The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-16
new CUSTOMS RULES
Passengers Escape Indigni'
ties Through Application.
NO DECLARATION UNDER OATH
Secretary COrteIyOu to Introduce
New Method Drawn Up by Assist
ant Secretary ReynOIds-Travelers
VIII he Given Blanks Upon Which
TO List DutiabIe Articles.

Keeping pace with the times, and with
view TO eliminating the Objectionable
and embarrassing features OF the exami-
M ZION Of the baggage Of the home-com-
ing European travellers, q new method
is TO be introduced into the custom
house circles Of this country. The new
system was made known yesterday by
Secretary Cortelyou.
Several months ago Cortelyou came
TO the conclusion that more attention
should be paid TO the comfort and con-
venience Of the passengers. The new
rules, planned by Assistant Secretary
Reynolds will go into effect August Is.
Abolish Two Nuisances.
There are two features in connection
with the present examination OF passen-
gers baggage that are especially the
subject of complaint by the travelling
public. one IS the herding OF all the pas
seagers in the cabin Of the steamship
during the last hour Of the trip, in order
10 have declarations made out before a
Gu 5toms officer. Such declarations, made
in the rush and confusion that mark the
end of the voyage. are unsatisfactory 10
the government officials and a certain
source of annoyance to the passengers.
The other feature is the oath that has
been required when the declaration is
made, which involves the proposition Of
compelling the passenger TO make oath
as 10 what foreign articles his baggage
contains and Immediately thereafter
.--..-.1,t,.rr bic g,.o0aoo 70 600 rtrbafhar or
not he has told the truth under oath.
Secretary Cortelyou believes that these
two features can be eliminated with no
danger TO government interests.
To Write Declarations.
The new system VIII change this. Dec
llarauons will be distributed TO the pas
sengers soon after a vessel starts for this
country. and be made out by them at their
leisure. This declaration viii be simple
and straightforward. containing nothing
complicated or mysterious, and it's in
structions will tell the passengers to pu:
down the different articles acquired by
them while abroad, together with their cost
or value. Some time before the last day
Of the voyage these declarations Will be
| collected by some officer Of the ship. who
will be held responsible. both by the
steamship company and the department,
for seeing that such a written statement
| is received from each passenger. When
the customs officers boa d the ship In the
harbor a deputy collector VIII get from
/ the steamship officer all the declarations
so made out and deliver them to the chief
| representative Of the surveyor on the
dock.
Oath to he Eliminated.
when the declaration Is handed to the
Fsteamship officer a coupon viii be handed
to the passenger. which will be his receipt
and will contain the same official number
as the declaration itself. After the bag
( gage is landed and properly placed on the
dock, ready for customs inspection, the
/ passenger will present this coupon to the
/ proper representative OF the surveyor, and
/ secure the services Of an inspector who
] viii examine his baggage and verify the
/ declaration previously made by him on
/ board ship. No oath viii be required.
The steamship companies viii cooper
ate heartily with the department in car.
/ rying out the new system.