The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-03
AN IMPORTED PUPPY.
he Proves wenderful object Lesson II
Custom House Circumloeution.

He frOveh n Wonueriui Oblect Lesson IN
Custom House decentralization.
Plato White, Los Angeles physician,
was SO tangled up in custom house red tape
recently that he was almost in despair OF
ever freeing himself. He arrived at San
Francisco from Honolulu on n Tuesday with
a s-month-old Japanese pug pup. In no
cordance with the rules of the ship the ami.
NAL had been taken in charge by the purser,
who inadvertently entered it on the ships
manifest. This should not have been dene,
as pet dogs are allowed to enter duty free,
But the pup was listed nevertheless, and II
would require an order from the collector
Of the port TO get it from the customs Of
ficials.
VI never did so much chasing for SO little
return In all my life before" the doctor
said. II first went to the deputy surveyor
and told him my case. He advised me tc
hire a customs broker. who would know
I the ropes employed II. B. Thomas, and
together we went to the deputy collector
He referred US to Special Deputy Collector
Jerome. Mr.. Jerome made out a free de
livery permit for the dog, but said that he
could not sign 1t till the appraiser had in
dorsed 1t with the statement that that
bowling little pup had no commercial
/ value"
! I'VE went to the appraiser and described
Z the dog. He wrote a note to Mr.. jerome
saying he knew something about dogs, and
1t was his opinion that the dog had no com
mercial value. We went from the apprais
ers building to the custom house with this
Mr.. jerome refused to accept the note a.
an official notification. He sent us back Il
have the statement properly written on tn,
delivery permit. The appraiser did moi
want to give this statement till he was Of
fieially notified as to the pups actual val
ue and detailed Special Examiner Maguir,
to go to the docks and examine into tbs
dogs value.
"wednesday night thought my labor
were finished. The examiner reported t,
the appraiser that the dog was of no com
, mercial value. Thursday morning / up
peared to have my permit properly Endorsed
: This could not be done, as in the meanwhil
another examiner had been nosing abou
the dog stores and reported that fancier
priced similar dogs at 81. 80 each. This tn
/ appraiser wrote on the delivery permit, bu
accompanied it with a motto advising tina
the dog be admitted duty free. took thi
. again to Mr.. Jerome. He said his duty wa
plain.
> THE dog was valued at 81. 80, according
r to the appraiser, and would have to pay 2
per cent duty on that. He admitted tina
: the dog was entitled to free admission, bu
said thct the appraiser must first properl
!, countersign the permit. This at last tn
appraiser did. He scratched out the S1.5
and wrote that the dog had no commercia
value. Then jerome signed the permit
! and after nearly two days work of mysel
r and customs broker, days work of tw
il appraisers examiners and much loss c
temper, was given my s. japanese puI
!, Believe me-" he concluded earnestly, 18th
4 custom house, and especially the appraiser
= department, is place of marvellous exped
tion. San Francisco Chronicle.