Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-08-09

the surveyor. The revenue of every
country on dutiable personal effects
depends for its volume on the ability
of the customs authorities to have
them duly listed and taxed on arrival.
Of cutter passes 1t would be possible
for certain dishonest clement that is
to be found under every sun to meet in
coming friends down the bay and sur
rcptitiously bring ashore at the pier
valuables purchased abroad
The treasury department. trusts few,
fact that has increased Uncle Sans
revenue great deal, as the majority Of
the boarding officers know Recently
the holder Of pass boarded a White
Star liner and was approached by Il
passenger to whom he was a perfect
stranger. The latter said:
II understand you are connected
with so and so. have small pack
age here that ! would like to take
ashore. There is nothing dutiable in it,
but you understand how the govern
ment piles 1t on. / will meet you at
the head of the gangway when l get
my Luggage released. and l will take
the package from YOU"
Not only did this pass holder not take
the package, but the first thing he did
upon landing was to point out the pas
senger to n member of the surveyors
staff, who very promptly demanded
and received the package. 1t contained
jewelry of all descriptions. That an
unauthorized person may not get on
board an incoming craft in advance Of
the customs officials the following is
attached to every pass that is issued
for the revenue cutter:
"This permission is understood to be
subject to the assent of the master Of
the steamship and of the health officer
rs guardian of the public health, and
boarding is strictly forbidden until aft
er the customs officers are in charge,
according to the following extract from
the passenger act, 1882:
Section 0. That it shall not be law
full for the master of any (sucM steam
ship or other vessel not in distress aft
er the arrival of the vessel within any
collection district of the United States
to allow any person or persons except a
pilot, officer of the customs or health
officer, agents of the vessel and consuls
to come on board of the vessel or to
leave the vessel until the vessel has
been taken in charge by an officer O.
the customs nor after charge so taken
without leave of such officer until all
the passengers, with their baggage
have been duly landed from the ves-
sell"
When the revenue cutter pass system
was originally introduced, nobody in
the government employ seems to know.
In the old days it was the custom to
meet relatives and friends back from
an ocean trip on the pier heads. The
revenue cutter pass is a simple piece of
paper in itself, but is the study of
many years and countless number of
practical officials. The manner in which
1t is obtained, the demands made upon
Its holder, the restrictions as to it's use
and Its composition in every way are
the result of innumerable revisions Of
passes that have preceded it during the
last 20 years. and it now omits nothing
that will protect Uncle Sam, as it really
should do.
few years ago 1t was possible for
all sorts of idlers to gain admission to
q pier While the passengers of Il ship
from foreign parts We're landing This
had been the practice for some years,
and the steamship gateman had the
sole and exclusive right of deciding
who should enter. 1t was supposed
and frequently discovered in individual
cases that dutiable goods were secretly
passed to these friends who came down
to welcome the homecomer.
AS consequence the inability to get
revenue cutter pass did not make
much material difference, the dock af-
fording full scope for any desired work
In q dishonest way. To protect the
purposes of the cutter passes and to
place further barrier around illegal
practices the treasury department re-
Gently made a new rule that admission
to pier during the docking of an in
coming steamer could be obtained by
card only. This admission ticket, like
the revenue cutter passes, is not trans
ferable and must bear the name of the
holder, the signature of the steamship
company and the Endorsement of the
collector of the port. The perfection
of the cutter pass system as to transfer
may be appreciated when it is stated
that the beneficiary of the pass must
affix his name to the pass on receiving
1t at the custom house and again when
he boards the cutter at the Battery.
This eliminates all chance of the pass
being transferred. Transfers have
been Illegally made, but the holder, be-
Ing unable to furnish the same sigma
ture as that supplied at the custom
house. was compelled to leave the cut
ter. and the pass was taken up.-New
York Mail and Express.
Failure to the man who learns means
experience, and experience is equip
ment, and equipment is wealth.-Sat.
In