The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-13
THE CASH DUTIES.
How They Are Collected
on the Docks.
WORK OF CUSTOM EXAMINERS
Chinese Who Are Sly and Women
Who Object to Paying Reve-
nue. and Say So.

81 was laboring under the impression
that handkerchiefs were not subject TO
customs duties" said q good looking
young woman at the Oceanic dock yester-
day, as she cast a whitening glance at an
inspector, who had just removed box
containing a large quantity Of new silk
handkerchiets from her valise.
zone dollar and eighty cents, please"
replied the revenue man, with indiffer-
ence laying the goods aside and going on
with HIS work OF investigating baggage.
The lady turned up her nose and after
delivering herself of a volume of abuse
against the nasty ways of the customs
service in the States" said with a strong
British accent, Il will not pay it," then
turned and walked away in huff.
The collection of cash customs duties
is sometimes no small part of tie work of
the revenue department" said Chief
Clerk Jerome in reply 10 an inquiry of
CALL reporter. This branch of our work
varies considerably. Sometimes we COL
Iect large amounts from inbound passen
gers, but Of late there has been very little
OF this gong on.
THE laws of the country are that all
dutiabla goods under the value of $500
brought here in the baggage of foreign
arrivals shall be examined, appraised and
duty paid on the wharf before they can be
landed"
JerOme's conversation briefly explains
the cause for the collection OF cash Gus
toms duties, which so often puzzle the
foreigner and result In giving publicity to
little petty attempts OH the part of new
arrivals 10 bring into the country, duty
free, articles that the Mckinley bill saws
shall be assessed according to their full
market value.
Now, II you were passenger on an in
bound steamer from foreign port and had
several hundred dollars worth of goods in
your baggage which you would be per
fectly willing to pay duty on, it might
accordance with the revenue laws of the
United States and save time and breath
answering aggravating questions.
Ii Is all very simple if you only know
how. Here is the explanation: The Gus
toms examiners board consists of three
persons. a clerk of the naval department,
enc from the collection department and an
examiner from the Appraisers Office.
Any customs inspector Will give you
form Of declaration" upon application.
which Is simply printed paper addressed
10 the examining board with blank spaces
and showing the amount of dutiable goods
you have With you, their estimated value,
etc.
When your list Of goods which you wish
20 enter is made out hand it 10 an in
spectOr or one of the board, who will give
you coupon showing that you have filed
out declaration" When you land pre-
sent your coupon to the baggage inspector,
who will I'LL out q duplicate declaration,
giving his idea of The value of your goods,
which will subsequently be compared by
the examining board with the list which
you have already turned in, and If there is
70 great discrepancy in your and the in
Bpector's estimates. an approximation will
ha sh
through as soon as the duty thereon IS
paid for.
Yes, we have some queer experiences
with Travellers" said an examiner on the
Pacific Mail dock yesterday. They seem
10 think that ns long as the article which
they wish 10 pass free is wearing apparel
of any kind the Custom-house has no right
TO demand cash duty"
How cans. you tell the difference be-
tween dutiable articles Of clothing and the
legitimate apparel OF an arrival?"
We'll we have to use our Judgment a
great deal; for example, steerage pas
seDger with four or five suits OF fine clothes.
cutaway coats and the Ike, would natur-
ally arouse suspicion Of course we might
pass through three or four suits Of brand
new clothes on pinch, but II man tried
to slip half dozen outfits. through l think
we would be apt TO charge him duty for
some Of them.
"First-class passengers generally try to
smuggle in silk handkerchiefs, large guam
titles Of Chinese fans, crystals and ivory
goods, but we always make them pay cash
down fox the duties or else seize the I'M.
ports.
I'm the latter case then we have trouble.
Although some folks take the seizure very
goOd-nRturedly, others make a fearful
growl about imposition, outrage and de-
clare that they will complain to the su-
thoTities at Washington of the slanderous
- al, h loar .l,oI
of their legitimate property by the officers
of the revenue law"
Whom do you collect the most cash
from, that is, what class of travellers ?"
The Chinese. A Chinaman, believe,
Is the greatest free trader on the face of
the earth, because if therei is possible way
TO avoid paying duty on anything, John
will discover :he mode of procedure.
I'VE collect cash customs on all manner
OF Chinese goods, principally ivory, ebony
and sandal-wood cases, jewelIy and silks.
Il will tell you joke on one of our in
spectors. The incident occurred some
time ago, but we tease him about ii TO this
dsY.
"a big, sleek-looklng Chinaman came off
the steamer Belglc with a large number of
boxes, bags and all description CT Chinese
paraphernalia. One of our boys dropped
onto the stout Celestial like hawk. an
ticipating enriching the Government treas
victims baggage.
Through box and bag the Inspector
searched. but not trace of dutlaDle stuff
could be find.
81 be heathen stood by with a broad
smile twinkling on his ia face while the
revenue man delved into the bowels Of the
baggage, the persplratlon starting from
every pore, for ii was hot day.
The last thing TO be searched was big
square basket, filled with soiled clothes.
The Inspector pulled all the linen out and
raped with his kuuckles on the plank
bottom Of the affair. 1t gave forth a
hollow sound, and the Custom-house man
smiled a triumphant smile.
The Chinaman's face lost every vestige
81 mirth and assumed serious aspect.
Inc customs man, WHO was sure he had
discovered basket with false bottom.
called to the chief inspector and whispered
something in his ear. Then with mighty
effort he wrenched the false bottom from
the concern and there discovered tiny
blue silk handkerchief.
With yell that would have startled an
Indian the Celestial dropped: on his knees
and begged that the handkerchief be re-
turned 10 him and passed through the
Custom-house duty free.
We never were able to discover why he
should have cared to secrete such an insig-
nlncant thing. upon which, OF course, We
could have collected no duty.
"Chinamen sometimes try to brIbe US by
offering US about half of what the duty
comes to to pass their goods.
Next to the Chinese, the ladies have
more small dutiable stuff than any one else.
A Custom-house collector breads finding
anything assessable in a womau's trunk or
Valise, because they always stop to argue
about 1t aud generally succeed in creating
scene.
This is what they usually sny-it is
stereotype-I never forget il, oh, please
DON'T take that Is it really So that |
nave 10 pay duty? Oh. pshaw l don't
DeileVe there is any law exists which COM
peis one to give up their private property.
have an uncle in Washington who works
~ the Treasury Department. shall write
10 him and demand an explanation
linen, again, they will ask. How much
1io you say the duty is? One dollar
GSTTaelous Can't you make it six bits ?
Inc customs service is robberyp
But after all the amount collected from
casn customs Is not very great; it is i'm
possible TO average it. Sometimes we Will
go along for weeks and not collect but a