Evening journal., 1907-07-17
NEW RULES FOR
OCEAN TOURISTS
New Custom HOu,e Re ula-
tons Will Remove Many
lauses of COmpI .intS
TO TAKE EFFECT AUGUST IS

Good news for Americans traeenlne
abroad is contained in she Treasury re.
partments announcement that new bag
gage regulations viii be put in efect at
United States Custom Houses about Au-
gust Is which win relieve the travelling
public Of cmbarrassments heretofore at
tending the landing. No change is made
in the limit OF siOO placed on personal
property which may be brought in duty
free. but the new rules will make a
radical change from the present system.
"soon after assuming office" says The
official statement. Secretary CorieItcu
decided that the Objectionable and en-
barrassing features Of the examination
should be done away with, so far as pos
sible within existing law. and that the
coinfort and convenience Of the passenger
should have more attention. Acting under
his instructions. Assistant Secretary Rey-
nolds has worked out the details OF the
new system.
There are two features in connection
with the present examination OF passen-
gers baggage that are especially the sub
ject of comp ant by the travelling public.
one IS 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 customs
officer. Such declarations. made IN the
rush and confusion that mark the end OF
dc a..
government ofhc ais and certain source
Of annoyance 70 the passengers.
1.-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 az
TO what foreign ARTICLES his baggage con.
tains and Immediately thereafter search
ing his baggage to see whether or not he
has told the truth under oath. Secretary
Cortelyou believes these two features car
be eliminated with no harm TO the revc
nues and no danger to government int r.
ests.
"rhe now system will change this Dec
larations will be distributed TO the pas EN-
gers during the early part Of the voyag
to this country and made out by them a
their leisure. This declaration VIII be SIN
Pile and straightforward. containing moth
ing complicated or mysterious and fits in
structlons will toll the passengers TO pa
down the different articles acquired b,
/ him while abroad. together with their cos
or value.
Some time before the last day Of III
voyage these declarations will be collccte
by some officer Of the ship, who viii b
held responsible both by the STEAMSHIP
company and the department for tn
work Of seeing that such written state
ment is received for each passenger
When the customs officers board the sh'
in the harbor a deputy collector win ge
from the steamship officer all Of the dec
laratons as so made out and declare ihei
to the chief representative Of the surveyc
on the dock.
when the declaration is handed 10 tf
steamship officer a coupon Will be hande
70 the passenger, which will be his r'
celpt After the baggage is landed an
properly placed on the dock ready 70
customs inspection the passenger wi
present this coupon TO the proper repre-
sentative Of the surveyor and secure th
services of an inspector who VIII 90
anime his baggage and verify the declara
tlon previously made by him on boar
ship No oath Of any kind or chaiaei'
win be acquired"