The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-07
PAssPoRrs DAYS NrMBERED.
Convenient Pocketbooks Containing
Your Photograph Taking Their
From the New York World.


From the New York World.
Perhaps the bulky old passport has had
its best day In its stead the identification
book is now growing in public favor.
While passports were intended for iden-
tification they did not always identify.
The mere verbal description filled in by
the own primarily and then copied by some
clerk in the state department was suffi-
GENTLY exact for Ordinary occasions, but
not for extraordinary ones. And the wise
tourist prepares for both.
Travellers who are not equipped with any
language but their own under the passport
system can be exposed to more than petty
annoyances, particularly in the more UNI
frequented paths of Spain and Russia.
They may have trouble In securing mail
addressed to them or in cashing money
and express orders. And Instances are by
no means infrequent where travellers have
been absolutely stranded for lack OF funds
which were even then waiting for them at
some provincial postoffice, and they We're
sacrificed to the elaborate scruples or some
honest but obstinate village postmaster
But armed with an Identification book
one can refuse to be bulldozed by an off,
citl for lack of evidence of ones identity
The matter of its official adoption by the
United States will come up for considera-
ton this winter In Washington. Most Of
the European countries have successful
ly tried the system. France and Italy We're
the pioneers in the movement and have
shown no desire to return to earlier meth
DDS.
The book of Identification is a small pa
per bound volume of a size convenient
for the pocket. 1t may be purchased at
any postoffice at an outlay equivalent to
10 cents. On the inner side of the cover
is placed a photograph of the holder, and
tied firmly in place and fastened by a
sealed ribbon. To this Is attached the
signature of the holder. On the page
opposite the cover is a declaration signed
by the postoffice official who originally
sold the book, attesting the genuineness
of the signature, the making of which,
of course, he must witness and the cor
rectness of the likeness as set forth by the
photograph.
The pages following contain the usual
verbal description familiar to the holder
of passports, consisting of details as to
eyes, nose, mouth, forehead, chin, hair,
coloring, hight, weight and particular
marks or scars.
1t contains also a declaration to the eff
feet that ION presentation of this book
and the signing of a receipt, any postof-
flee is required to deliver to the holder
all mail matter addressed to him" 1t
is imperative that the signature on the
receipt should correspond with that of
the book, and the better the photograph
the easier the hard path Of the globe trot-
ter.
Count Naselli, the Italian consul gen.
eral, said, in speaking of these books
''They have been found invaluable with us
for purposes Of Identification, particularly
in case of accident. While we do not, as
in France, compel citizens to provide
themselves with these books, we heartily
encourage the idea"
NJ. Bruwaert the French consul, is an
enthusiastic advocate of the system.
How did we exist so long without it Is
what 1 continually ask myself" said he.
"Oh, yes. with us it is required that ev-
cry citizen of q possess one of these books,
and the change of address must be re-
corded at the nearest postoffice.
I'm accidents they are invaluable, and
the police could not work without them. e
But it is to the great American travel
ing public to whom the book of identified
ton Win chiefly appeal