Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1875 — Smuggling. [ARTICLE]

Smuggling.

The New York Herald, in an article on smuggling, says: The regular smuggling boats have disappeared since the invention of steam, but cm the other hand steam is put to the use of the smugglers, and that it is done effectively may be seen from the fact that a New T ork Custom-House official latelv estimated that during last year #300,000'000 worth of dutiable goods had been inttoduced to the United States without adding to the revenue of the Government. This and several publications.on the subject are causes of the increased surveillance lately exercised and the severity with which seizures are treated by the CustomHouse authorities here. It was recognized as a permissible indulgence up to within two years past that every one having a few dutiable articles in his or her trunk after a visit to Europe should not be molested. - But the system grew to such proportions that the thing had to be stopped by some means, and a new system was originated, and the officers had orders where anything was possibly liable to duty to make it pay. Ip many respects the Custom-House regulations of New 1 ork are equal to any others in force, even the French, w hich are supposably perfect. The same system of espionage exists here which made the French plan so much of a marvel to those who did not understand its workings —that is, on every ocean steamer and Havana packet there is some person in employ who is at the same time the devoted servant of the Custom-House. In some cases there are two and three, who

do not know each other. The stewards are usually the ones who undertake the work and do it best, as their opportunities are so much better than would be those of a sailor, for instance. It has been known, that a subordinate officer has not hesitated to increase his pay by the same means. It is simply the duty of these people to closely watch the movements of passengers, to observe anything suspicious in their movements, to overhear remarks meant for private ears only, to be taken into their confidence if possible. Why do the customs officers visit the shoes, the coat-linings, the pockets, etc., of some people, while others they leave intact? The reason has been sufficiently explained,, a _ud when they do resort to these extremities it is seldom but they find what they seek for. About a year since some $35,000 worth of uncut diamonds were found on the person of a passenger from Europe, and the seizure probably ruined him. And yet, no doubt, it was indiscretion that was cause of his misfortune. Had he kept his own counsel he would have been enabled to pass his diamonds unscathed. The informers in these cases are paid onethird of the value of the seizures thus made, and it may be well understood that one little haul like the one mentioned would set a steward up in pocket for some time.

Laces, diamonds, silks, satins, velvets and all manner of clothing are the articles most commonly smuggled from Europe. Immense quantities of laces are annually passed through without seizure. The writer knew of one case last year where two ladies succeeded in smuggling through some SIO,OOO worth of Irish laces. They were to be sold for the benefit ot a Charitable institution down South, and this made the thing justifiable in their minds, the poor getting the benefit before the Government. One of the ladies had fully $5,000 worth of these laces in a bustle. And they served the purpose exceedingly well. The method of smuggling from Havana has been resorted to now r tor many years—the throwing india-rub-ber bags into the bay, they being picked up by small boats. Nor is this plan by any means broken up; and the smugglers have actually taken the risks lately of going out in surf-boats from Long Branch to secure a few thousand cigars in these bags. A singular fraud, where the biter was bit, has come to light of late in connection with the administration of the customs on the steamship wharves. It is "well knownTfi'at‘officersAre on the watch from the time a vessel comes in until she goes out again. But of late there have been a number of swindlers who have personated Custom-House officers with much success. Their modus operandi is to wear an imitation inspector’s badge beneath their clothing, which they only show on a convenient opportunity. They lounge around the docks, watch unsuspecting passengers, and when they see a moment when no danger threatens they demand the surrender of the parcel or baggage the person carries. Outside of New York the most popular and successful place for smugglers is the neighborhood of Niagara. It is particularly in spirits and liquors that this is the case. Thousands of barrels of English, Irish and Scotch spirits are annually passed across the Niagara River in small boats, eluding the vigilance of the officers, who are on the lookout at all times and keep careful watch for these petty dealers in smuggling. Some are caught, but the many escape, the liquor in all cases being taken to Buffalo. Niagara has always been a favorite spot tor genteel smugglers. Detroit is also one of the great smuggling spots of the United States, and the ladies ot Detroit have the name of being the most accomplished smugglers in the land. They follow the calling almost from pleasure, and it lends a daily and always possible excitement to the usual monotony of a woman’s life. Abroad smuggling is more of a trade than it is here, or ever will be. Between France and England in the days of the Empire and before free trade became a fixed fact the profession of smuggling, as the statistics published show, was followed by over 2,000 persons. These were known, and how many more not known is an open question. All these succeeded in making a good living by passing too and fro between the regular channel ports. The living must have been pretty good, as the fares backward and forward were high and the dangers of no uncommon kind.