, 1935-10-27
To The Herald:

~ &cA% "~@NMH
There was an article Id the In
Our Valley" section Of the Herald
for Tuesday, October 70. written by
Mr.. Buell.. which. I believe, showed
very poor sportsmanship-even had
1t been a true account. quote:
Customs men whose job il was
to give that Italian tanker the
proper once over down at Port lisa
bel Sunday showed all the signs of
fish out OF water - SO we are told
by a discriminating bystander.
Seems like our Customs men know
how TO make the proper inspection
and are ON TO the proper routine
when automobiles cross the Dor
der. But these ocean going hulks
from FOREIGN ports are something
else again, and a trifle out Of their
customary line OF work. But may
II happen that foreign ships are
something that they win become as
used TO as they are to searching q
model T for alcohol"
Our customs officers are employed
by the Federal government for the
purpose Of protecting the revenues
of the United States. The search
ing Of a Model T fof a shipment Of
alcohol Is one 81 the many unfor-
tunate duties which they are reQuir-
ed 10 perform, one IN which they
take no great pleasure 49, contrary
to the implication OF your article.
Their true function Is TO collect
duties on articles brought into the
United States from abroad. The
searching OF a vehicle. ship. or person
is an incidence IN the performance
of their duties: IL is the ve~rification
OF the declaration made BY the driv-
err OF the vehicle, the master Of the
ship or the person.
The criticism OF your discriminate
ing bystander" relative TO the in
spection - "once over" as you call II
of the Italian tanker PoSeidone
was without basis in fact. and was
very unsportsmanlike, even had
there been justification. In the first
place. the ship was given a thorough
inspection long before she reached
the dock. Since your "discriminat-
ing bystander" was not On board the
vessel - being prohibited by law to
board before the Customs make their
inspection and permit the snip to
dock - he could be neither ~discrim-
mating nor a "bystanoer' reiaave
to the inspection.
In the second place. contrary TO
your implication, all OF the Federal
men who met the boat and performed
their various duties have had ma
rine experience In their respective
Entrance fees we're paid TO the
Government, tonnage tax collected.
and all other monies owing 10 the
Government - your Government, III
you please-were accounted fer: this
Is the duty OF the Customs. Navi-
CATION laws were enforced, marine
documents were examined. proper
papers were executed. and the ship
permitted to dock. This is the
duty OF the Customs. That ~discrim-
mating bystander." and others who
were less discriminating but more
courteous, were allowed To board the
vessel after 1t was made fast was
due to the courtesy Of the Collector
OF Customs.
II your discriminating bystander
should like 70 become less diScrimi-
and more informed. any in
spcctor Of Customs at the bridges In
Brownsville will be willing to per-
his reading OF chapters two and
three OF the Customs Regulations.
An informed bystander" would not
have made the criticism attributed
to your informant.
We invite constructive criticism.
and we are always willing TO 60 more
than half way to expedite the move
ment OF foreign tourists and return
ing residents through the Customs
lines. Yet there are Government
regulations which govern u activi-
ties and which We are required to
enforce for you, The People OF the
United States. III We search your
Model + for a shipment Of alcohol,
bear with us. for that. too. Il our
duty, a duty which you have, through
your representation in the Govern
ment. charged US with performing
II you have a constructive criticism
we are always willing to hear you,
and If your criticism is compatible
with the best interests OF the reve-
nues Of the People Of the United
States, 1t can be made into law If
taken through the right channel. But
destructive criticism never accom-
plishes Improvements.
Mr.. Editor, II you will have the
courtesy to publish this letter It will
help 20 correct an erroneous impress
sion made by the recent ~deliterious
article written by your Mr.. Buell..
Respectfully.
A Customs Inspector.
Brownsville.
n~f@fam~ "a