New-York tribune., 1874-06-03

gaee check IL and permit It's removal. woman also
assigned to examine any Of the lady passengers who
suspected of concealing goods upon their per-
The search, when rigtdy conducted and "a the
requires, occasions considerable delay 70 the pas
sengers and endless confusion their efects but
this search Is frequently evsded Unless there
suspicion that particular piece of baggage contains
duable merchandise, the inspector is often prevsiied
upon tO3cheek and pass lot OF trunks aud thus save
the trouble and annoyance OF opening many parcels
strapped and corded for voyage. In other
II s alleged inspectors have received instructions
to tins effect from a higher authority This was the
for instance when the ten trunks OF silks and aces
passed from the steamship Russia few weeks since.
Some OF the inspectors charged with having limited
the traveller that his her baggage could pass under
certain conditions and. again. 20 relieve themlof any
embarrassment isuch step might occasion them' with
Offering to "can and see thcm at their residence Or
hotel on the day following.
An instance OF this kind is related by gentleman
wNo has recently returned from extended European
tour His trunks placed the wharf and soon AZ
trward he approached by two Of the inspectors aud
when questioned to their contents he Immediately
stated he had in one chd's silk dress pattern
twelve yards OF silk-upOa which he was ready
to pay duties. ThIs they informed him could not De
DONE as the trunks would have TO be sent to the
public store for examination and appraisement
uness-wen they would check and pass the
trunks, aud call aud him about 1t the
next day. The gentleman demurred 10 this course,
but the trunks finally checked and passed without
being opened The next day he visited by the two
inspectors and bill of $40 presented Again ne
demurred saying that he could purchase the cloth Tor
less than that The inspectors replied that there
three OF them in the job, and all had put them
selves less trouble his account and further
trouble would be saved by the payment Of the money
The money paid.
IL frontthe cabin OF the trstclass steam
ship lines that, 1t Is alleged. the inspectors IND their
richest harvests. These, a rule have weather
class Of patrons anxious TO avoid the
annoyance of the examinatOn yet 1t Is upon these hes
that wholesale smuggling is frequently met and 1t
is probable this due the fact that there is
impression that there is less chance of thor
ough search at than those OF some
or the other lines
A REPORTERS OBSERVATIONS.
Quite recently TRIBUNE reporter boarded
large number of the large steamships as they passed
the Quarantine station, and being unknown 10 the
officials, gained further insight into the
mode OF procedure. This was about the time Oh tne
investigation OF the trunks passed WIN
out being opened from the steamship Russia. ana WIN
out doubt had caused the inspectors to pay
TO the duty required OF them or at any
rate to use more caution in the acceptance Of fayors
extended.
The steamship Egypt of the National line from Liver
pool arrived and anchored in North River ate on the
afternoon April TIe cabin passengers ana ther
the Companys wharf, Pier No. Az and the CUSTOMARY
search began. some of the trunks were really most
rfgidy searched and their contents closely examined
while others checked and passed WITHOUT even ho
removal Of a strap. one lot OF trunks marked L W.
Davenport" under the inspection Of person who
checked them with chalk IT B. go" and who, without
unlocking single trunk permitted them TO be removed
But there was q consideration In this affair,
for reporter, standing Immediately pehnd
the persons interested was witness to the steatty
transfer OF " "greenDacks" from one 10 tle other.
INSPECTOR Thomas Bell for such WAS stated 70 De Tue
Interpretation Of the check T. H. 2o0 passed rom TINS
lot or baggage To one consisting OF zine or ten ase
meta! which there was no name lnere
was a hurried conversation between the owner anu Tue
aspS or was apparenty read ana then
as quickly chalk could De used. the checK II B
soon removed by draywan. Daring his stay upon the
wharf the reporter noticed other Instances oil hateh-
The steamship Algeria arrived at her wharf In Jersey
CITY early sunday May and the Celtic OK tue Mnte
star hue early the following morning. Both OF these
steamers boarded by TRIBUNE reporter as iney
passed quarantine station aud tho inspection OF the
baggage when landed at their respective wharyes
carefully watched. Neither vessel had very iuil
sT tne si sps With he
examination as hastily maIe; M1ny pu he owners
assertion their contents were not duaoe, ou. oe
yond reporter detected nothing "ions d. eei
ONE GENUINE EXAMINATION.
The InInan steamer City OF Brussels came IN about
daylight Que Tuesday morning with large st OF CABIN
and
TRIBUNE reporter and again the movements OF the
Custom-house officials were carefully watched As
before on after leaving quarantine, two inspectors
we're placed board, aud just before feachns 'H W
complete authority, ordered all the CABIN passGlses
into the saloon and called upon tne 10 & sn sng
at the time would hardly pear eriuG,sm, @ ak
wnn. we ge spd sign yn where You are
to-" This work soon DONE and as the steamer was
assistant subject TO demand as the lnspre
proceeded The passenges and baggage TeiT @ co
nized by Deputy Surveyor Byron Howe ~ the paseage
being passed over tne sde =, y If he rsporer and
questioned in regard TO the seizure from inc hus''a
The conversation now was not very ons s Of
The TRIBUNE =
You came M on the CITY of Brussels l beiievei"
YES, Sir; up by invitation - - -.
al did not know. Thought. perhaps you were mere
to watch the work Of inspection. Perhaps you woud
better stop aud see how II is done -, ... -.
Mr. Howell passed toward the group OF inspectors at
the farther end the wharf, and evidently informed
them of the situation The baggage was soon ashore
spectors it must be said that it was most thoroush
one Fearful perhaps, that other reporters might og
watching their movements, hardly the smallest Pdrcel
| escaped their attention Trunks we're searched from
top TO bottom boxes corded and even bound win iron
Sand. Sgid boxes shawl rolls. every parcel Of
baggage passed this scrutiny my, be wharf ana
surprised at the rigorous search anu wor
can hardly picture the annoyance that Was expressed
upon the faces of the passengers Ihere we're ae
boxes passed by the inspectors but IN these
cases they doubtless satisfied that they oortnsS
nothing dutiable Samuel NJ. Bryan, the new Engnsh
postal agent Japan was informed by the INSPECTOR
that authority TO pass single parcel eoa pe sen,
and each OF his packages, with single excePuon haS
opened. The exception was iaree box eyidenly cUn
only lot Of baggage which partly escaped examination
large rot marked Mr Geqrds & anneared TO ne
acquainted with Mr.. Howell and after lew OF te par
e.t proSsd satisfactory As the last lot checked,
! Mr Howell again spoke TO the reporter ,. .,.o