The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-25

New York Herald Editorial, April 10:
For Convenience Of Travellers.
A very timely suggestion comes from
Appraiser wakeman. that returning
tourists from Europe be provided. on
their departure from the other side.
with full instructions and blanks as to
our customs and tariff laws relating to
their baggage. Careful study Of these
would save the vexatiouS delay and
worry so common, now. aud avoid the
cause OF complaints of overworked and
impatient inspectors.
Ia the Editor Of the Herald:
Perhaps no provisions of the Dlngley
,arlf have been more fully discussed
than those applying to the personal
baggage OF tourists arriving from
abroad, and yet the law and regula-
lions are understood by very few.
That provision of the Dingley tarlff APP
plying to personal baggage is as fol-
lows:
That in case OF residents OF the Uni
ted States returning from abroad. all
wearing apparel and other personal eff
fects taken by them out of the United
states to foreign countries shall be adj
mitted free Of duty. without regard to
their value, upon their identity being
established under appropriate rules
and regulations TO be prescribed by the
secretary OF the treasury; but no more
than 500 in value Of articles purchased
abroad by such residents OF the United
States shall be admitted free OF duty
upon their return.
Now Under Consideration.
Recently submitted to the treasury
department certain recommendation
regarding the circulation of informa-
tion to all tourists. which is now under
consideration by the department.
have received so many letters and in
aulries regarding the recommendation
made that I believe 1t win be Of inter
est TO your readers to know what has
been recommended, and is under con-
sideraton, My suggestion is as fol-
lows:
That circular. describing fully the
provisions OF the personal baggage law.
be issued for the information Of all
passengers going abroad; that this cir
cular OF Information md instructions
be accompanied by q blank declaration
such as the passenger is compelled TO
sign upon his arrival here; that this
circular OF information and instruction
and declaration be placed in sealed en-
valOpes, and that the masters of the
various steamships engaged In trans
Atlantic trade be requested to place u
copy OF this circular. instructions and
declaration In the hands OF each pas
sanger soon after sailing from abroad.
This plan would give the passenger the
opportunity OF careful preparation of
his declaration on the way over; would
explain fully the provisions Of the law
and the regulations governing the
same; would remove much OF the OBJ
iections to the law, and would be OF
great service to the customs officials In
a consistent administration OF the law.
Necessary at the Time.
II remember correctly plan SINH
lar to this was In efrect during a pre-
yIous Administration. except that the
circulars of instruction and declaration
were handed, by the inspectors, to pas
sengers when they arrived at quaran-
tine. I have thought for a long time
that some such plan as this ought to be
adopted. 1t is especially important that
It should be adopted at the beginning of
this season, when more people are going
abroad, perhaps. than in any yenr In
the history OF the nation. believe 1t
very Important that we should be
equipped so as to avoid delays and give
the Americans who visit the continent
and the Paris Exposition every cour-
tesy upon their arrival home.
Very truly yours.
w. +. WAHEAIAN.