Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-10-15
IDENTIFICATION BOOKS.
A scheme For Proving Identity In yari-
GUS Countries.

A scheme For Proving Identity In yari-
Gus Countries.
Passports are intended primarily for
The purpose of identification. The same
idea is the object of a scheme which has
been adopted lately 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 i'll Washington
next winter. The idea referred to is
nothing more nor less than an identifi-
cation book, which enables the holder
70 establish his identity wherever in the
world he may be. This is often mat
pr Of the utmost Importance Travellers
ignorant Of the language of the country
through which they are journeying are
spt to have trouble in securing mail ad-
dressed to them, in cashing money or
iars and in various other ways They
may even find themselves stranded for
LEX q the very funds which are await
biz them at the postofiice simply be-
cause they are not personally known.
ID is mainly through agitation Of the
Subject by tourists that the identified
ton book has become an accomplished
fact
The book Of identification is small,
green paper covered book of Convenient
aze for the pocket 1t costs Only 10
cents, and may be bought at any post
Office On the inside of the cover is
placed photograph of the holder, tied
IN place and fastened by sealed rib
ben To this is attached the signature
Of the person. On the opposite page is a
declaration signed by the postoffice Off
cal, stating that photograph and sigma
tun are genuine. OF course the official
witnesses the making of the signature
ana is easily able to determine whether
| DE portrait is a likeness of the appli-
cant or not On the next page is full
description of the holder of the book,
giving details as to height, eyes, nose,
|tgrehcad, chin, mouth, coloring, hair
nd particular marks. +" Thus. if man
Aas a wart on his nose it is mentioned.
Now follows a declaration to the eff
bet that ION presentation of this book
md the signing of a receipt, any post
Office is required to deliver to the holder
| al mail matter addressed to him. ? 1t
Unnecessary, however, that the signature
~ thg receipt shall correspond to the
Signature in the book, and that Inca
'Aents Of the person shall agree with
he photograph and the description CIV
en- in the book. Two-thirds of the book
n Identification is made up of series
q receipts arranged like bank checks,
which may be torn ont and given in ex-
ldange for mail matter or money trans
'nitieI by mail. II is easy to see that
ms plan is calculated to save an inn
nen,a amount Of trouble. The postofl1ce
ghlch receives the last receipt of book
q identity retains the stub of that re-
elpi book, and if the holder of the
ieoG demands it must issue to him a
leT book without requiring further
proofs of identity. The sheets Of the
Nos duly numbered are attached to the
over hy ribbon in the national colors
the country that sells the book, and
Ae two ends of the ribbon are fastened
da Official seal.
Already the scheme has been adopted
France, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey,
VI Argentine Republic, Brazil, Bull
g-FA Colombia, Costa RIGA, Egypt,
1atoe Liberia, Mexico, Paraguay,
f@tueal Roumania, Tunis, Venezuela
aa Grille 1t remains to be seen wheth-
ii Wlll be accepted by the United
Se'ss ST. Louis Globe Democrat