The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-19
NOTHING ESCAPES
CUSTOMS SEARCH
Treasury Official Watches
Government Custom Men
In Operation.
EnnclcMEpc ABE AMNnvEn
FOREIGNERS ARE ANNOYED

MANY CAN'T READ CUSTOMS
DECLARATIONS LEFT IN THEIR
CABINS, AND 50 THEY ARE NOT
FILLED OUT.
New York. Sept. $50 much criti-
cism has been aroused by the ultra
rigid examination Of passenger bag
gage by the customs inspectors on
the piers that Assistant Secretary Of
the Treasury James r. Reynolds de-
ferred his departure for Washington
and spent the morning watching the
passengers landing from the White
Star liner Baltic and the Red Star
liner Lapland. It was understood
that he will report to Secretary Mac
vcagh upon the methods introduced
by Collector Loeb. Mr.. Reynolds
said he had no comments to make. but
he might act later.
Passengers arriving from the Baltic.
the Lapland, and the Rotterdam were
held up as before at the gates by the
special watchmen and had their peck
cts felt for any trinkets they might
have overlooked In their declarations.
On each pier there we're two gates
open, so that the Jam and delay was
nothing like that when the Lusitania
arrived.
What searchers Found.
The searchers found . number of
small articles, such AS cigar holders.
Imitation jewelry, knives. souvenir
spoons, gloves, coral necklaces. etc.
In most cases these articles were TAX
en- from foreigners. who could not
speak much English and had not un-
6erstood what the declaration paper
meant. Anything valued at less than
81 was returned to the owner. Ev-
erything over that amount was sent
to the customs law department, and
the owner told to call there later.
As an example of this German had
three imitation diamond brooches,
which he said were valued at $3.50
for the three. He had not made any
declaration and had nothing else du-
table. They were taken from him
and sent to the custom house. He may
get them back.
Special Agent Wall was on duty at
the piers all day, and gave instruc--
lions regarding the articles taken
from passengers. Bags which had
been stamped were opened again,
especially small handbags carried by
women. In one case woman had to
60 back to the desk and get a stamp
placed on small box containing
ring, which she carried in her bag,
although the bag had already been
passed. Nothing escaped the eyes of
the officials.
The declaration papers are printed
solely In English, and as the pursers
and stewards take no interest in MAX
ing their contents known to foreign
ers. the object Of saving time for the
customs inspection on arrival at this
port Is defeated, SO far as aliens are
concerned. Mr.. Wall said that the
question Of printing the papers in sew
eral languages might be considered
by the collector.
Special Inspector Timothy Donog-
hue, who Is the most expert jostler
In the customs service, made seiz-
uro OF gold watches, cuff buttons,
rings, and scarfpins from the pocket
Of Henry G. Breher, dealer in novel
ties. at 70 Crosby street. The articles
were sent to the seizure room In the
public stores, where they will be ap-
praised.
! Need More Quarters.
II the customs officers continue to
take small articles from passengers
on the scale they did yesterday, it is
snid that special quarters will have to
be provided to contain them, but the
steamship agents said that they hard
" expected. IN view OF the certain
consequences. that this strenuous In
spection will continue very long.
It Is understood that Mr.. Reynolds
will confer with Secretary MacVeagh
and Collector Loeb regarding the
stamping Of overcoats and the search
at pockets being made by the inspec-
tor who examines the passengers bag
gage. It seemed likely. in fact, that
Americans returning from abroad
must submit to have the pockets, both
Of their overcoats and their personal
apparel. searched before they escape
from the pier. When Collector Loeb
was asked recently regarding the law
under which passengers arriving in
the United States were reached, he
said that any suspicious person. eth
or man or woman. could be thorough
" searched. though the law did not
permit the examination to be made
publicly on the pier. This was three
weeks ago. Yesterday. however.
practically 80 per cent of the male
passengers had their clothing felt by
the special watchmen at the gates in
the presence Of Mr.. Reynolds and Mr..