New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-22
CYCLISTS ABROAD.
CONGRESS- OF THE INTERNATIONAL
LEAGUE OF TOURING CLUBS - THE
CUSTOMS LINE AND RECIPROCITY.
London. June 10.

anti n
.ommon interest in breaking through the Gus
Ans lines They have been holding a congress
\ London this week. with seventeen national
associations of wheelmen in league against the
.,mmon enemy-the customs official The tour
ks associations represented in this international
Hague are cycling clubs in Germany. Austria,
belgium. Denmark the United States France,
Great Britain, Holland Italy. Luxembourg
pussia sweden and Switzerland They have
united for the purpose of promoting the interests
n, bicycling touring. and especially for securing
,eeiprocty of treatment in all these countries
uhis congress has been directed with all the
dignity and ceremony of a diplomatic confer
snce The discussions have been conducted in
che French language and the greatest care has
,een taken to avoid interference with the in
siyidual independence OF the allied associations.
between diplomatic ceremony and red tape there
was a serious risk Of organized naction. but an
American delegate. with characteristic practical
salient and good sense succeeded in breaking
down the barriers and opening the way for de-
tsve action.
After an address OF welcome from the chair
man Mr. W Kendall Burnett OF the Cyclists
Touring Club in England the cut and dried
rrogramme laid down in the official agenda was
taken up with the decorous gravity Of serious
dinlomacy The minutes OF the Luxembourg
congress were read. and the Cyclists Touring
Club reported on the official proceedings Of the
International League during twelve months.
proposal that petitions should be addressed 10
,he Austrian and italian governments asking for
the adoption Of the Belgian regulations respect
ing cycle permits was discussed and adopted
4 protest against the action OF the French Gov
eminent in levying tax on every cyclist enter
ing France met with unanimous approval
There was 2 prolonged discussion over the pro-
posal Of the Union Velocipedique de France that
The International League should take the initia-
tive In bringing about modus vivendi for the
removal Of all customs obstacles 10 the free ex-
pansion Of bicycling by tourists in foreign coun-
tries What suggested was a uniform
scheme for enabling every cyclist to pass
through the customs free on the presentation of
n permit granted by the officials Of each country
20 each society and Their issued TO members of
Che allied associations. In these discussions Mr..
! T Keenan,. Of the League OF American Wheel
men. distinguished himself by the fexibity
with which he cut the congress loose from its
statutes red tape and prearranged order Of bust
ness.
Mr. keenan, did not speak French and conse-
uuently labored under serious embarrassment
but with Mr. Joseph PenneI and an official in
,4rpreter 10 prompt him and TO explain his
motives he succeeded in carrying his point and
in invigorating the congress with a sudden
Recess Of good sense. At the outset II was one
American against Europe. but he persevered In
his argument with good humor and tact and
eventually converted all the delegates to his view
that the practical business Of the international
League was TO release cycling tourists from all
nnnovances and vexations at frontiers, and 10
enable ther, 10 go about the world on their
wheels with ease and comfort Mr.. Keenan, pro-
Huced a marked impression by his earnestness
and directness. In consequence OF his urgent
plea for action all associations connected with
the League are now pledged TO make constant
and unremitting efforts to secure an open door
for foreign cyclists The Central Council will
not he left 10 do all the work and 10 exhaust
its energies in preparing annual agenda and
coiling and uncoiling spools Of red tape The
allied associations Will be called upon 10 CO.
operate heartily in securing for wheelmen
free passage from one country to another with
but vexatious annoyances from customs officials
At the banquet which followed the first days
work II was stated that the international
league with its seventeen allied organizations
tn the chief countries OF the world. represented
half a million Of cyclists. With so large a body
tr influential supporters IT ought not to be DIFF
fcult for the Central Council 10 secure free
tntry for cyclists wherever there is a customs
line An authorized certificate OF membership
,p a touring association should suffice TO carry
The travellers machine through any custom
house without tax or official permit. The GUS
toms line is the first point OF attack but the
railway companies Of the Continent will ulti-
.natelv be forced 10 make some concessions for
The comfort and convenience Of tourists on
wheels The rates FOR carrying machines are
higher than they ought TO be, and holders need
10 be fitted into luggage vans so that the ma
chimes can he properly secured and protected
against injury in transit When the League
has opened wide the customs door and cheap
ened and improved railway transportation, IL
will stin have ample scope for its energies ana
diplomacy in active campaign TOT gooo
roads throughout the world. When there is so
much work 70 be done for the benefit OF cycIs's
the presence Of wideawake and practical-minded
americans like Mr.. keenan, at the annual con-
Sress is great gain
Whatever advantages are derived in Europe
from the united action Of the tourist assocla-
lions will be shared in large measure by Amerl-
Can cyclists. who are now constantly seen in
England and on the Continent. Swarms OF
hen are now on their wheels on the English
country roads, France Italy, Holland, Belgium
and Germany are invaded summer ana winter
BY many thousands OF them, ana the special
facilities and accommodations offered IN nearly
every Furopean country for cyclist tourists are
mainly designed 10 attract American patronage
modus vivendi by which the tourist on wheels
tan escape annoyance vexatious delay and i'm
POSITION on the customs line will be OF the great
sst benefit TO American travellers in Europe
and consequently their own Government anu
customs service must be prepared TOT Iuii
Measure Of reciprocity. When there are ninety
hine Americans on wheels in Europe for every
foreign cyclist who lands in New-fork with
his machine the case for reciprocity IN customs
regulations If hardly open for argument