Nation is helpless to cope with our
aristocracy's fleet until We can match
it ship for ship-which we did not think
of doing even in our most prosperous
days. The people of the United States
support this fleet of l76 ships and their
high-priced, criminal crews. But this
represents only a small part of the
price We pay to support our racketeer-
ing aristocracy.
Figures Are Cited.
The only figures from an Official
source indicating the cost of racketeer-
ing in the Nation are in the report
of the Crime Commission of the State
of New York, submitted to the State
Legislature on April 3. 1881. This re-
port, one of several embracing survey
of more than five years, reads in part
During the past few years there has
grown up, particularly in the larger
cities. an illegal system of levying trib-
ute upon legitimate business OrganiZa-
tions and business, commonly known as
racketeering. How much it is costing
the public cannot be definitely figured
but estimates range all the way from
$4,000 100000 to Sl8,000.000 900 an
nually in the Nation. One racket in
New York alone, that of fake securities
is known 10 total approximately S400,-
600, 900 year"
The fake security racket is said to
cost approximately $4,000, ,000,0 an
nually in years of prosperity. Deduct
ing this sum from the estimates rang
ing AL the way from S12 200 600, 900
600 to $4,000, 900 900 as the annual
approximate cost of the racket OF
violence.
This represents a yearly tax of ap-
proximately s57 to $105 on every man,
woman and child in the country.
The same report informed the New
York State Legislature that large surety
companies estimated the. crimes against
property at nearly $1,000, 100000. This
Is the toll Of the firebug and the thief
and his kind, and is not included in
the cost Of racketeering.
Levied From Business.
The commission also reported:
In a recent speech. Howard W.
Ameh. United States attorney for the
eastern district of New York, estimated
that between $20O,0O0,OO0 and $780,
100000 had been levied yearly in trib-
ute upon almost every business in New
York City.
THE figures are astonishing, and it
is the public who pays"
1t Is to be regretted that the Legis-
lature did not accept the recommends
ton of the commission to investigate
the whole subject of racketeering. Had
it done so, it would have revealed that
large part of the 5000, ,OO0,0 900 to $780,
100000 extorted from the business men
of New York City went into the pockets
of their political protectors in both
parties.
Dealers in milk and other dairy
products, poultry, meat, fish and al
most every kind of food. makers of pa
per boxes, clothing leather goods and
what not, cleaners and dyers, laundry
men-all pay tribute to those who live
by the club, the torch, the bomb and
the machine gun.
Nearly all the large railroads and
steamship companies IN New York City
submit to this extortion. They pay the
tax of the racketeer, and pass it on to
the ultimate consumer. For it is the
public who pays, to repeat the phrase
of the Crime Commission Of the State
of New York.
There are large cities where this type
OF racketeer has never been permitted
to gain foothold, and where the only
armed clashes among gangsterS have
their origin in bootlegging feuds. and
in most small towns the racketeer is
unknown. This immunity from the
law Of terrorism where it exists Is due
to community spirit essentially Amer
ican, to an honest police force-almost
all law enforcement officials are cor
rupt where the bootlegger thrives-and
to vigilant and able prosecutor.
Although the power Of the racketeer-
ing aristocracy is sourced in the boot
Logging industry, which made million-
aires Of many gangsters and corrupt
politicians, the bootlegger, per Sc. is
not a racketeer. But in all large cities
the leaders of the bootleggers- beer
barons and rum rajahs-are instigators,
tacit or otherwise, of wholesale assas-
sinations when they are not active
agents in the killings.
The average retailers of beer and
other intoxicating beverages are. with
rare exceptions, respected members Of
the community. Many are churchmen
and generous contributors to charities.