Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-05-28
IN TROUBLE With TIE GUST TOMS
OFFICIALS.

OFFICIALS.
Col. Henry @. Stuart, Of Elk Garden,
a former member Of the state corporation
CON mission and at present candidate
for Congress from the Ninth district OF
Virginia, said something OF what he
thought OF the United States tu toms
laws and OF some customs officials
after he bad appeared before D'puty
Surveyor Smythe In New York yes
.erday afternoon to explain why bis
wife bad not declared the dutisble goods
in Is trunks aud 10 sstchels which came
over With them on the Msnretanis. Ool.
Stuart's opinions were more forceiul than
parliamentary.
The customs people have decided that
Colonel Stuart was guilty only OF missp'
prehension and the mysterious workings
Of customs regulations, and that when be
pays the duty on the large wardrobs of
foreign manufacture which Mrs. Stuart
brt ugbt over 10 her numerous trunks be
will be absolged OF all debt to this gov
erDmeDt.
1t was o recent change In the customs
regulations under section 7O9 OF the tIr.ff
act OF 1909 which brought confusion to
Colonel Stuart and bis wife. American
citizens who live abroad more than two
years cannot now clsim exsu ption as non
residents as they c. uld only few weeks
sgo. DeIuy Surveyor Smith accepted
the Virgins colonel's word for 1t that the
very hest information tHat he c. u'd 90
tain at the American OoDtuste in Paris
gave him no hint Of this change In the
customs regulations, aud that when he
had listed Mrs. 8 usrt ss a nonres.-
dent In making cut the declaration OF
her baggage on the Msuutsnia it was
because abe had been two years con-
tIr uously abroad and both the Psris
consu ate and the American Express
Oompany's Paris Office had vtuched
for her immu lity from tax on this
status.
Colonel Stuart Is 8 wealthy man. h
is a nephew OF the late Gen. j. E. b
8 uart, the famous csvslry leader OF
the Confederate army. Mrs. Stuart bad
been in Europe since two years ago
last March, and during the last l6
months she had been 90 seriously III
that be had gone over three times to
be With her. Colonel and Mrs. Stuart,
their eight-year-old daughter, COVER
ness aud maid took passage on the
MsuretanIa at Liverpool last Saturday.
There were several painful moments
on the dock while the inspector IN
covered q large array Of new gowns, a
dozen and more, many pairs OF silken
hose, some very handsome jewels-the
inspector thought that one necklace
would assay at shout IS, ,000-and other
srticles oisppsrsl and adorUment. Mrs.
Stuart had declared ak gowns as du
table, and on these her husband paid
$500 duty on the dock because Mrs
Stuart wanted to use them immediatel y,
aud she did not relish the prospect Of hsv.
ing all Of her clothes sent TO the public
stores building.
Deputy Surveyor John o. Oounor took
look at the contents Of these tunks
which had been opened and decided that
be would seize them eli. Then he told
Colonel Stuart and bis wife that they
had better go before Deputy Surveyor
Smyth and have Q talk with him.
Ia the deputy surveyors Office COL
onel Stusrt told Why he bad made out
bis wiie's declaration as that OF a non.
resident, while he had pat himself down
very properly So resident Of Elk Gar
den, We, When the deputy surveyor
asked Mrs. Stuart for the bills OF her
purchases abFoRd she said that she did
not know just where to put her hands
on them, II she had brought them over
With her at all. 1t would be necessary
for her to go through ell of her trunks,
she said, to find the bills, aud II she
could not 6Dd hem she could at least
remember what she had paid fer each
article as 1t was disclosed. NJ. Smythe
told the colonel snd bis wife that the
GU ,stiou of the collection of duty would
have to De submitted to the collector OF
the port, but that In the meantime II
would facilitate matters II Mrs. Stunt
would 70 to The public stores building,
at Christopher and Washington streets
az try 10 assist the appraisers In putting
q vale alton on the dutlable material 10
her trunk.
II was when Colonel Stuart emerged
from the deputy surveyors room aud
ituud the reporters waiting for him 10
the hall that be gave utterance to BIZ
Injured feelings. Hs began BY saying
that he had no statement to make. Ther
he made one.
'I shall zee that no finger OF discredi
Is pointed TO any act OF mine 10 this ma
ter" be said. 81 don't intend to b'
made criwipsl of when have scteC
perfectly within my rights aud only ate
the most careful investigation Of the Gu
toms regulations on my psrt.
"Plesd guilty? No sh; BY God,
don't intend to plead guilty to any thing
his was before the colonel knew jas
where he stood 10 the eyes Of the Gus
toms people,, 81 Thick the vigilanc'
Of the customs inspectors Is great r thar
necessary; st least 1t Is greater thai
their discretion.
"Don't mistake noe. I do not belltv
that any purpose exists to do me wrong
But l think that the customs people hav,
done me 3 great irjustice 10 thus giviul
publicity to this matter before tborougl
investigation conld bring ont the res
trcth os kha nsse