New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
A WARNING FOR TOURISTS
PERSONAL EFFECTS FREE UNDER THE
NEW TARIFF BILL LIMITED TO
500 IN VALUE


Those people who go TO Europe frequently and
who. when they compelled TO remain at home.
give their orders for gloves. small wares and 1er-
chandise Of various kinds their friends who make
the trip. interested In that part OF the
tariff bill which Will restrict the importation OF
merchandise by tourists. At present one may
bring from Europe wearing apparel and other per-
sonal effects in large quantities. provided they are
not TO be sold given away. and every steamer
brings the United States great trunks full Of all
sorts Of personal property" for which duty IL
paid. The new tarn bill restricts the importation
to 800 in value by the following paragraph which
appears under the head Free List:
Wearing appal Il, articles Of personal adornmont.
toilet articles and similar personal effects Of per-
ton shall only Dc ude such srtcies A. actually
company and are in the use Of. and a. are neces-
sary and appropriate FOR the wear and Use of such
persons for the immediate purposes o. me journey
and present comfort and convenience ana snaA not
be held 10 apply 10 merchandise articles in
tended for other persons or for sale and in case
Of the United States the article exempted shall
not exceed $40 IN value nor snsli ne rSsmPu ,5
United States more than once In each year- Pro;
vded howeyer ,nat a Of resGears Of re uted
,.ares 20 81 he finiied states 10 foreign countrtes
d yI have not been advanced in Value or i'm
proved in condition by any process OF labor or
manufacture in such countries. shall be admitted
free OF duty without regard 70 their value. upon
their identity being established undr.f spprsoprs.ace
rotary Of the Treasury
Dressmakers. tsilors and haberdashers are par
ticulary happy over the 81" clause and believe
that It's passage will benefit their business materi-
ally. .
Buying things in Europe is an unconqueraoie
habit with many Americans. and they come back
from, European tour loaded down with all Sorts OF
merchandise which they would never tninh OF ouS-
ing in this country. Men go 10 LONDON ana ouy
large quantities of clothing. enough sometimes 10
ast them through several seasons, and bring winter
or Itch clothing
be,rg careful however in many instances, to wear
the unsea sonabie pieces for few moments so 'nAe
they may declare them as having oeeh "oi''.
Women are even better customers In the sh'ps 0s
Europe than men.
The day before the steamer reaches new "'~
&, rsualIv one Of distress the man and woman
whose baggage contains articles which might nos %
looked upon by the customs inspector as PERSONA
effects"
Women with No. hands have NO. ana VI
gloves tucked away in mpossipie paee'' no
eouncos parasol covers and shoulder pieces nAve
hoor fastened 20 the inside OF old and worthless
garments and quantities Of silk and other dress
goods have been packed under coats ana old shoes'
Pieces OF china porcelain, neerschd1iH anu J'"''
have been slowed away in the toes OF Innocent
looking shoes and every available corner mas ON
sunad with personal effects" which on close IN
s,,ac,ton could not pass muster. Parasos and fur
vrans lie sid, by side and young girls TO "hom III"
cares OF housekeeping are stu unknown Or"e 10y
kins and tablecloths as personal effects 'Ose.ne'
with cigarette cases suspenders ana "a'hins-
sticks Bachelors bring baby bonnets IN ue1r oaS-
goga hosiery Of which they could lever make per-
ai usa and ALI sorts OF womens fnery-aH as
.narsonal effects" and men have coats llned win
fur so arranged that by simple process the 'u'-
lined coat becomes a womar's fur wrap.
These things have all been carefuly pacHeo
with A view o escaping the Inspector a''eh''on'
Ru, az the steamer nears the home shore the guilty
,.sse,eer grows nervous and visions OF ia
covered nnery -onfscated baggage ana disgrace.
Most OF the passengers know that Hetec'loH iH7dl'
seizure OF their goods and much expense ID 'ne
way Of obtaining them back from the "o'ernHen'
officials. and the nervousness OF me pe'F sinuSs,e
under the strain mas oi'eh gwen ''' "
spectors 2 clew.
rbecus,orns officers come aboard and the passenger
receives blank on which dutaole baggage must %
mentioned: bur in most cases the passengers ueo.Ae
Tho, ,beir trunks contain only wearing apparel and
noronal fleets not for sale. Unless inc Inspector
anas something TO the contrary fe" cndl" MARKS
an tho boYes and bundles soo,he tho troubled mind
~ tho Messenger. and ne carries his foreign pHF-
chases 10 his home In TRIUMPH
,rharo arc many cases whe"e the vell-lai plans
., tho roturning American haze been ihwar'ed. and
no has seen his trunks and cases carrie" INTO nc
i,,,rorcor, and his collections Of wearing apparel
and bric-a- brac which he had bought in al paris
Of Europe and with which the whole '"hhN "As
70 have been made happy put under inc S'ai o'
Uncle Sam A bulging pocket or an Hl-h''ihk 'res'
have freouently led 10 thorough investigation. An
anxious look on the part of the passenger OF ner'
,.ousress as he hands the Inspector his keys nave
hem equally effective I'm bringing 10 light personal
effects which found their way 10 the selznre-roo''
The informcr has always been potent laeloT III
The Custom House. and many seizures nave peen
made on the hints Of men who wanted 70 gel
even with people VINO ih'y A"e" "''' N' $500
way back from Europe.
one case Of that kind happened last season.
merchant from the western part 81 the state ha.
taken his family abroad on pleasure mp Hi''
about the time b was expected oaeA an '"e'"'
wrote 10 the customs authorities saving that ~,
tsiank would endeavor 10 bring INTO Ne"-iolh
without paying duty lot or taNaple ther @
rr,,aI NJ The man they found sealskin garments,
tabie linen and other merchandise when uid no'
come under the free list and IN order 10 e, 's,n
back from the Government the man hs I'd, 70 pay
charged had he declared them when the inspectors
came aboard. , -. A..
s a9' ygiIsnce Of the customs officers said
man VINO k in a position 70 be we. informed on tns
krow that there are fewer cases Of petty smuggling
now than there few years ago lnal N,n
and that many cases slip through the fingers OF tht
officials is a well-kno~n fact. but me present Jaw
enough 10 recognize some things intended foi
sale but wnen man brings lot OF c.otnins N.
mar II is not an FOR him un.ess he takes n.
Iof Of insists Under the new Jaw il viii make NJ
difference the goods exceed 500 IN Va.ue the
Tn operaton OF the new law Will be severe
those Americans who are now abroad VINO nave peer
making NJ bTngns them into his country re.
OF duty There are doubtless hundreds OF trunki
full OF ali OF merchandise already packed ana
stored in Hamburg and Liverpool. warehouses await
ing the arrive. there Of their owners from southert
psssage Of the new tsriT law many tourists vii
eur their visits snort in order % bring back ,hen
purchases duty free