Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-12
Distinctions to Travel to Cuba.

which exist are of such little conse-
quence IN comparison with those against
requiring travellers to have them that it is
a matter Of wonder that the passport sys-
TEN is not generally abolished, or at least
so modified as to make it much less
burdensome and vexatiOus than it is.
The system greatly interieres with the
freedom of travellers, and subjects them
to annOyances from which their respective
governments ought to unite in relieving
them. There ought to be as few barriers
to the movements of travellers and to
commerce al possible.
Tue idea OF applying for passport sug-
gests TO many the existence OF troubles
TO be encountered In the country to be
visited. Visions of spies and police in
reference present themselves, and in
some instances a visit abroad is aban-
doned by timid persons simply because OF
the annoyances suggested by the pass
port requirement.
Perhaps naturalized citizens of this
country need their passports when return
ing to the land of their nativity, because
military systems OF continental Europe
are a sort of menace to their liberty; but
because the passport IS of service to one
class of people, 1T is hardly just to impose
it upon all classes.
Attention is drawn to this passport
business by the complaints of travellers
who visited Cuba last winter and the
! present spring by way of Tampa. They
were loud in their complaints of the cost
and annoyance of the passport nuisance.
When it is remembered that Havana is
distant only few hours from Key West il
does seem a little hard that travellers
and the number of them is increasing
rapidly -should go to the expense and
trouble of getting passports. II they
were needed for identification, or for any
other reasonable purpose, there would be
some excuse for requiring them. AS a
matter of fact, however, the whole thing
is mere form, ana all it amounts to is
the putting of fees in somebody's pocket.
! The Identification of traveller with his
passport is not insisted upon.
The income of the State Department from
fees for passports must be enormous, and
it would be interesting to know the
| grounds upon which the charge of s. for
each document can be defended. The SIS
fee, however, is not the only one that the
traveller to Cuba is called on to pay.
If you propose to go to Havana, in order
to get your passport you go before a no.
tary and fill out certain blanks descrip-
tive of yourself, your nativity, age,
etc. The nOtarial fee tor this is 50. The
nOtarial documents. together with So, are
sent the Secretary of State. A pass
| port is received which requires the
wise Of Spanish Consul res =
dent in the United States. The
fee for this is 81. Your passport, on ar
rival at Havana, is sent by the purser of
the steamship to the chief of police, and
your domicile stamped upon it. For this
fee of 25c. is charged. On leaving the
island the passport has to be sent for and
left with the agents OF the steamship be-
fore you can procure your return ticket.
This requires the services of an inter-
| prefer, and costs 81 additional. making
the total cost Of passport Sl2 %.
If the traveller happens TO be German
citizen the Spanish COnsul's fee for wise
ing is 81 Why this is so our State De-
partment can possibly explain.
Cuba, due to the present fast steamship
service between Tampa and Havana, the
Secretary of State should at once take
steps looking to the abrOgation of the
passport system altogether, so far as it re-
lates to this country and Cuba, or at least
to the securing of such a modification of
it as will prevent it from being an OBJ
stacle to the travel from this country to
Cuba. 1t is not improbable that the
Spanish government would willingly
listen to suggestions of the Secretary of
State in this matter; but even if that
government should not be disposed
to assist in increasing the travel
from this country to Cuba our
own large passport fee OF So could be
greatly reduced or abolished altogether.
This fee is authorized by the act of June
90, 1874, and the Congressman from this
section of the South could do their con-
stituents, and the country generally, good
service by securing such a modification
OF it as to prevent it from being an OBJ
struction to travel TO Cuba.
Another Objectionable feature of the
law is that which makes the passport
eOOu LOT TWO years only from the date OF
issue. Possibly the requirements ofinter-
national law demand that passports
should be renewed every two years. II
so. our government might be able to in
duce Spain TO agree to an extension of the
time so far as travellers from this country
TO Cuba are concerned.
1t is unnecessary to call attention to
the pressing necessity for removing, so
far as possible, restrictions upon CONNER
cial and social intercourse with our
neighbors OF Cuba and South America, as
1t is largely to those countries that we
must look for our increase o! trade. Those
who are engaged in trying to develop it
have an uphill task. The cost of doing
business with Cuba is to many an Insur.
mountable barrier to engaging in il. Let
our government take the first step towards
bringing about rreer communication with
the above named countries by abollshug
the passport fee. The receipts ofthe state
Department are now greatly in excess Of
the cost Of the diplomatic and consular
service. IL is OF vastly more Importance
that our commerce should be extended
than that the state Department should