Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21
TO STOP SMUGGLING
Precautions Taken at Manila
Custom House.
BAGGAGE EXAMINED
TRAVELLERS STRONGLY OBJECT TO
THE INSPECTION.
Collector Morgan Shuster Strict Con-
structionist Of the Law-Former
Washington Boy.
EXAMINED
BY WILLIAM E, CURTIS.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
MANILA, April 10, 1904.
The Manila custom house has bad repu-
tatioD, even worse than that at San Fran
cisco, and about the worst in the world.
Many people travelling for pleasure in the
east nave passed by the Philippines simply
because they were not willing to subject
themselves to the insults and ill-treatment
which they believed were awaiting them
there 1t has kept away capital as well as
curiosity, and in the slang of the times, has
given the town a "black eye" to investors
as well to visitors. Ship masters COM
plain that they have more trouble at Manila
than DIT any other port they have ever Wis
tied, and, as you know, it is very easy for
dog or town 20 get bad name.
Stories That Are Told.
We heard Of the terrors Of the Manila
custom house in Egypt, in India, in Burma,
in Singapore and Hongkong. AT every place
we stopped we were told thrilling tales OF
the atrocious manner in which people had
been treated and of the outrages committed
by the inspectors who examine baggage.
Mrs So-an6-So Lad her wardrobe ruined by
being dragged over a dirty floor; Mrs.
What is-fe-name was Leld up for five hours
ON suspicion of being smuggler; Mrs
Jones mad been taken to a private room and
searched; Mrs. Browns luggage had been
detained for three days until Gov. Taft IN
terfere1 and had it released, and Mrs.
Robinson had been asked all manner OF IN
sulting questions. Tourists and visitors
were treated il they were common SNUG
glers, and no matter how small the pack
ages they might have in their bags and
trunks they were required to open them for
inspection. Women were not allowed TO
take their handbags when they went ashore,
but must surrender their keys and leave all
their vaiuableS in the hands of native boat
men when they left ship, and could not
recover them until some hours later after
they hal been examined. We were told that
when ship arrived in Manila In the after
noon the luggage would not be examined
until the next morning. In the meantime
the passengers were permitted to go ashore,
but they were not allowed to take anything
with them, not even nightdress or TOOTH
brush but were required to leave all their
belongings in The hands of native guards
and recover them by calling at the custom
house the next morning.
These are few of many of the stories
that have been circulated around the world.
Comment in the Orient.
Then, again, the absurd and arbitrary de-
cisions of the collector have been published
and ridiculed In every newspaper In the
east as an illustration of American ad-
ministration. His refusal to allow certain
Englshman to land at Manila because his
acceptance of a position cashier of
bank was in violation of the contract labor
law has probably furnished more fun and
provoked more satire than anything that
has occurred in these parts since Deweys
fleet appeared in Manila bay that lovely
May morning. That and forty other Incl
dents have been discussed in every drawing
room and counting house in Asia. They are,
stock topic of conversation in every club
and hotel and at dinner parties, and always.
with much exaggeration, and have inspired
the invention of many falsehoods.
When we told people we were on our way
to the Philippines we became accustomed
to have them answer:
Aren't you afraid they will ruin your
gowns and steal your valuables in the Gus
tom house? l have heard awful stories
about it,
No one can accura tely estimate the in
jury these stories have done to the city Of
MaEila. Similar falsehoods about the eli
mate and the hotels have done even more
harm, and 1t will be long time before they
can be corrected.
A Decided Improvement.
Unfortunately there is altogether too
much foundation for the custom house
scandals But everybody agrees that there
has been decided improvement at the Gus
tom house within the last six months, and
judging from our own experience It is no
different from any other American custom
house. We were neither searched nor in
suited, and our gowns were not ruined by
being dragged across the floor. We were
asked what he had in our trunks, and then
the inspector lifted the trays and poked
his hands around in the corners to see If
we had spoken the truth.
Since we started from New York last
summer we have visited a dozen different
countries, and our baggage has been exam
1ned twice-at Irun, on the frontier of
Spain, and at the port Of Manila. At Bonn
ho faI
charged $50 duty on my Typewriter which
was refunded by the collector at Calcutta
when we left India. At every other place
the inspectors accepted our statement that
we had nothing in our trunks but personal
enects for our own use.
Strict Construction of the Law.
Primarily the trouble in the Manila Gus
tom house Is due to Congress, and the COL
lector is strict Observation-Disclosures str, I
He assumes that 1t is his duty to enforce
the law to the very letter, and not lot or
a title. whatever they may be. has ever es-
capped him. He assumes, toossthat every
man and woman Is guilty until he ascer-
tains the contrary by investigations; that
every traveller Is smuggler. and has dutia-
Die goods In his trunks which his inspectors
are instructed to discover and appraise and
collect the lawful duties thereon Nor will
he permit piece Of baggage, not even a
dressing case to go through without ex-
vember passengers arriving late in the af-
ternoon were not allowed to take their
handbags or toilet articles ashore but were
compelled to leave them on board the ship
| in the custody of the customs officials That
| rule. which was as unnecessary as it was
annoying, has been revoked by Colonel Nc
| Coy, the deputy collector, during the alb
sence of HIS chief who is now enjoying his
vacation In Washington, and arriving tray-
| elers are now treated with much greater
consideration Inspectors are sent to every
| ship to examine hand baggage and small
| packages, which may be taken ashore at
| once, but large packages have TO GO
| through the custom house, and, If the ship
| happens to arrive after Office hours are not
examined until the following morning.
| Collector Shuster's Career.
| The collector of customs, Morgan T..
| Shuster, is the son of former dry goods
merchant at Washington. D. C. He is a
| young man to hold so responsible a posi-
| ton, having just passed his thirtieth year
| He was educated In the public schools Of
| Washington. and obtained a clerkship in
] the War Department by competitive exam
| ination. Wh.in the United States assumed
4 the government of Cuba he was drawing
Ixsxx -.