The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-05
Comments on Complaints
Against Customs
Inspectors.
A CIRCULAR LETTER ISSUED
Lack Of Definite Charges. He Says,
Makes Specific Investigation Well
Nigh ImPOssible-DePaTtment to Make
Every Effort to Stop Alleged Abuses

Secretary OF the Treasury Shaw this
morning made public his letter Of reply
20 the numerous wcmen cOmplainants who
some time ago made charges OF oficious-
ness and incivility against the New York
customs inspectors
Dear Madam" the letter begins, "on
receipt o. a petition signed by you and
a large number uf other ladies. setting
forth alleged personal III treatment and
indiginities on th- part OF inspectors Of
personal baggage at the port OF New
York, a circular letter was sent TO each
signeT asking a more specific state
n.ent, and the facts upon which the con
clusions recited in the petition were
based. This circular was sent 20 1920
ladies, whose addresses were given in the
petition. q Htle over 500 were returned
through the mails for want OF sufficient
address. or the zoo remaining. the de-
partment has received lS5 answers.
OF the replies. the Secretary continues,
none reported any Illegal demand on the
part Of the customs 0ficers- Gity-six re-
ported courteous treatment. lorty-six OBJ
jected 10 the method OF inspection. seven
claimed that their trunks were emptied
on the wharf, six claimed to have been
Inundated by impertiuent questions. three
complained of insolenCe on the part Of the
officers five alleged discrimination. forty
six signed the complaint al the request
Of others, sixteen signed on general
principles forty-oHe objected 20 making
any declaration. utnety-three objected to
the 800 limit. two reported having bribed
the officers, and three replied that they
knew or cases Of bribery.
The want Of definite charges" con-
tinues the letter. renders it welI-nigh
impossible 70 conduct a specific inves-
tigatiCu.' Several letters refer 90 the
nervous strain incident to having ones
baggage opened and garments handled.
however slightly. in public One lady de-
cIares tAat the injury 10 gowns is slight
compared tC the injury TO nerves The
department viii do all in its power 20 re-
duce this legitimate cause OF complaint
TO the minimum. The travelling public.
as well as those who stay at home, must
be protected as far as possible. The best
that can De done is none toe good.
Several complain OF having observed
the baggage OF others unduIy scrutinized-
Unless one knows all the facts. il is hard
to correctly judge. The parties may have
been weu-knOwn smuggIers- There are
such. Advice may have been received
through agents in Europe that these par
ticular persons were bringing certain ar
tlcles. Rcticence in making Their decla-
ration may have led 10 suspicion In the
enforcement OF any law, the innocent
sometimes. and the guilty quite frequent
Iy ere subject 10 great annoyance. am
surprised that the ladies' who signed the
petition report so little personal incon-
veuien-e.
If the piers were the property Of the
/ United States very important changes
might te made I have requested THAI the
several steamship companies provide a
/ separate room or that they allow the
/ Government 90 construct presentable or. II
need be. portable counters. with screens
/ about them, so as to permit seclusion.