Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-13
The Golden Harp
Must Pay Duty

Portland, Me-, Feb. 12.-The golden
harm. purchased in London two years
ago by Rev. Frank W. Sanford, lead
er of the Holy Ghost and Us Society
a, Shiloh at a cost of $1,000, it was
SAID. and brought to this port on the
converted yacht Kingdom a week ago
from the West Indies, where it was
taken from Mr.. Sandford's yacht Cor
onet. was brought to the custom house
from Shiloh today and will be held
until duty IL paid on it or decision
is reached that the payment of duty Is
unnecessary. II 1t ia decided that
duty must be paid, the amount will
be IS per cent. Of its value. The mat
ter probably will be referred to the au-
thoritfes at Washington.
The whole question Of whether. or
not. the harp is dutiable is a badly
tangled one. There IL no doubt but
what the harp, like piano. comes I'M
der the head of household effects. An
article under this heading, in order to
come into the country free, must have
been used In foreign country for one
year. This makes 1t second hand in the
opinion Of the customs department.
The Golden Harp was bought in Lon
don two years ago by Sanford and
Immediately placed on board his yacht
Ccronet on which he spends practi-
caily all Of his time, and in that yacht
has been carried all along the Euro
peAn cOustline and to the West Indies.
The Question which this fact now
raises here Is whether the harp can be
considered second hand in the strict
language Of the customs department
when It has been on an American
yacht. the Coronet hailing from this
port, and has been carried about from
port to port in Europe and the Attain
tic ocean, without remaining year
on land at any one time In possession
OF it8 owner.
Appraiser George H. Allen Is Of the
opinion that the harp is dutiable, while
Deputy Collector Farnsworth. while
not stating positively, is inclined to
the opinion that 1t Is not. The case Is
admitted to be a complicated one and
the local officials intend looking up de-
cisions covering cases of a similar
nature. IL there are any, before making
their decision. Appraiser Allen favors
sending all of the facts in regard to
the question to Washington and letting
the officials there render a decision,
and this may be done.
The story of how the harp got into
the country is romantic one. 1t was
bought by sanford and by him made
sacred. so much so that it Is almost
part of the Shiloh religion. He kept
It with him on the Coronet for two
years ard this winter when the King
dom met the Coronet at St Thomas,
In the Danish West Indies, he had it
put on board the former vessel to be
brought back to Shiloh and used In
connection with the school conducted
on the Hilltop.
When Captain Charles w. Skillings
and the port officials boarded the
Kingdom on her arrival here a few
days ago those on board were asked if
they had anything dutiable and de-
clared that they had not. The ship was
examined and the personal effects of
thise on board Investigated, but moth
ing was found.
1t Is learned now that the harp was
taken ashore here in small boat and
then shipped to Shiloh, where 1t ar
rived the latter part of last week
Deputy Collector Farnsworth Is of
the opinion that 1t was not to evade
duty that the harp was brought ashore
In that manner and it's presence on
board not reported to the custom au-
thorities. The members Of the colony
have always been very square in
their dealings with the custom officials
and have always been willing to give
them all the information they asked
and are still willing to do so in the
present cDap Of tho harm