The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-15
REFUSED MORGAN'S CHECK.
How Barney BiEIin Came to the Aid
of the FiDancier.
Fro,,, the phiIadelnhia NORTH Anoar


New York. Aug. 6.-J. Pierpont Nor
gan, it is announced will sail from
England, Aug 13, bound for New
York, United States customs officials
are wondering whether his arrival will
be accompanied by such combination
of circumstances as those which oc-
CURED upon his last return to this
country year ago. The story in detail
of Mr.. Morgan's experience at that
tine was to-day told by a high GUS
toms official.
Up to April a year ago. the customs
provision Of the Dingley law that
American travellers returning from
abroad may bring into the country
free of duty wearing apparel to the
value of $500 only had never been
strictly enforced. The usual form of
declaration which is signed upon ar .
rival of the steamer at quarantine was
regarded both by the passengers and
the customs officials as a mere formal
ity. No strict appraisement of wearing
apparel was made. Mr.. Morgan has a
residence in London, and has always
had his clothes made by a London
tailor. IT has been his habit to bring
back several thousand dollars worth
of wearing apparel, and according to
the customs official who tells the story
the financier had never been required
to pay duty.
Enforcing the Law.
In April of last year Collector Bid
well, under pressure from the
Zig importers and dry goods
men of the city, determined to
enforce the very letter of the law. Ma
tional bank notes, certified checks and
subsidiary coinage are not accepted by
the collector under the law. All this
occurred during Mr.. Morgan's absence
in Europe, and when he arrived at
Quarantine last June he signed the
formal declaration under the impress
sion that it was still a mere formality.
He failed to declare several trunks of
fine clothing from his London tailor.
Having signed the formal declaration,
Mr.. Morgan was preparing to leave the
ship to board his yacht, Corsair, when
he was politely informed by Col. Sto-
reg, the boarding officer in charge of
the revenue cutter, that under the new
rules it would be impossible for him
to leave the ship until it had reached
the dock and the examination of his
baggage had been thoroughly con-
Quoted
Mr.. Morgan flushed up.
why, I have obeyed the law, sir"
he said, stiffiy. Il have signed the de-
claration."
Have you declared all of your wear
ing apparel? Is your wearing apparel
purchased in Europe worth more than
$lO0?"
Mr.. Morgan replied very frankly:
why, yes; 1t is worth several thou
sand dollars, but 1 have worn every
article, as required by law
oh, much more than that is re-
CURED said Col Storey.
Mr.. Morgan was indignant.
Well, sir" he said, IF any
duty is required to be paid
my clerk will attend to
that. l desire to leave the pier i'm
mediately upon my arrival"
You cannot do that, SIR" said the
customs official. THE regulations are
very strict on that point, and l regret
that you must wait your turn"
The examination of baggage is con-
Quoted according to the alphabetical
order of owners names. There was a
large passenger list, and Mr.. Morgan
was required to wait a considerable
time before HIS trunks We're reached
The examination of his baggage alst
| proved tedious. Every article was
taken out While the financier ragged
Finally the appraisal was completed
NAA' AASA 6oAA was trdSSGSSSu bl,ZUU II
duty. Mr.. Morgan produced his check
book and said:
How shall I make my check pay.
able?"
Refused Morsan's Check.
1--WE cannot accept checks" said Dep.
uty Collector Cooley, who has charge
of the collection bureau on the dock
Perhaps you do not know who
am" said Mr.. Morgan.
"Oh, yes" said Mr.. Cooley. II I'M
derstand that you are Mr.. Morgan. -
At that moment Mr.. George w. Per-
kins, partner of the firm, who had been
detained outside the baggage line, rush
ed in and said:
What? You will not take the check
of ]. P. Morgan & CO."
No, sir; l cannot under the law"
said Mr.. Cooley.
In this emergency Barney Biglin. the
politician. stepped up. Mr.. Bilgin US
ually kept several thousands dollars on
the pier to pay duty on immigrants
articles. Turning to the customs in
spector, he said
Why I'll cash Mr.. Morgan's cheek"
Mr.. Morgan handed him the check. and
Mr.. Bilgin Endorsed it in his presence.
Then the financier and Mr.. Perkins,
his partner hurried away.
Mr. Morgan left the pier under the
impression that the government Of
fciats had refused his check, but ac-
cepted 1t after Barney Biglin had in
dorsed 1t. The facts are that Inspector
Cooley had not accepted Mr. Morgan's
check, neither had he accepted Barney
Riglin'se Endorsement. He had merely
agreed to hold the check for few sec
opds while Barney Biglin went about
twenty steps TO his strong box to get
81 $50 in United States currency.
Ignorant of this fact, Mr. Morgan 3
anger increased as he hurried to his
Wall street Office The next day his
anger was still higher. He fretted over
what he thought was an insult to his
high credit on the part of the United
States government There was a meet.
ing of the United States Steel Corpor-
alton the next day and at that meet
irg Mr.. Morgan met Frank Plat, the
son of the senator He expressed him
self very thoroughly to Mr.. P'att. 1t is
said that Mr.. Morgan has never been
completely Modified.