The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-28


OF duty would have to be submitted I,
the collector OF the port, but that In
tho meantime IL would facilitate mat
ters II Mrs. Stuart would go to til
and Washington Streets. and try to
assist tho appraisers in putting val
nation on tho dutiahie material in her
trunks.
Makes Statement.
II was when Mr.. Stuart emerged
from the deputy surveyors room and
found the reporters waiting for him
an the hall that he gave uttcrance TO
his injured feelings. He began by
saying that he had no statement to
make. Then he made one.
81 shall see that no finger of discrcdit
is pointed to any act OF mine in this
matter" he said Il don't intend to
be made criminal of when l have
acted perfectly within my rights and
only after the most careful investtga-
ton of the customs regulations on my
part.
plead guilty? No, sir, ] don't in
tend to plead guilty 10 anything"
This was before he knew Just where
he stood in the eyes of the customs
people
~ think the vigilance of the customs
inspectors is greater than necessary;
at least, it is greater than their discre-
tion. Don't mistake me- / do not be-
lieve that any purpose exists to do me
wrong. But l think that the customs
people have done me "A great injustice
in thus giving publicity to this matter
before a thorough investigation could
bring out the real truth of the case"
Mr.. Stuart then told how he had
obtained copy of the customs reSula-
lions bearing on the case of non-resi-
dents through the American consulate,
in Paris and at the American Express
Company's Office there, and how. TO be
tainod another regulation slip from the
purser aboard the Mauretania.
III there has been any change In the
regulations concerning non-residents."
said he, the consulate at Paris would |
seem TO have been the logical place TO
advise me OF such change. AS it Is,
j am entirely innocent of intent TO
defraud the government, and | have
nlready offered to pay all the customs !
.fu.ies necessary. don't see that any
thing remains TO be faced but the un-.
fortunate publicity"
Mr.. Stuart and his wife went UP
20 the public stores building late in
the afternoon, and Mrs. Stuart began
tho work of going through her trunks.
but the hour was so late that the task
could not be finished this afternoon.
Only misrepresentation.
There is no question in this matter
said Deputy Surveyor Smythc after
the departure of Mr.. stuart. MI
Stuart, being a resident, makes his
family residents also and he laboreu
under 1nisapprchcnsion when he
believed that Mrs. Stuart came nm
der the nonresident head. cannot
understand how it WAS that the purser
of the Mauretania did not have COPY
of the new regulations bearing on the
question of residents
Ii was the change of clause in the
customs regulations, effected by Treas
,lrv Department regulation 3O32T, pub
lished February 4, 1910. which brought
the traveller from Virginia into such
low regard for the method of taxing
native sea- gocrs Under the previous
regulations. made under section 1oo
of the tariff law. the Treasury Depart
ment promulgated ruling on August
IA of last year. which allowed non
residents to be exempt from the $500
limitation, non-rcsidcnts being In the
wording of the regulations, persons
who have been abroad continuously
for two years or moro who elect 70
declare as non-residents.
The regulations as amended give
foreigners the same privilege Of
bringing in wearing apparel, article:
of personal adornmcnt, etc, without
regard to the 500 limit, but stipu-
late that "citizcns of the United
States may have this privilege pre-
vided it is shown To the satisfaction
of tho collectors representative on
tho pier. subject to the collectors an
prevail. that they are bona fdc resi-
dents of foreign country"
Nothing is said about two years
continual residence abroad constitut-
ing the status OF nonresidoncy.
Too Busy for Politics.
Mr. Stuart was asked to say some
thing on tho political situation in
his district in Virginia, after he
had finished his interview with thcI
depnty surveyor. His wrath was over
"Tclr'' TIE Times Dispatch I'll talk
on the situation when l get home day
after Tomorrow" he said I've got
other things to think about now