Evening star., 1937-04-11
Bv Lucy Salamanca.

TT COSTS the United States Gov
ernment cents to collect every
dollar turned in by the Bureau
Il Of Customs The bureau is one
of the most profitable of Uncle Sans
revenue agents. In this past fiscal
year, for example, 1886, ,941 900 was
the amount of total customs receipts,
added to which was 1882, 900 gained
by fines and forfeitures. A pretty
nice income for the Federal Govern
ment from a bureau that operates on
an appropriation of approximately
s2000O,00O year!
The Bureau of Customs has been
enjoying something of a boom in
these days of increased prosperity
Commissioner of Customs James H
Noyle reports that in New York City
this last week so great was shipping
that goods and merchandise were piled
high on the Wharves, waiting for in
spection and ships lay at anchor in
the harbor, unable to get berths.
There has been an increase in all
operations of this interesting depart
ment over 1886 Comparing the first
six months of the '37 fiscal year with
similar period in 1886. we find that
In 81 5,768 vessels entered direct
from foreign ports-an increase of 8
per cent over SO. Aircraft entries
increased II per cent, with 2,804 flying
across our borders. There was an II
per cent increase in the number of
automobiles entering, 6,2l2,7l6 having
crossed the borders in the SO period.
In other vehicles, which numbered
2l4,6l5 for the siX-month period last
year, there was 40 per cent increase.
Freight cars, totaling 877, $50, showed
q IS per cent increase; persons en-
tering-27229,38 for the siX-month
period-increaSed in number 10 per
cent; as per cent more merchandise
was examined at the appraisers
stores and 80 per cent more packages
examined at the wharves, while mail
crease of 10 per cent.
1t has been boom year for Gus
toms? And officials at the bureau
stated that If the appropriation per-
mitted, they could Collect even greater
revenue for Uncle Sam.
One of the reasons for this increased
revenue has been, of course, the in
dustrial improvement. But, also,
greater vigilance has been exercised
through the personal attention of the
Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.. Nor
genthau. Il was Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury under President Will
son." remarked the commissioner of
customs "and there never was a more
active official than Mr. McAdoe. But
in all my experience in public life 1
have never seen anything to equal
the prodigious attention to details of
the Treasury Department and divi-
sions that Mr.. Morgenthau manages
to give. He keeps in the closest touch
with the departments activities and
he has organized the activities of
the Bureau of Customs so efficiently
that within short space of time. We
have practically eliminated the LIQUOR
runner from the coastal waters. His
drive against the narcotic smugglers
has been equally effective. When one
considers that such diversified
branches as narcotics, internal rev.
enue, Coast Guard, customs and pub
lie health come under his Jurisdiction,
1t is astonishing to observe the per-
sonal attention each one receives"
THE customs is one of the most COL
orful divisions of the Government.
Its function is to enforce the tariff
laws. To do this 10000 men and
women are engaged in the service.
There are As customs divisions, with
about 100 employees in Washington to
take care of the administration. This
small army of trained personnel
tracks down the smugglers, seizes con-
traband and over period of a year
collects hundreds of millions of dol
lars revenue. Jewelry, furs, wearing
apparel, precious stones, narcotics,
alcohol, art objects and countless
other articles are seized for violation
OF customs duties or because they
have been smuggled into this country
either at the seaports or across the
Mexican and Canadian borders.
OF the great number of smugglers
apprehended for these violations,