New-York tribune., 1901-03-17
COLLECTING THE CUSTOMS
HOW 1T IS DONE IN NEW YORK AND AT
OTHER AMERICAN sEAPoRTs.

The transfer at this port of the task of taking
the declarations of passengers on incoming trans
atlantic steamers from the Surveyors department
TO the Collectors department is the first time
in the history of this port that the Collector has
had direct charge of that branch Of the work The
DUTY OF meeting passengers originally devolved
upon the Collector himself, who had to board each
incoming steamer and accept the passengers dec
laration bill of merchandise. That was in the
Gays when the business of the port only a
tithe OF what it is to-day. In the OF time.
as trade increased, the Collector went to the piers
then the passengers landed at the Barge Office
and finally the Collector had TO zppoint deputies
to for him
In Chester A. Arthurs time the duty of meeting
passengers placed in the hands of the Sur
Neyor OF the Port. and he had charge of il until
the present transfer was made. The recent change
is transfer of the work of taking declarations
from the Surveyors Department back to the Col
lector's Department. The who go down the
bay tc meet steamers known a entry
clerks, and are considered acting deputy collec-
tors This in a measure is putting the duty of
boarding ships again upon the Collector. He
sends men TO act his deputies The system
which supervises and collects the customs this
port consists Of four departments. which act as
counter-checks upon another. They are the
Collectors. the Surveyors. the Appraisers and the
Naval departments All under the supervision
OF the Collector of the Port. and each is represent
ed in the work of collecting duties from incoming
passengers. Members Of the Collectors Depart
ment meet the steamers and take the declarations.
AS soon the steamer docks, the declarations
having been all taken they handed over to the
Surveyors department. which, by means of its in
spectors, examines the baggage TO learn whether
the declarations correct and contain anything
dutable which the passenger has brought with
him. Representatives of the Appraisers Depart
ment decide what the values of the dutable goods
and the duty be paid. These duties
Immediately PAID to a representative OF the Col
lectoT'S Department The duty of the Naval De
partment is that of watching the work of the other
departments. that there irregularities.
The representative of the Naval Department usual
the duties. Besides these customs officials there
male and female detectives. who unter about
nonchalantly and watch for attempts at SNUG
Cling.
The transfer of the taking of declarations from
the Surveyors department the Collectors de
partment destroyed one possible means of defraud-
ing the United States. by preventing colusion be-
tween the men who took the declarations and those
who examined the baggage who formerly
from the department.. One effect OF the change
has been that passengers have been obliged by the
have purchased abroad, whether 1t is dutiable or
The duties collected have certainly shown
a marked increase since the new regulation went
into effect. This thorough work on the part OF
work of the inspectors. who have to find everything
declared and the appraisers. who have to Eive
everything valuation and decide whether II Is
dutiabe not. Ali this has caused the delays on
the piers complained Of
The exclusion of visitors from the parts of the
piers where baggage Is being examined Is not a
tried for a time. At that time when the eXamina-
tiOn of baggage began, all except the owners OF the
ba ggage ordered out Steamship agents. while
agreeing that this regulation is good one so lar
as examining baggage is concerned do not think
Ii can be maintained. Public sentiment will be
too strong, they say.