The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-16
EXAMINATION or BAGGAGE.
Secretary COrteiyOu to Eliminate Features
That Are Annoying TO Passengers.


WASHINGTON, July rs. 1t was announced
at the Treasury Department to-day that a
new system for the examination of steam
ship passengers baggage will be intro
duced at the port Of New York by the time
the fall rush Of travellers returning from
Europe begins. Secretary Cortelyou be-
lieves that the present method, OF examin-
ing baggage in orderto find dutiable articles
is unnecessarily annoying TO passengers,
and he wishes TO make the customs service
less unpopular if it can de lone in a legiti-
mate way.
Assistant Secretary Reynolds devised
a plan, and after conference with leading
steamship officers in New York, who are
to cooperate in carrying out the new regu-
l%ations, the plan was adopted. 1t will
probably become effective about August
Is. 4 statement issued from the Treasury
Department to-day says.
There are two features in connection
with the present examination OF passengers
baggage that are especially the subject
of complaint by the travelling public. One
IL the herding Of all the passengers in the
cabin Of the steamship during the last hour
Of the trip in order to have declarations
made out before a customs officer. Such
declarations, made in the rush and rom
fusion that mark the end OF tho voYage.
are unsatisfactory to the Government
officers and a certain source OF annoyance
To the passenger. The other feature is
the oath that has been required when the
declaration il made. which involves the
proposition Of compelling the passenger
to make oath es 10 what foreign articles
his baggage contains and Immediately
thereafter searching his baggage to zee
whether or not he has told the ruthunder
oath.
Secretary Cortelyou believes that these
two features can he eliminated with no
harm 10 the revenues and no Danger to
Government interests. The new system
will change this Declarations will he dis
tributed TO the passengers during the early
part Of the voyage to this country and
made out by them at their leisure. This
declaration will he simple and ~straightfor-
ward, containing nothing complicated or
mysterious, and its instructions will tell
the passenger 10 put down the different
articles acquired by him while abroad, to-
gether with their cost or value. Some
time before the last day of the voyage
these declarations will he collected by
some officer OF the ship. who will be held
responsible both by the steamship COM
pany and the Department for the work
OF seeing that such a written statement ia
received for each passenger. When the
customs officers board the ship in the hsr-
Dor a deputy collector will get from the
steamship officer all Of the declarations 30
lldhF '"' INV hNINCl lii'lh w bIc INV
representative Of the surveyor on the
When the declaration IL handed to the
steamship Off Ger a coupon will be handed
70 the passenger, which will be his receipt
and which will contain the same official
number az the declaration itself. After
the baggage Ia landed and properly placed
the dock ready for customs inspection
passenger will present this coupon to
The proper representative Of the surveyor.
secure the service Of an Inspector. who will
ton previously made by him on board ship.
No oath Of any kind or character will be
required"