The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-01-31
CHEATING CUSTOMS.
VARIOUS WAYS OF DEALING WITH
THE INSPECTORS.
Stories Of Bribing Are esecondhanded--A
New Hampshire Man who Was Little
Near"-At the Ports of Some Foreign

New Hampshire Man who Was a Little
Near"-At the Ports of Some Foreign
Countries--C Costly Tobacco In France.
On the promenade deck of an Atlantic
steamer, westward bound, one often sees
groups of passengers engaged in conversa-
tion of apparently more than ordinary gray
ity. The same is noticeable in the smoking
saloon and tween decks. Certain charac-
teristics of such conferences unmistakably
betray their subjects. Old ocean travellers
say they can tell it at a glance. They would
much sooner take chances on guessing
Alright in such case than the pools on the
ships run, for there is a certain wistful
peering into the future about it, a mixture
Of nervous apprehension and bravado that
is always present. Once correctly dag
nosed the symptoms seldom fail. In such
u conversational group it's 10 to its mem
bers are anticipating their experiences in
the customhouse.
On the eastward trip the subject is OF lit
tie importance. People carry little to the
other side, and the search at English ports
at least, is not very rigorous. Bound for
an American port, however, the case is
vastly different. The trunks below are
filled with bric-a-brac and treasures from
fascinating aggregations of pretty things
in European stores, and it becomes the try
ing question Of the moment how the Gus
toms officers shall be passed.
1t is inevitable that some such advice as
this will be heard PUT IS bill in an en-
velope and lay it on the top of the trunk
which you intend TO have first opened. See
that that particular trunk is the first one
to be examined. Then when the officer lifts
the cover he will see the envelope, and with
the remark, Pm glad to see you know the
usages Of this port, will pocket it and put
his hieroglyphics on your baggage withou,
any further trouble"
A very sensible little pamphlet distrib-
uted on most of the north Atlantic steam
ers gives this advice: Don't attempt to
meddle with the customs inspectors. 1t
don't pay"
Nevertheless 1t is one of the commonest
things aboard ship to hear asseverations Of
such things being done, and that it is ex-
pected by customs inspectors. Peculiar
difficulty is encountered in pinning such
a statement down to a credible basis of
fact, however and it is undoubtedly true OF
most persons coming to United States
ports that they neither bribe nor attempt
to do so.
A fairly creditable story of New Hamp-
shire man is told, apropos of the b-ibe the
ory. In the popular parlance of his native
place, he was one of those kind of men
who habitually are little near''--that is,
penurious. He was rich and had become
SO by saving. Shrewdness on the side of
economy was his financial system. 1t was
told of him that, having bought 81 street
car tickets for 81, he would sit at the head
of the car and when the 5 cent fares were
passed up from hand to hand he would
pocket the money and put tickets in the
cashbox. Thus he would make 8 cents on
every dollars worth of tickets The story
has been told of good many besides the
New Hampshire man, but it serves just as
well to illustrate this individuals charac
ter.
He was bound in to New York from
Cuba When he went on shore he followed
in the wake Of a man who, as alleged
slipped bank bill into the hand of the
inspector, saying, "Pve got quite guam
tity Of cigars here, and am anxious to get
all early train home to-
"All right" the inspector is alleged to
have replied, and, chalking the mans bag
gage, he went on his way rejoicing
The New Hampshire man had observed
the affair, and, approaching the same in.
spector, he said. I've got about the same
quantity of cigars that man had; Pm in
! just about as much hurry as he, but
haven't any money" The story goes that
his luggage was passed quite as perfume
torily as that of his predecessor, and that
he took the train for the Granite State con
graduating himself that New Hampshire
Yankee is as good as New York customs
inspector any day.
Whatever the facts may be- there is al
impression quite generally prevalent on tn,
other side that a gratuity judiciously pre-
sented obviates annoyance at the custom
houses on this side very materially Sucl
opinions, however, have usually come u
the speaker second hand. He has moi
learned the fact Of personal experience. A
careful observation of the operations, es
pecially at New York, where by far tn,
larger portion of passengers from Europe
are landed, strengthens an impression 4
the contrary of the above opinion. Their
is certainly no port on the other side wher'
disagreeable duty is performed witt
greater courtesy or with more apparen
honesty than in New York. There is moth
ing in the looks or behavior Of the men u
suggest corruption. Their work is certain
ly performed more thoroughly than at an.
frontier in Europe, save possibly that O
|
ligently and with much patience and tact
2 Across the water the customs regulation
! do not greatly bother the average traveller
At British port he Is asked if he has any
thing to declare, and his luggage is exam
ined in a most perfunctory manner. Lie
uor and reprints Of English books al
mostly sought At French and Italian fror
tiers, "les douaniers" ask for ''tabac" Tn
temptation to take tobacco into these couI
tries Is very strong. In both countries tn
government holds monopoly of the maj
: ufacture and sale of tobacco. Havana C
gars are obtainable In Paris at enormor
prices, but pipe tobacco, the good old vi
ginia leaf that Americans like, is unobtaii
able for love or money.
The French government permits half
pound to be brought in IL declared But
one is caught smuggling duty of II fran
per pound is levied, and a fine OF sever
times the value of the goods may be infiiC
ed A bright American, who should ba'
known better, recently undertook TO smu
gle quantity of his favorite brand OF phi
tobacco by hiding it in his shoes in b
trunk He was detected and detained. II
tobacco was confiscated, and he paid at u
: rate of 500 pound on the small quaint
he had with him for the experience. st
so great is the demand in Paris for Anne
, can tobacco that much is sent in in lit
, packages marked Samples Of no value
In newspapers, and in the pockets OF accol
= modating friends. s.-Boston Herald.
y How Bees WORK.