The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-17
NO ROOM FOR CRITICISM
GOVERNMENT JUSTIFIED IN FOR
EIGN BAGGAGE EXAMINATIONS.
gill Annoy Passengers ms Little as
Possible. but Must Have Its Dues
Much Smuggling by Travellers.

WASHINGTON, March 16-In view of
criticisms of the methods employed i'm the
examination of baggage at the port of
NV york. Assistant Secretary SpauIding
to-day said: up 10 this time 1 have re-
ceived no official information that the gem
eral public is dissatisfied with the execu-
ton Of the regulations of the department
relating to the examination of the baggage
of passengers arriving at New York. Some
Of the New York newspapers. however.
AMI some personal correspondents complain
that friends Of arriving passengers are not
permitted TO go upon the docks. as former
Il. until after the baggage has been ex-
amined. Others complain that the exam
nation Of baggage is unnecessarily severe,
and that. altogether. the system is some
what out of joint
"The matter Of excluding friends of pas
sengers from the docks pending examina-
ton Of baggage is a matter of administra-
ton In the Offices of the collector of Gus
toms and the surveyor of the port. The
department knows nothing of it. but on
general principles its confidence i'm these
gentlemen is such that it is perfectly will
ing 10 trust to their judgment until that
judgment has been proven faulty.
I'VE have no objection to legitimate crit
Icism. but the general public should under
stand that the government is doing its best
10 protect it's own interests in the matter
Of collection of revenues that legitimately
belong TO II, and, at the same time, is
making every effort possible To relieve
the travelling public from discomforts and
RnnOydnCcS or every character. Evidence
has reached the department tending TO
show that for a considerable period of time
the government revenues nave been de-
frauded by the failure on the part of some
Inspectors at New York 10 perform their
plain duty. UrquestiOnably considerable
quantities of millinery. dress goods and other
merchandise have been brought into this
country without payment of the duty, and
have been put into competition with goods
which have been imported by honest mer-
chants who nave paid the duties required
BY law. The government IS doing its best
10 put a stop TO this practice, and it has no
doubt that IL will succeed in a very great
measure, at least. and in this matter. as
IN the examination of baggage, if there is
any serious fault in the administration of
the law or the regulations of the depart
ment governing them, they will be RENE
died at the earliest moment. No one can
possibly be more interested in removing
all annoyanCes to the travelling public than
Is the government. And it is to be hoped
that the friends Of good administration Of
the laws will bear with patience any SEEM
ing faults until at least they have been
proven faults and opportunity had for cor
Tecting them.
IAN idea of what has been done already
IN correcting the former abuses in the
way of the collection of duties on goods
brought in by arriving passengers may be
gathered from the TACT that during the first
eleven days in this month the amount of
duties so collected was S19.413. During the
same period last year, with practically the
same number of steamship arrivals. the
collections aggregated S1,39S. These duties
have been collected, not on the personal
effects Of travellers, but on merchandise
which the owners were seeking to smuggie
TITO the country"