The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-09
Not Needed by Tourists on Re,t.u
Lines of Travel, but In Some
Places Is indispensable.
NOT SURE AS AN IDENTIFIER
FOR THIS EAsON FRAUDS HAVE
OFTEN BEEN PRACTICED WITH TT.
Congress May Improve Document by
Adding and Portrait
How 40 Secure Passport.
rorrespoaaence of the Indianapolis Journal.

~ NdS WHCn
every citizen Of the United States contem-
plating a trip abroad secured a passport in
order to insure himself and his safety of
life. limb and property.
The passport gave him safe conduct
through the territory Of all nations with
whom this Republic was at peace and en-
titled him to the protection of the chiefs
Of legations and consuls of the United
States to whom he might apply.
One feature which led many persons to
secure passports In the past has been the
means Of Identification which it afforded
for the owner when he asked for the mail
which might be sent 70 him while in for
eign parts. This Identification which the
passport claims 10 give is very imperfect
and in 50 many cases have the postofice
officials in European and Asiatic cities been
Induced to give up money orders and regis
tered letters to parties who had a pass
port. to the description of which they an
swer. although they are impostors, and
secure the money belonging 10 other per-
CONS from whom they have obtained the
passport by fraudulent or criminal means,
that this document is no longer accepted as
a proof of identity at most points abroad.
The traveller leaves with a sufficient sup
ply Of money to carry him to a certain
point. not caring to carry a large amount Of
money with him, and at various designated
places orders additional sums of money to
BE- sent TO him through the mail. To his
surprise, he finds in many instances that the
postmaster. who has been rendered wary by
frequent payments 10 wrong parties, re-
fuses TO hand OF: the mail matter which
rightly belongs to him. The presentation of
@ passport, with it's description of the man
who secured it and whose name is on it,
does not help matters, as the postmaster
has been fooled by this game, and he asks
for more proof OF the travellers identity.
There have been numerous cases in which
tourists have been actually reduced to want
ct European towns in sequestered parts of
the continent, while large sums of money
which belonged co them remained at the
postoffice and which the. authorities refused
20 pay to- them, alleging lack of identifica-
ton. although they had Uncle Sans pass
ports. There will be introduced into the
next Congress a bill which will provide for
rauIcal changes in the passport. What the
proposed changes are will be dwelt upon
here.
NOT ALWAYS REQUIRED.
\ passport was originally. before it came
into use as a means of Identification. a re-
quest from one government for other pow
ers to permit the bearer to pass freely with
out let or hindrance through their terri
tory. 1t contained a description of the per-
son who secured the passport and also his
name. Throughout the British empire a
passport is not required on entering Or
leaving from foreign residents.
At the frontiers Of Russia and of Turkey
Il is absolutely necessary, and must be
produced on demand in all other countries
OF Europe. The holder is not exempted
from observing the national and municipal
regulations OF The countries and towns
which he may visit Immunity cannot be
secured TO our citizens while on soil where
laws made by the legislative assemblies or
issued as edicts by the rulers are in force.
A man may succeed In entering Paris with
out a passport and may even sojourn there
and acquire a residence, but if he enters
into business, or If he in any way becomes
a fixture in Paris ne will. in all probability.
be called upon for q passport. In all the
German cities the documents are required
OF all persons who stay any length of time.
In Italy it is necessary to have a passport,
and the officials at almost every city de-
mand il.
The issuance of passports was authorized
In 119S, but before then they had been given.
As early as LIS. AFTER the aillance Win
France, it was common for the two coun-
tries to provide passports for their respect
I've vessels. Congress recognized this pass
port in 1879 and provided a penalty Of fine
and Imprisonment for those violating 1T.
1T became customary To issue passports to
citizens shortly after this and there is a
record of one having been issued TO Samuel
Potts in 1925 b. William Allen Deas, charge
d'afraires of the United States to the court
of Great Britain. In 1928 Congress took
cosnizance of the passport and provided for
their issuance. From this time on they
were issued so freely and indiscriminately
by various federal, state, county and NUM-
cipal officers that in 1856 Congress passed a
law limiting the power to give a passport to
the secretary OF state, although, as a mat
ter OF fact, under international law and
under the powers vested in the general gov
eminent by the Constitution of the United
States the authority had never existed any
where else. The power vested in the Sec
rotary OF state has been delegated to the
ambassadors and legations. but not TO the
consuIs OF this country who represent the
government abroad, and from these off,
Gals passports may also be obtained.
The act OF Congress covering the case,
and which provides for passports. distinctly
AoToiuS the issuance OF them 10 any out
United States citizens. and not as COM
monty supposed to every United States citi-
zen who applies. There have been in
stances where the recretary OF state has
refused TO give a passport 10 American
/ Citizens when he knows that they have
been going abroad on an improper errand.
"A case in point is the case of the Mormon
missionaries who were going TO spread their
doctrines among the people Of Europe. and
sought to put themselves under the protec-
ton Of the United States while engaged
In a work which would bring them into a
violation OF the laws Of continental coun-
\ tries.
HOW TO SECURE A PASSPORT.
Before issuing q passport proof of citizen
ship is required II the applicant is a
native-born American his affirmation and
the certificate Of Identifying witnesses are
accepted an proof. II a naturalized citizen,