The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-07-09
UNCLE SANS CIGARS.
Plight Of Man Who Tried to Get che
Beat OF the Customs.


Among the men, cigars and cigar
cites cause much trouble. The regu-
lations permit a person to bring in
for his own consumption f1fty cigars
OF three hundred cigarettes, the ruling
Of the department Deing that for Gus
toms purposes flfty cigars equal that
many cigarettes. Travellers are al
ways arriving who do not know the
regulations or who try to evade them.
Nine times out Of ten the traveller at
once wants to make it personal mat
ter with the inspector, and acts as If
he thought thrashing the official would
get his cigars in free. Then he cools
down a little and offers to pay the
duty on all over fifty and take them
all. There he strikes O. new cause OF
rage The smallest number Of cigars
that can be imported is three thousand.
All under that and over fifty are seiz-
ed. The inspector endeavors to ex-
plain that he did not make the law,
and Is responsible only for its execu-
ton as he finds it; but that seldom
works, and the traveller goes away
breathing fire, and mad with desire
for vengeance.
A man came In from Havana re-
Gently with box of cigars out of
which he had smoked fifteen. There
were eighty-fve left. The inspector
who examined his baggage told him
he could have only fifty. The man de-
clared that it was an outrage, and in
timated that he believed 1t to be per-
| petrated for the inspectors personal
amusement.
"Who gets the restT' he demanded
'They are seized for the govern
ment," was the reply.
Thereupon it was evident to the
man that the outrage was for the ben
eft as well as the amusement of the
inspector.
II don't suppose you smoker he
sneered.
"Not ON duty" suavely replied the
inspector.
"Well, you won't smoke these Off
duty" cried the man, and began to
break them up.
Hold on" said the inspector, "you
mustn't do that"
"Why notT demanded the man.
"They are my cigars"
mo, they are not" replied the in
spector; they belong to the govern
ment."
No words would At that situation,
and the man went away. A little later
he charged into the Office Of the law
division. prepared to tear down the
Custom House. He wanted to know,
and he wanted his information quickly.
mot my cigars, heh2 Well, they
hadn't been brought in yet"
ooh, yes, they had. They were con-
siderably inside the three-mile limit
when you had them on the pier"
A little argument cooled him off,
and he finally said:
"Well, I'll take my fifty, and you
can have the rest"
'You haven't got fifty now" said
the official.
"Haven't got f1ftyT" he screamed
"I'd like to know why haven't. You
have said all along could have fifty"
Eyes, but you broke them up"
II didn't do any such thing. ]
broke up the extra thirty-fvey"
ooh, no; those are Uncle Sans. You
were breaking up your own But ]
don't think you destroyed them all
There are about fifteen still left fol
you"
And he had to do the best he could
to seem content with fifteen. All OF
which shows again how foolish it Is tC
kick against the prlcks. Most men dc
1t, however, and sometimes they beat
Uncle Sam out Of his cigars. There
have been instances where men sc
situated pitched the whole supply over
board in their rage.-Century.