New-York tribune., 1909-09-04
HELD Up At PIER.
Lusitdnia Passengers Tell of Con-
gestiOn and Undue SCrutiRy.

Ihe zeal of collector Loebs watchmen in hold
ing up and searching male and female cao-1 pas
sengers on the Cunard Line pier Thursday night
after the Lusitania docked has brought forth con-
siderable protest and many complaints. The Col
Iector through the solicitors Office said yesterday
he had not heard OF any complaints, but they were
made in abundance on the pier on Thursday EiSnt.
not alone by the persons vino were stopped Jy tls
watchmen at the pier exit but by other passengers
whose baggage was held back by the congestion
due to the eagerness Of the watchneD IN OBTAINING
every one who looked suspicious.
Indeed the watchmen's suspicious were aroused
too often and unnecessarily TO suit the passengers
weary of travel and anxious 70 get away line
of examined baggage on trucks extending about
hundred feet from the exit Of the pier caused
great congestion. Passengers appealed IN vain u
Captain Roberts. in charge OF the CuHard pier. 20
help them get their baggage through waiting
cabs and automobiles.
The rules of passing examined baggase through
the gate require that the owner and the inspector
who examined it shall accompany the baggage as
the pastors put upon il stamped Ny the gate
man. With persons accompanying each truck
in addition to the Iongshoreman drawing IT, conges-
tion at the exit Thursday night was unusually
great 1t said the pier that the bagEsSe
would have gone by with normal disposition had II
not been for the detention Of passengers by tHs
watchmen at the gate.
Vernon II. Brown. the retired agent OF tne CuDard
Line. known and respected by al the older customs
inspectors. detained by ambitious Young
watchman and compelled TO have his pockets Tex
he about 10 leave the pier. He was not
passenger the Lusitania but had some 10 no
pier 10 meet her after her ~eCord
Another case OF detention at the gate that %
a woman prominent socially who humiiatcd
by having her hand bag opened and searched az
the gate She wore diamonds valued SettD and
said she had registered them before she took them
abroad with her In her purse a watchtnan tourd
Il JeweIied cross with stone uissiuS. lie asked
her why she did wear IT, She explained he
setting was loose and she did not want To lese
moro gems After she showed her registry papers
she was permitted so
Justice pugro was detained yesterday as Ae left
the French Line pier after l4ndinS from the
steamer La ProveRce- The jealous watchuan teit
his pockets and. guessing that he had nothing
dutiabe concealed there. permitted him To I's
fact that the man detained was Justice puSro
was called the attention OF a special represei-
tative of Collector Loebe. and he remarked taaI
the Justice no better than any other paSsenSsF.
IL Is contended by steamship officials that Whi1s
IL is the duty OF the customs service Co Use ~
best efforts 70 detect concealed and uudeCl}ff1
articles. IL Is "A hardship every tO dc inc
searching OF passengers Just aS they are about u
leave the pier All this work. they think. should oe
done elsewhere and not the gate, where tu9
work OF searching causes long line ~ examines
baggage 70 accumulate.