Evening star., 1902-05-08
CUSTOM REGULATIONS
SECRETARY SHAW TAKES ACTION
ON THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS.
Several Amendments Intended to Re-
heve the Friction Issued Today
Exemptions Made Broader.

Secretary Shaw today issued from the
Treasury Department to collectors and
other customs officers throughout the coun-
try amended regulations for thesinspection
Of baggage at the various ports OF the coun-
try. These amended regulations are the
outgrowth Of the complaints from persons
returning from abroad of alleged discour-
teous treatment by officers engaged in the
inspection of baggage and of needless and
un5ustifable injury to the contents of the
baggage by rough and careless handling.
In sending out the amended regulations
Secretary Shaw instructs customs officers
engaged In the business of handling bag
gage to exercise great patience and cour-
tesy while engaged in the work. He sug-
gests that clean, white gloves be worn so
as to avoid soiling articles. With the
amended regulations are two circulars con-
tanning notices to passengers. One Of these
circulars Is to be presented to outgoing pas
SengerS informing them IN detail as to GUS
toms regulations as to baggage and the
other is to be given to returning passengers
that they may know just what to do and
what to expect nc
Secretary Shaw has given the matter Of
the examination of personal baggage quite
exhaustive consideration. He has had in
terviewS with collectors at several ports,
a number of special agents, representatives
of different steamship Companies has re-
ceived over thousand letters on the sub
ject, and has corresponded to some extent
with representatives Of the government in
foreign countries.
Among the more important notifications
are the following.
Under the decision Of the Supreme Court
foreigners are permitted to bring as house
hold effects horses and carriges and prac-
tically everything else while under the de-
residents have not been permitted to bring
back a foreign-made VIOLIN even though
the passenger had taken 1t abroad with
him. The new instructions direct the free
admission Of any article that was taken
abroad as baggage, provided it is brought
back as baggage and accompanies the
owner
Under previous decisions and instructions
persons were granted a hundred-dollar ex-
emption on wearing apparel, articles of
personal adornment and toilet articles, but
We're denied an exemption on photographs,
bric-a -brac and other souvenirs The re-
suit has been that those who desired to
purchase fore!gn-made wearing apparel Sc
cured the exemption, but those of limited
means, who only bought souvenirs, were
required to pay duty on everything. A
more liberal construction Is now placed
upon the statute, and the hundred dollars
exemption may now be claimed on wearing
apparel. articles Of personal adornment,
toilet articles and such other things as
are commonly purchased by American tour
lists and are for the use of the person bring
ing them, and not for others. or for sale.
The statute allows non-reSidentS to bring
all wearing apparel and other personal ef-
fects IN actual use and appropriate to the
purposes Of the Journey without regard to
value. Heretofore the ruling has been that
persons who had spent two years or longer
abroad and had had fixed place Of abode
for one year or more, were considered non
residents within the meaning of the customs
law. The recent instructions includes under
the nonresident classification those who
have been abroad for purposes of study, the
restoration Of health, or other specific OBJ
jects. and. who have had a fixed foreign
abode for one year or more.
Perhaps the most important Of all is the
prohibition Of tips. Hereafter officials or
employees will be discharged should they ac-
cept gratufty or tip under any circum-
stances while in the discharge of their du-
ties.
Ladies desiring to have their baggage ex-
amlned privately will be granted the pr.vi-
lese whenever the steamship company has
provided suitable place. Several of them
have promised to make this provision.