New-York tribune., 1901-03-11
EWCUSTOMSR RULES DELAY
TAKE NEARLY FOUR HOURS
To EXAMINE BAGGAGE OF 212
PASSENGERS.

The way the customs rules will work
could not have been shown better than they
were yesterday when they had their first real
test. The greatest care had been taken to ar
range for their trial. Five big steamers came in;
the ST. Louis. the Germanc. the Umbria. the
Hanover and the Seneca. What is more. they
came in close together. The result was that the
customs inspectors found themselves up to their
ears in business. They were principally green
men, who obeyed their orders with an exactness
quite unusual. They did merely rummage
around the trunks and boxes, but the bot
tom of each one.
Thirty-one insp, ctors were sent to the St
Louis of the American Line. which arrived from
southampton. The ship reached her pier at
a m At 1870 a. m. things were dragging so
that ten more inspectors were sent for. Still
things Went slowly The line at the desk moved
two hundred feet in one hour Not until 1890
D. m. after almost four hours work. had forty
one inspectors examined the baggage of the 2I2
saloon and cabin passengers.
H. D. Cooper. former captain of Company D.
1th Regiment, q. s. n. Y, denounced the
delay. He said
Such delay is scandalous. especially as all
the baggage off the ship within fifteen min
utes after her arrival | have made many trips
between Egypt and France. where the French
customs officials keep ? very sharp lookout for
cigarette and cigar smuggling. but have never
met with such delay have encountered here
to-day ! am quite sure that the people of Eng
land would not stand this sort of thing"
G. P. Messeroy. another of the ST. Louis's pas
sengers. remarked: Only good natured Amer
leans would submit to these ridiculous restric-
t1ons. In the country of the Car NihiIists
would throw bombs if restricted / wanted
to telephone from the pier to my club. to have
pT0
lot of trouble about it, Finally on giving my
parole and word of honor to return to the pier
after telephoning, I was permitted to go across
"est-st. As matter of fact. we We're held as
hostages for our baggage"
Colonel j. II. Storey who superintends the
work Of the inspectors said that the delay was
greater than usual account of the great
amount OF dutiable goods the ST. Louis.
Ihere were many dressmakers and milliners on
board, and Colonel Storey said that there had
been so much trouble heretofore over passing
the goods Of these women that particular pains
were now being taken He thought that with
experience things would run more smoothly
Colonel Storey heard many complaints as
might have heen expected. These came chiefly
from persons who We're unable to get by the
lines 10 greet and assist their friends Court
estes were requested but refused.
Among the passengers on the St. Louis was
Joseph Choate, third secretary of the American
EMBASSY in London. He is on indefinite
leave OF absence.
The inspectors also met the Germanic of the
White Star Line. which arrived from Liverpool
after rough run. The work slower, If pos
Sthe. than II had been on the American Line
pier.
Eighteen inspectors met the Umbria, of the
Cunard Line. when she arrived from Liverpool
Thia number was afterward increased TO twenty
eight. The passengers fretted and their friends
Turned but that made no difference. Repre-
sentatives OF express companies and railroads
excluded from the pier.