The morning call., 1894-03-04
A MOVE OF THE HAND DOES
For the Form of Swearing in
the Customs.
HATS ARE NEVER REMOVED.
Importers and Custom-fiouse Brokers
Have Little Regard for Con-
Ventional Custom.
"You solemnly swear 7"

gu s0Iemnly swear
The words are never heard nowadays
where oaths are taken minute after minute
in Uncle Sans Custom-house. For taking
an oath has lost all its solemn character
and become mere matter of form down
there.
In the nervous rush of business there is
no time for anything but getting there"
and as for an oath-well, what is il, any,
how? 1t is quite enough to subscribe
ones name 10 the printed form that the
clerks file for reference. TO begin with,
the Custom-house long room where all
work with the public is transacted only
half accommodates those men who spend
many hours day there.
Desks are arranged with a general lack
of order, and with boxes. "pigeon holes"
tin signs, etc., quite as picturesquely as at
country fair Brokers tumble over one
another, and Chinese merchants slip in
first with sly grin, to "solemnly swear"
al few desks. There ought to be double
the number of desks. in which case an i'm
porter might be induced to take his cigar
from between his teeth, or be might have
time to tilt his hat the least bit backward.
But as matters are now Uncle Sam won't
let you take anything at the Custom-house
without paying for II, barring an oath.
That costs nothing.
Here comes Chinese merchant. The
| hour is approaching P. NJ. when the ex-
cessively long day is brought TO close like
the big swinging doors. He wishes to
rush through bundle of invoices and
manifest Brokers are there, too. over
| flowing with the same wish, but John
presses inside and Stoves the paper under
| the Deputy Collectors nose.
. llxv hifr Inn. -.
velly much business; velly big go quick, ="
he says while his face changes contours
under an insiDuating grin.
But the official has raised his right hand.
The Chinese initiates him, at the same
instant remarking laconicaly: Slime day !;
velly fine fo' Midwinier Faia."
That was one peculiar way that oaths
are given on customs papers. Never a
word spoken regarding the solemn prom
! Use, only the meTest perfunctory hand
raising. John was gone in minute, think
| ing within himself, no doubt, what silly
people Americans are anyhow TO be salts
! fed with such method.
| Presently a merchant with his hat far
back on his head offered papers upon
which il was necessary TO swear that the
! invoices were correct. He held a cigar
between his teeth and twisted il rakishIy
to one side. A minute or two was given
| to the documents presented. and the Dep
uty Collectors hand indicated q raise
that is, the arm was not lifted from the
desk. Only the hand was raised and
opened. That meant that the merchant
should lift his right hand upward and
pledge his word and oath. He understood
it very well.
''All right" he remarked, laughinglv, as
his two hands were thrown up with a
motion suggestive of Indian club exercise,
and fell as quickly.
The merchant was n o sooner ont of the
way than a Custom-house broker, leaning
wesrlly on his left elbow against the
desk. laid papers before the official. The
customary sign was given. BuI the broker
his right hand to take something which
cost nothing. A motion with the left hand
was made without disturbing the fellows
comfortable position or lifting his elbow
| from the desk.
Don't they ever utter the promise sup
posed to be contained in an oath ?" by
stander asked.
"Oh. well" was the officials reply, ''the
main thing is to see that their names are
subscribed to oaths on paper"
At another desk q ridiculous form was
observed after much the same negligent
fashion. A portentous document with q
ship at the top was neatly filed out. This
was bond and upon it a signature was
placed. after which the writer's hand went
up and down-pro fOrma. And yet he lad
taken a solemn oath that the ferry-boat
Piedmont would not engage In whaling
in the Arctic Ocean. or in deep-sea COM
merce with foreign nations, and maybe
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