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THE TARIFF ON GEMS 51
Association
was formed to accomplish this purpose. In the association are
incorporated almost all the legitimate dealers and importers. in gems
and precious stones in the country. These concerns realize the danger
of competition with gems smuggled into the country, and through the
association they endeavor to aid the federal government by furnishing
the customs authorities with information which they alone, for obvious
reasons, are in a position to obtain. For this purpose the association
employs detectives in Europe, whose work it is to know what important
purchases are made and how they reach America. By these means smugglers
have recently been detected and caught, who used the most ingenuous
means for concealing the goods.
The
work of the association is further aided by a clause in the
Administrative Act of the new tariff, which provides that, "where a
seizure has been made, the burden of proof shall be upon the claimant."
Under this provision even regular buyers of precious stones must be
prepared to furnish evidence that the stones were legitimately brought
into the country, since, if a smuggler is detected, not only will his
goods be seized, but also the smuggled stones that he may have sold to
his
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