Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-26
MANILA'S CUSTOM HOUSE,
Coils of Spanish Red Tape Max,
Americans Sigh.

Correspondence of the New York Sum-
The mills of the gods may grind slowly,
but they are not a circumstance to the
workings of the Manila custom house. The
present system was established by Spanish
law, and even though it was universally
condemned during Spanish days. there We're
certain redeeming features then in the way
of business practices and short cuts sane
toned by custom and routine, but now I'M
j der the military direction everything is car
ried out to the letter of the law and sifted
through all the various intricate processes
to an ultimate fineness, that would make
the products of the mills of the gods as
lumpy as the bolderS that lie in the noun
tain streams.
In Spanish days certain goods and classes
OF imports were massed together and the
duties were levied in bulk as experience
demonstrated that this was the best and
most expeditions method. OF course this
course was not provided for by the laws
but IN this case as in many others that puZ-
gle officials and business men, the code was
simply set aside. AS affairs now are the
military government, ever consistent and
keenly watchful of rules, operates exactly
according to instructions and rigidly en-
forces every article and clause of the GUS
toms code.
Here is a case that happened this week
An empty steamer trunk belonging to me
was sent from Singapore to Manila by the
steamship Palitana. Smith, Bell & Co. the
agents, sent me a notice saying that the
trunk had arrived. Accordingly l took the
receipt to Smith, Bell & Co., where if was
signed and Endorsed; from there [ went to
the custom house. Such bustling howl
ing, confused crowd, calling in all directions
in half a dozen different languages, cannot
be seen any place in the states and the only
approaches to it are at the Hong Kong and
Shanghai Wharves, and there the difference
in language is missing. An inspector di-
rected me to the chief clerks office where
my receipt was taken through the window
by Aguinaldos former private secretary
lone Antonio Escamila. Mr.. Escamilla has
given up insurrection for the present and
has thrown in his lot with the Americans.
After reading the paper over he asked me
TO come inside out Of the crowd of scram-
bling Chinese dealers that huddled about
the windows :! made my way into the
Office and found Mr.. Stanley, the chief
clerk, busy with bundle of papers fully a
foot high.
Look at that for a stack" said he as I
sat down, but he very kindly STONED his
work to blue pencil my receipt and direct
me across the corridor to Mr.. Plumb's
Office.
There the chief inspector sized up my
paper and sent for Inspector Young. telling
him to look for the trunk and examine it.
MI Young took me through the warehouses
filled to the top with cases, out into the
yard where new buildings are being erected
and finally into a store shed or goodwin
After four or five minutes search the trunk
was brought to light and a soldier at the
left hand Of the door handed me a book
which 1 signed. He suggested that I get
a native to carry the trunk to the main
office where it would be inspected. 1 hired
one for 10 cents. AS 1 started to follow
him. Filipino. who sat up on desk on
the right hand of the door, hailed me and
said in Spanish, that I would have to sign
here indicating line of a book The
inspector said this was another check SO
signed again and went back to the inspec-
ton room. Mr.. Young was very obliging,
and, after opening the trunk and findin,
only an old laundry list, he said:
"Oh. this will be easy for you; Just step
over and get a free entry blank"
took my place in a long line of Chinese,