The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-30

United States cor the governor OF a
state or territory" Passports issued by
governors appear to have not been an
| frequent. The lack of legal provision on
the subject invited gross abuses, till the
inpositions practiced upon iIhterste and
unwary persons led to the enactment of
| the prohibitory statute. Although the
| act Of 1856 provided for the punishment
by fine and Imprisonment Of the issue of
| passports by unauthorized persons, oc-
| casional violations of the law have been
| brought TO the attention OF the state de-
| partment One of these was a passport
/ issued in 1855 by J. Madison Wells as gov
| ernor Of Louisiana In 1859 here appears
to nave ben still in the statute book OF
| Massachusetts legislation authorizing the
| issue OF passports in the name OF the COM
monwealth. Such passports were treated
| in some states as certificates OF state ciJi-
| zenshp; but citizenship certificates have
| found their way to Washington bearing
| the visas OF foreign authorities. and thus
| had evidently ben used as passports by
| deceit practised upon officers abroad who
| were ignorant of the English language.
The general rules as TO the evidence re-
quired by the department of state before
the issue of a passport. touching the citi-
zenshIp. native or adopted. OF the appH-
cant, his loyalty to the government, his
age and personal appearance, etc, are
too familiar TO call or rehearsal here 1t
is an interesting Renaissance, however.
that during the civil war, when it became
obvious that troops would have TO be
raised by consumption, stringent rules
wore adopted to prevent the departure
rom the country o men who were liable
10 military service. AS early as August,
1862 diplomatic and consular officers every
where were warned not TO issue passports
to any citizen capable Of bearing arms be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty-five
who might reasonably be supposed 10
have left the United States after that
date; and in April, 1853, we find that per
sons liable to military service, residing in
states where a draft has not taken place,
are required to give the usual bond, condi-
toned to perform duty. or to rovide ro-
er substitute if drafted; and persons who
may be exempt by reason of physical dis
ability will furnish an authorized physi-
clans certificate to that effect, in order
that passports may be isued."
The fees charged for passports have
varied at several periods in the nations
history. The form of passport used in
1896 contained the word gratis printed
on it; so did that of 1917. 1t was omitted
in 1920. restored in 1888, and since 1857 has
been omitted. The act of July 1, 1852,
provided for a tax of 50 on every pass
port, the amount to be paid to any in
ternal revenue collector and his receipt
Forwarded with the applica ton to the
department of state. The act of June 80
1864 increased the amount to S. In 1870
the tax was repealed, but an act of 1874
ordered the collection of a fee of So for
each passport issued. In 1883 the fee was
reduced to the present rate of 81. For at
least a part Of the time before regular
tax or fee was charged irregular fees ap-
pear to have been paid to the clerks hav-
ing charge of passport issues. While |
Timothy Pickering was secretary Of state
a tremendous scandal was launched at
him by his political enemies, based upon
the fact that a merchant who obtained
a passport at the department asked the /
clerk IN charge If there was any fee. The |
clerk answered that such mtters wer left |
to the generosity of the patron. The gen.
tleman laid down S. and was most obse-
Quiously bowed out of the room. The case |
coming to the notice of Pickerings enc
mics, they endeavored to make 1t appear
in one of their publications that it was
the secretary himself who accepted the |
s.. An investigation, however, discovered |
the clerk, who, in turn. implicated an
associate, and both were ANONYMOUSLY |
The second part Of Mr.. Hunts mono
graph, comprising about 100 pages. con-
tains a digest of laws decisions, regula-
ticns and rulings of the department of
state on the subject of passports bring
Ing the whole, subject down to the latest
date,