New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-16
PASSES FOR STEAMSHIP PIERS.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MEET FRIENDS
COMING FROM ABROAD MUST
GET PERMIT

bEl TEftMl
A serious effort is about to be made to decrease
the size Of the crowds the piers on the arrival Of
transatlantic steamships. More than one effort OF
this kind has been made In the past but has proved
unsuccessful. 1t is hoped tina: by issuing
passes TO the relatives Of passengers and others
who have the right 20 be the piers /. will he
possible 10 keep away the crowds OF persons who
attend only out Of curiosity and whose presence
has proved a serious obstacle TO the Custom House
officers in the discharge of their duties.
Surveyor Croft gave TO reporter for The Tribune
the following extract from letter forwarded by
the Treasury Department under date Of July ~
lnasmuch as It appears that great difficulty has
visions Of Article 7 Of TT the Customs Regulations Of
1892 requiring that "unauthorized persons SHAH De
Where Il takes anna that Customs officers
have been hampered thereby in the proper dis
after persons who desire to meet friends or rea,
tves on the dock Immediately on the ARRIVAL OF
sent "a the customs officer in charge AT such dock
or whaNf permit or card Of admission previously
ers Of such vessel or their duly constituted agents
or representatives, granting the above -mentlonen
countersigned by the Surveyor OF Customs or some
officer OF the customs acting In such capacity
The Surveyor said: The new regulations Will
not be enforced for a few days until have con-
ferred with representatives Of various steamship
lines The purpose is simply 20 keep away the
crowds OF curiosity seekers There Is no purpose
OF excluding persons legitimately entitled 10 meet
their friends To all sucn persons permits VIII DC
granted . ,...
The effort was made few years ago 10 Keep
everybody off the piers hut a great nue. anu -!
was made, and the crowds broke through 'he va! :
rers TWO occasions and fui me. e'u oil .
to enforce the rule were not made. but 'ne su ir
exists. and this $ attempt to meet me as ~ ~
another way. The steamship companies approve a.,
the regula ton they suffer from the grea, yt
as much as the Custom House officials When Joiih
Smith comes home from abroad MS wire anu c''a'
sibe but that is no reason why his cousins anu
aunts should all throng the wharves. WIN .he
steerage passengers II IL even worse lot an M VI,
residents of an East side block appear 10 Turn OH
TO welcome the relative OF one tenant =, - .
There have been cases OF smuggling also IN 'ne
crowds know Of one. When young woman
landed from a large steamship. waking US
10 the crowd alone the gangWay. she pdsseu d
package containing a gold watch ana chaii 10 d
Young man A customs inspector happel,fu ~ - =
her and the property found TO be du'lapIe ais
worth several hundred dollars. But Tor one SUI
act detect I'd there must be scores that pass uo
served The enforcement OF the otH'l VIII nc IN
more work for this ONCE. as all the permits VIII
have 10 be signed here. ,...a,. ,ronaroA
The steamship companies have ALREADY prePGdrTi,.
the cards and are ready TO distribute tbein I'M
rersons who can give the names OF frleIlus OF 20
lives on he passenger list OF the lh'onIi1s -,
need apply for tickets. After that the ucke, I'M
be taken to the basement OF the custom tlU"SVV
where Surveyor Croft has his ONCE ana tiIcsi -
there is no good reason for not DONG So '"e '"'
vevor or one of his deputies will sign H.