Evening star., 1896-07-02
IDENTIFICATION BOOKS.
n Scheme for Proving IDENTITY In
Various Countrien

From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat
Passports are intended primarily for the
purpose of Identification. The same idea is
the object of scheme which has been late.
ly adopted by a number Of the nations of
the world. The question whether it shall
be taken up by the United States is to be
discussed at the convention to be held in
Washington next winter. The idea referred
TO Is nothing more nor less than an identi-
fication book, which enables the holder to
establish his identity wherever in the world
he may be. This is often a matter of the
utmost Importance. Travellers ignorant of
the language of the country through whic h
they are joufneying are apt to have trou-
Bile In securing mail addressed to them, in
cashlng money orders. and in various other
ways. They Eiay even find themselves
stranded 10" lack Of the very funds Whic h
are awaiting them at the post office, sim
ply because they are not personally known.
1t is mainly through agitation Of the sub
tect by tourists that the Identification book
has become an accomplished fact.
The book Of Identification is a small,
green, paper-covered book of convenient
size for the pocket. 1t costs only ten cents
and may be bought at any post office. On
the inside of the cover is placed a photo
graph Of the holder. tied in place and fast
ened by sealed ribbon. To this is attached
the signature of the person. On the op-
post Office official, stating that photograph
and signature are genuine. OF course the
official witnesses the making of the sigma
ture and is easily able to determine wheth-
er the portrait is likeness of the appli-
cant or not. On the next page is full
description Of the holder of the book Civ
ing details as to height, eyes, nose, fore
head, chin, mouth. coloring, hair and par
ticular marks" Thus. If man has a
wart on his nose it ,s mentioned.
Now follows a declaration to the effect
ION presentation Of this book and the sign
ing of a receipt. any post office is required
to deliver to the holder all mail matter ad-
dressed to him." 1t is necessary, however,
that the signature on the receipt shall cor
respond to the signature in the book, and
that lineaments of the person shall agree
with the photograph and the description
given in the book. Two-thirds of the book
of identification is made up Of a series of
receipts arranged like bank checks which
may be torn out and given in exchange
for mail matter or money transmitted by
mall. 1t is easy to see that this plan is
calculated to save an immense amount of
trouble. The post office which receives the
last receipt of a book of identity retains
the stub Of that receipt book, and if the
holder Of the book demands it, must issue
to him a new book without requiring
further proofs of identity. The sheets of
the book duly numbered are attached to
the cover by a ribbon in the national colors
CT the country that sells the book, and
the two ends of the ribbon are fastened
by an official seal
Already the scheme has beeen adopted
by France, Italy, Switzerland Turkey, the
Argentine Republic Brazil, Bulgaria, Co
lombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Greece, Liberia,
Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, Roumania, ,Tu-
seen whether 1t will be accepted by the
limited States