Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-06-16
PAYS TO BE HONEST
AT cUSToM-HoUSE


elers returning from Europe
lily and cheerfully II they will exercise
a little patience and be honest and
candid. If they are looking for trou-
Bile, they can find plenty of 1t, but 1t
is great deal better to accept the
situation. obey the law and avoid
quarrels with the inspectors The
latter are required to perform dis
agreeable duty. They are employed
bv the government to prevent snug
Cling. and their living, as well as their
reputation, depends mpon their vigil
ance. Most of them are experienced
and shrewd detectives. who are accus-
toned to deal with people who are
trying to evade the law and the pay.
ment of their just dues. They are
naturally suspicious, and a person could
not serve many months as custom
house inspector without having their
faith In humanity. and especially In
the feminine gender, entirely dispell-
ed. Women are naturally smugglers.
They cannot or will not understand
the law. and many regard 1t as an
evidence of superior moral as well as
mental attainments when they can
outwit custom-house inspector and
get a lot of new clothes through with
out the payment of duty.
Not long ago Secretary Shaw had
conference with committee of ladies'.
conspicuous for their social position
and higher character. They came
to him as the representatives of the
honest womanhood in, this country to
protest against the humiliation they
were compelled to suffer by having
their luggage searched on the docks
of New York, and spoke boldly and
earnestly in defense of the honor and
the conscience OF the American wo-
man Among other things they In
sisted that the customs inspectors
should accept their declarations with
out examining their trunks, because
they consider 1t an insult to ask an
American woman the amount OF for
eign merchandise she is bringing
home with her and then refuse to ac-
cept her word and insist upon exam
ining her baggage to see II she is tell
ing the truth.
The record Of at least two OF these
ladies was looked into; both OF them
women OF wealth and high social
position. The last time one OF them
returned from Europe she made n
declaration under oath that she had
foreign goods to the. value Of s17f
only, An examination OF hor bag.
gage disclosed merchnr dise valred at
over 81 800, clearly dutiable and when
she was cornerd she was very glad
to pay over 81 200 In duties to get out
of tho scrape. Another lady also OF
the committee. was detected In trying
to smuggle huse furnishings. curtains,
linens. upholstery and other fabrics
ter having made oath that she had
dutiable merchandise worth 1920 only.
This Is not the exception, but the
rule. Women passengers upon land
ing. seldom make honest and candid
statements of the contents of their
trunks, and when the inspectors In.
sist upon examinations they usually
become Indignant and make II very
uncomfortable both for the officials
and themselves. Men are generally
more frank and honest In their d-eclara
tions. This Is not because they are
more free from original sin. but they
understand the law better and realize
the advantages of submitting to It
It is an odious law from whatever
standpoint you may view It. There
is no other country In the world where
travellers are so closely inspected or
where the customs regulations are so
rigid as In the United States. In Eu-
rope, Asia and Africa. your luggage is
never searched. nor are you ever ask
ed to make declaration undor cath
except in the port OF New York
II is customary at every custom.
house In Europe to ask the traveller
whether he has any dutiable goods
in his luggage. and he is informed
that cigars, tobacco. liquor. arms and
ammunition are included In that cate
cory. If you tell him no. the inspec.
tor will accept your word for It Per
haps he will lift the lid and the trays
of your trunk and maybe he will poke
! his hands down into the corners, as
matter Of form, or to crafty his
curiosity, but travellers are seldom call
: ed upon to pay duty and are allowed
to carry across the frontier OF every