The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-01-04
CHEATING CUSTOMS.
VARIOUS WAYS OF DEALING WITH
THE INSPECTORS.

Near"-At the Ports of Some Foreign
Countries Costly Tobacco In France.
On the promenade deck OF an Atlantic
steamer, westward bound, one often sees
groups Of passengers engaged in conversa-
ton of apparently more than ordinary gray
ity. The same is noticeable in the smoking
saloon and tween decks. Certain charac-
teristics Of such conferences Enthusiastically
betray their subjects. Old ocean travellers
say they can tell 1t at n glance. They would
much sooner take chances on guessing
Alright In such a case than the pools on the
ships run, for there is n certain wistful
peering into the future about II, a mixture
of nervous apprehension and bravado that
Is always present. Once correctly dag
nosed the symptoms seldom fail. In such
conversational group it's 10 to 1 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 II becomes the try
ing question of the moment how the Gus
toms officers shall be passed.
Il is inevitable that some such advice as
this will be heard: Put IS bill in an en-
velope and lay 1t 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, I'm glad to see you know the
usages of this port, will pocket 1t and put
his hieroglyphics on your baggage without
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
NEEDLE with the customs inspectors. II
don't pay"
Nevertheless it 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
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 bride nor attempt
to do so.
A fairly creditable story of New Hamp-
shire man is told, apropos of the bride the
DRY. 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 8 cent fares were
passed up from hand to hand he would
pocket the money and put tickets in the
cashbox. Thus he would make cents on
every dollars worth of tickets. The story
has been told of a 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 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 gel
an early train home to'--
| "All right" the inspector is alleged Il
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
| sptCtOI, hC Sditis NC koo dDoub phc Sdtii'
quantity of cigars that man had; Pm il
Just about as much hurry as he, but
haven't any money" The story goes tina
his luggage was passed quite as perfume
torily as that of his predecessor, and tina
he took the train for the Granite State, con
graduating himself that a New Hampshire
Yankee is as good as New York custom
inspector any day.
| Whataypr the farts mav ha thara ia M
impression quite generally prevalent on tn
other side that gratuity judiciously pre-
scented obviates annoyance at the custom
houses on this side very materially. Sucl
opinions, however, have usually come t,
the speaker second hand. He has no
learned the fact of personal experience
careful observation of the operations, es
pecially at New York, where by far tn
larger portion of passengers from Europ
are landed, strengthens an impression t,
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 L
suggest corruption. Their work is certain
ly performed more thoroughly than at an
frontier in Europe, save possibly that o
Russia. The search Is made quietly, intel
ligently and with much patience and tact
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 most perfunctory manner. Lilo
uor and reprints of English books ar
mostly sought. At French and Italian iron
tiers, "les douaniers" ask for "tabac." Tn
temptation to take tobacco into these couu
tries is very strong. In both countries tn
government holds monopoly of the mar
ufacture and sale of tobacco. Havana cl
gars are obtainable in Paris at enormou
prices, but pipe tobacco, the good old Vii
ginia leaf that Americans like, is urobtair
able for love or money.
The French government permits half
pound to be brought in if declared. But
one is caught smuggling duty of IA franc
per pound is levied, and fine Of severa
times the value Of the goods may be infiict
ed. A bright American, who should hav
known better, recently undertook to SNUG
gle a quantity of his favorite brand of pip
tobacco by hiding it in his shoes in hi
trunk. He was detected and detained. Hi
tobacco was confiscated, and he paid at til
rate of $50 IA pound on the small quantit
he had with him for the experience. Still
30 great is the demand In Paris for Amer
can tobacco that much Is sent in in littl
packages marked Samples of no value,
In newspapers, and in the pockets Of accom-
la. f...- L..