New-York tribune., 1897-07-29
ruE DUTY ON NEW CLOTHES
PASSENGERS ON THE MAJESTIC PAY
TARIFF ON PERSONAL EFFECTS.
.,.evryoR INQUIRE MEETS THE STEAMER DOWN
THE BAY AND INFORMS TOURISTS OF THE
,w REQUIRING PAYMENTS on Ar
rAREL WORTH MORE TuAH 500.

pAREI. WORTH MORE TIAH 500.
A., unusual scene was enacted tie Wtite Star
,,re's pier yesterday morning when the Majestic
as docked there and the cot frst-cabin passengers
aue ashore They were the first arrivals at this
NOV, on a large liner 20 whom tho clnusl in the
new tariff law relating 90 duties on personal ef-
,ec,. was applied. There was an extra force of
Custonns inspectors hand. and baggage
examined with minuteness Of attention IT had
never received before.
A. the possessions OF all residents OF the United
gates purchased abroad ovsC and above the
smoint Of 500 which not on the free list arc
now dutab,e. exact invertorics of personal effects
80 required As few were exempt from payment
., some duty the line which gathered before ;he
cashiers desk on the pier presented an unusual APP
roarsnce. II extended well down the pier. and the
amount OF cash taken in which would not have
heeu paid under the Wilson Tariff law was roughly
estimated at $1,000
The lettcr-informcd OF the passengers We're pre-
pgrcl for the ordeal. hut 10 many the enforcement
Of the now clause came surprise. There was.
however, attempt OF the part of any Of the pas
senrers to escape the duties their belongings.
ard the work Of the inspectors comparatively
easy In fact the passengers aided the Customs
officials in every way TO facilitate the passing of
their baggage. although In many whore
there was ignorance OF the personal effects clause
many explanations Were made by the inspectors to
prepare the way for their examinations Collector
Bdwell accompanied Deputy Surveyor bowling
the pier and expressed himself well pleased
with the operations of the law which ne had Wit
messed.
HOW THE LAW READS.
THIS clause Of the Dingey Tariff law. which is
likely trouble until travellers become used
10 Il and which will doubtless be carried into the
courts for Interpretation. is numbered e97 of Section
2 which includes the free list. 1t reads follows:
Wearing apparel. articles Of personal adornment,
irg IN the United States; but this exemption shall
Only include such articles as actually accompany
ana are IN the use OF and as are necessary ana ap-
propriate for the wear and use of such persons
en-, Comfort ana convencrce. and shall he he'd
TO apply merchandise OF articles intended for
., residents of the United States returning from
ob-oad MI wearing auparel and other personal ef-
fecs taken by them Of the United States 10 for
tigu countries shall be admitted free Of duty with
on, regard 20 their value upon their identity being
es,ablshed . but no more than 81" in value
Q; arjic.es purchased abroad by such residents Of
upon their return.
H. preparation for the enforcement OF this act
twelve extra inspectors detailed for duty early
yesterday morning when the Majestic was reported
as coming up the Bay, to assist the regular force
CURE with his staff met the vesse at Quarantine,
nam saloon He did his hes, to tnlighten them
10 what personal effects would be duable, and be-
gan to take the declarations IN many instances
special examinations were necessary 10 determine
what goods dutiable and what such goods
worth. The Surveyors Work was competed
by the time he Majestic reached her pier There
bowling was begun. and Il proved an arr ar1Qous
undertaking some Of the passengers found Il a
words with the inspectors and found the scene
highly amusing one.
COMMODORE GERRY's BAGGAGE.
one of the most noticeable and noteworthy OF the
passengers Commodore Elbridge T. Gerry.
The thiriy-four trunks belonging 10 his party,
marked conspicuously with his initials seemed to
10 everywhere on the pier He required TWO hours
c. An inspectors time to so through his baggage.
j. jill no; to mind it. as he is an experienced
traveller the customs officials say. and causes
them little trouble. He found no fault either with
the new law or with the manner OF its enforce
ment. Morris X Jesup was another passenger
Who experienced no difficulty in having MS bag
lage appraised. but when the work was through
h. mad step mp to the cashiers desk and pay $40
Tutre was n priest who. after long argument
win the Inspector was finally assessed 81. not
a an4 for talking. but duty on his baggage.
The inspectors practised unusual patience in their
examinations and were lenient with wayward pas
s,ngsrs
aad Manufacturers Board Of Trade. who was said
limiting the value OF personal effects incorporated
in tn. Tariff Law was among ne interested specta-
teTs gathered around the cashier oniee NcsteIHaE
mornns o Why bGy hsE 9Tf T akmah ns IN poaG 10 10
b. working finely. Under the old Law they could
bring in about what they wanted free OF duty.
Deputy Surveyor bowling said yesterday after,
;hs United States whether citizens or nor are
liable for customs duty personal baggage ex,
readnc slOO in value. Non-residents are allowed
IN brine i'm any reasonable amount of DersOnal bag
80 g berefofore without duty. This Iule was
srr,s5 a. ON, on The pier when the Majestic landed.
Tho second cabin passengers needed htile atteh,
,ion Their examinations were soon over with ana
their baggage was relea sod. The steamships. Am
sierdam Massachusetts and Friesland. whlch ar
r'ysd here after the new law went into effect on
isst sa,urdav afforded no opportunity for testing
the personal effects" because Of their smaH pas
Among the passengers who arrived on the Ma
jastic besides those already mentioned. were y an
Brunf Bergen the Rev. Thomas Bradbury AIDtr,
Brassey' r. p; Arthur s Burden G. Howard i6v,,i,i
Dawson IOr j. Clafton Edgar. Captain Ih0m5s
FTee N p Grace F d. Jones Count G. De 7. de
Ksbec Count Saspara Frssc de + p De Meo HSGp'
NrC,sv The Rev G Campbell Morgan. p B. Niles
Marx odrGyd Julius % sopS s9pPSenWReimisI Waie sydnsy
Duon Riplev J Hampden Robh Oswald sander
con II T Sloane and J. Leon NiliamS.