The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-05
Limiting Duty-Free Baggage.

Returns from our various ports OF
entry bring complaints in abundance
from tourists who, returning to this
country after a sojourn abroad, trip
over the provision of the Dingley law
which exempts from duty only 500
worth of new personal effects. But the
provision is a logical one from the
protective standpoint and moreover 1t
promises to be of material benefit as
n revenue producer.
1t has been estimated that cabin
passengers had brought home with
them on an average $500 worth of new
goods apiece. On the basis of 100000
tourists per annum this meant the free
importation of SAC, 200, 900 worth Of goods
most of which, If not brought in as per-
sonal baggage, would have been du-
table at high figure. If the same
ratio shall continue, duty will hereafter
be collected on $50, ,OOO, 900 worth Of these
previously exempted goods, and at an
average duty of so per cent. the Dingley
bill would realize on this item alone
$l5,0000 900 each year, or sufficient TO
arm and equip three brand new battle
ships, cover the deficit in the postal
department, or pay interest on half a
billion dollars Of the national debt.
There is an interesting bit of history
back of the inclusion of this 800 ex-
emption in the new tariff bill While
it was under consideration the treasury
department decided tc pick a passen-
ger at random who had declared no
dutiable effects and learn by actual
examination of his baggage just what
he had brought from Europe free Of
duty. The man selected was a passen-
ger on the St. Louis who arrived at
New York from Southampton on June
Is. He was a man in ordinary station
in life, well-to-do but not rich, ana
this was what he had in his satchels
and trunks:
1 embroidered satin skirt gray cos
| tune i'm two pieces; silk waists; seal
| skin coats: toothbrushes; packages
| toilet powder; IL pOcketknives; statu-
| cites; glass top casks, two plated with
name; drinking cup; S3 obscene playing
| cards; ladies' silk waists; ladies' cot
| ton waists; ladies' cotton shirts; 4 child $
dresses; wool cape; bicycle suits. three
| pieces each; l autograph album; 81 pairs
| gentlcmens hose; 20 odd hose silk ties
2 pairs silk gloves; pairs kid gloves;
| cotton shirt; 1 piece embroidered black
| SATIN 1 green cloth jacket, fur trimmed
| l silk costume In two pieces; dress pat
| terms: | doll in case; pieces cotton goods
| yards each; 2 feather boas; collar
| cites; Childs silk dresses; child's cloth
dress; pairs of silk stockings; neck
| ties; 13 pieces dress trimmings; Is ladies'
silk waists; tea gowns; l wool skirt;
| undershirts: 1874 pieces silk, about liz
| yards: 1 piece satin. SO yards: / piece silk
| 3115 yards; / piece cloth, 123t yards; piece
CLOTH 51a yards; 13 silk waist patterns
6S pairs gloves; 3 boxes cologne; boXe:
| perfumery; 1 box toilet soap . bottles;
pocketbooks: l penknife; finger rings
| 10 pieces tape; drab cloth jacket; 26 OBJ
scene pictures; small lot personal effects
Here was easily $4,000 worth of good
which ought by every rule of equity t
have borne a duty. Estimates by tn
treasury department covering a periot
of ten years placed the average valu
of such imports by tourists at $49O TO
each person entering the country; bu
to be safe the sum was lowered to $40
in the information furnished to con
gress. It is obviously unjust to i'm
porters to make them pay duty o.
freight imports when passengers ar
permitted to land baggage imports i
large quantity free. The America
who wishes to do his buying in Europ
after having accumulated his money /
America should feel grateful that tn
United States permits him to brin
back the fruits of his foreign market
ing upon any terms.