The daily critic., 1890-09-08
THEIR WELCOME
TIE MANNER IN WHICH tbs CUSTOMS
OFFICERS GREET STRANGERS.
Hospitabie Reception rendered Them
by a Free Country - Hareage
Turned ropsy Turvy-Other
Annoyance
FT0n Ne F1VaI1Irlia P-10r5-

From ne fhUa1,iD1ta Record.
Travellers who have entered the terri.
tories Of all the European mouarchies
and despotisms lose their enthusiasm for
the free institutions Of America when
they strike its custom houses. In Eng
land they are asked whether their bag
gage contains any tobacco, spirits or
English reprints. When a traveller re
plies IN the negative he Is allowed 10
depart without upsetting the contents
of his trunk In France, Germany.
Belgium, Italy and other Europeon
countries the baggageis barely opened,
and the traveller Is rarely subjected 10
the formality Of an examination as TO
his identity. When, however, he sails
for the United States he is informed on
shipboard that he must fiji up blank,
giving the following information:
Name
Age.
Sex.
Country 10 which he belongs.
Country to which he is going.
Number Of pieces Of baggage.
The official idiot who prepared that
blank did not know that the information
he strove to obtain respecting age and
sex was utterly worthless for statistical
purposes, because he did not know the
ages OF sex Of those who left the coun.
Try or Of those who entered by way Of
the canadian frontier
At quarantine a Customs House tug
steams alongside and the inspectors in
stall themselves In the saloon. Then
frf fknfw 4 -
Cular warning all persons not to bribe
any customs official Each passenger
In turn takes a seat on the left Of the
examining Inspector and answers such
questions as may be put TO him. He
gives his name, his postofiice address
aud o list OF the various packages be-
longing TO him.
Have you anything IN your baggage
other than wearing apparel or personal
effects not merchandise Have you any
pIescnisT
In the case Of a lady passenger, he
would add. Have you any dress goods
not made up2'
In the event Of the passenger answer
ing mo- TO these questions, lac Is
asked DO you swear TO the truth OF
your answers and replying II do"
he is then invited TO sign an affidavit to
that effect. A little card numbered TO
correspond with the number OF the
blank which be has signed Is then
given 10 him.
After a tedious delay the passenger
reaches The dock and then presents his
check 10 the chief Inspector, who lie
tails O subordinate to see whether the
passenger has pgriured himself
This IS a chilling welcome 10 the land
Of The free
a lady only recently returned from a
prolonged Continental trip declares,
after going through the Custom II u.c
at New York, that 70 was the ouly un.
pleasant experience she had ever had 90
a custom house. and the most disagree.
able incident IN the entire Journey. All
Americans returning 10 the United States
from a journey In Europe complain in
the most emphatic terms Of the custom
house annOyances
The dread OF seaslckness Is mild com.
pared with the horrors of tho New York
Custom House. where the trunks are
not only ransacked but where d ship
load Of passengers Is often forced 20 re-
main over night In Jersey City because
the customs officials refuse 10 examine
their baggage When the Inspector Is
secured courtesy Is not always extended
II anything Is discovered which he
thinks is duiiablc Generally he does
not know. Any per cent. Of the pur.
chasing value Is charged, and the Gov
eminent does not always receive the
whole amount
No doubt much smuggling Is done.
This could be largely corrected If more
judgment were used; but travellers are
treated Ike criminals, which leads
them to declare" nothing AMI 10 claim
all as personal.
II Is most unreasonable 70 suppose
that travellers will not buy for them.
selves and friends some Of the thousand
and one charming things seen in the
shops abroad-things which America
does not pToduCe-and by purchasing
them the American workman Is not
injured. Il Is equally unreasonable TO
suppose that any one will 'deelaTe"
these small things. Sometimes where
an over conscientious person does "de-
clare" them a most absurd duty Is
charged.
Why should the officers not be
Obliged 10 furnish a list Of the dutiable
articles and the duty upon each 2 Why
should the traveller be obliged 10 pay
the duty asked These officers are
not sufficiently clever 10 remember an
the rates. What chance has a person
who may be going 20 remote part Of
the country 10 enier a protest on re-
claim The money
The fatigue Of waiting for several
hours upon the dock, and the annoy
aHee Of seeing the contents of a we'll
arranged trunk turned upside d0gn are
bad enough, but are as nOthin com
pared 10 the feeling that one Is being
swindled and is p0geFless 70 Temon-
siTate,
The English would not stand such a
state Of things for month, yet Amer
leans, who constantly boast when
abroad Of their free institutions. endure
this without complaining, except where
they are sure Il viii not be heard
A. MI