Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-02
ARRIVAL OF PRESENTS
THOSE FOR MISS ROOSEVELT IN
GEORGETOWN.

The presents received by Miss Alice
Roosevelt during her trip through the orient
have arrived at the Georgetown custom
house and are awaiting her disposition She
is classified as the importer" The goods
arrived yesterday in twenty-four packages
consigned in bond from San Francisco. The
seals have not been broken and will not be-
until the examination that will decide what
duty is to be paid on them. The examina-
ton, according to law, may be made either
at the custom house or at the Executive
Mansion 1t is probable that the latter
course will be followed, as it will save one
handling of the goods and will enable Miss
Roosevelt to be present without taking the
trip to the cold and musty vaults in George
town.
What the duties will amount to no enc
knows. Had there not Eecn so much talk
over the presents in advance they probably
would not have had to pay any duty at all,
but would have come in under the head of
personal property and wearing apparel of
the nominal value of $f00, which any citizen
Is allowed to bring III from abroad. But
the question of renting the duties with
flourish of trumpets as a COURTESY to the
daughter Of the President was preached
and President Roosevelt declined to have
this done, announcing that IL there is any
thlnS dutiable i'll the packages his daughter
VIII have TO pay duties, the same as any
other citizen.
Question of Duty.
1t is not likely however that the Gus
toms inspectors will haggle over exacting
the uttermost farthing the goods might call
for. 1t is explained that duties should be
assessed on the selling value of an article
in the country of origin, so that there may
be I8Ces, fans ard lacquer work that would
be quite priceless in this country. aside
from the fact that they are gifts from dis
tnguished rulers. but which under this in
! depreciation of the law may be held to be
of small intrinsic value Tor purposes of as
sessnent.
The case is cited in this connection of
numerous pieces OF Mexican drawn work
recently imported through Georgetown
Some of the pieces would have brought
large amounts il placed on sale in Wash
inSton. but being made by very cheap hand
labor they could he rated only at what they
actually cost. There have been SO many
stories printed about the fabulous value of
the gifts to Miss Roosevelt that the assessed
value if it ever is made public probably
Will lie a great Disappointment TO the punllc.
Many of the gifts it probably will be diff
cult to place value on at all unless the
Treasury Department calls in the services
of the National Museum for expert testl-
mony Figures have been given for the
| value of the presents and purchases as high
as s101, 900. 1t is very doubtful, however,
that they would bring $4,000 if put up and
sold regardless of their association, and. IN
all probability the collector of the port Will
not be able to find any reason for assassin
duty on more than $1,000 worth, If that
Notice Sent Miss Roosevelt.
Notice has been sent to Miss Roosevelt as
the owner of the goods that they have ar
rived but there has so far been no move
from the White House to claim the prop
crty or to indicate what disposition is to be
made of it. If they are sent to the White
House the collector of the port of George
town will probably go down to do the APP
praising himself. Miss Roosevelt may also
be present at the unpacking. In strict ac-
cordance with the law even the Importer
may not be present at the valuing of the
goods. But as the present consignment has
not been imported for sale this formasity
maybe waived. Very naturally any normal
woman would want to have a hand i'll UNI
packing such lot of personal effects, and
in all probability Miss Roosevelt viii be no
exception to the rule.
When the duties are assessed and paid
hey will be included in the regular month
ly returns of the custom house to the Treas
ury Department, and thus following the
regular routine of any other importation it
is quite possible that the exact amount may
never be made public.