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

LIN xhJUDLE WI IL u - WV LSuhS
OFFICIALS.
Col. Henry G. Stuart, of Elk Garden,
a former member Of the state corporation
com mission and at present q candidate
for Congress from the Ninth district OF
Virgiuia, said something OF what he
thought OF the United States Gu toms
laws and of some customs officials
after he bad appeared before Dtputy
Surveyor Suythe In New York yes.
.erday afternoon to explain Why bis
wife had not declared the dutiable goods
ia Is trunks and 10 sa'chels which came
over With them on the Maaretania. Dol.
Stusrt's opinions we're more torceiu! than
parliamentary.
The customs people have decided that
Colonel Stuart was guilty only OF missp.
prebension and the mystaricu, workings
OF customs regulations, and that when he
pays the duty on the large wardrobe OF
foreign manufacture which Mrs. Stuart
brought over 10 her numerous trunks be
will be absolved OF all debt to this gov.
ernment.
1t was recent charge in the customs
regulations under section 709 OF the tariff
act OF 1909 which brought confusion to
Colonel Stuart and bis wife. American
citizens who live abroad more than two
years cannot now claim exemption as non
residents IS they c. uld only few weeke
ego. Der fu'y Surveyor Smith accepted
the Virginis colonefs word Tor 1t that the
very hest information that he c. u'd OBJ
tain at the American Oop,u !ste in Parls
gave him no hint of this change in the
customs regulations, aud that when he
had listed Mrs. usrt as nonres.-
dent in making cut the declaration OF
her baggage on the Mauritania it was
because shs had been two years con-
tiruously abroad and both the Paris
consu ate and the American Express
Oompany's Paris Office had vtuched
for her immunity from tax on this
status.
Colonel Stuart is q wealthy mao. b,
Ia nephew OF the late Gan. ]. 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 30 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 q maid took passage on the
Mauretanis at Liverpool last Saturday.
There were several painful moments
on the dock while the Inspector an
covered large array OF new gowns,
dozen and more, many pairs OF silken
hose, some very handsome jewels-the
inspector thought that one necklace
would assay at abou. s., OO0-and other
articles ofsppsrel and sdorument. Mrs.
Stuart had declared ak gowns as du
tisble, and on these her husband paid
$500 duty on the dock because Mrs
Stuart wanted to use them Immediately,
aud she did not relish the prospect of hav.
ing oil Of her clothes sen: to the public
stores building.
Deputy Surveyor John o. Oonnor took
a look at the contents of these i'unks
which had been opened and decided that
be would seize them all. Then he told
Colonel Stuart and his wife that they
had better 60 before Deputy Surveyor
smyth and have 8 talk with him.
Iu the deputy surveyors Office COL
onel S.usrt told why he had made ont
bis wife's declaration as that of q non.
resident, while he had put himself down
very properly ss resident of Elk Gar
den, We. When the deputv surveyor
asked Mrs. Stuart for the bills OF her
purchases abroad she said that she did
DOT know just where to pu! her hands
on them, If she had brought them over
with her at oil. 1t would be necessary
for her to 60 through ell of he. trunks,
she --said, to find the bills, and 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 and his wife that the
gu :stiou of the collection of duty would
have to be submitted to the collector OF
the port, but that In the meantime 1t
would facilitate matters II Mrs. Sulit
would 90 to the public stores building,
at Christopher and Washington streets
aud try 10 assist the appraisers in putting
a vslu alton on the dutlsble material In
her trunk.
It was when Colonel Stuart emerged
from the deputy surveyors room aud
found the reporters waiting for him In
the hall that be gave ntterance to his
Injured feelings. Hs bsgsn BY saying
that he had no statement to make. Then
he made one.
81 shall see that no fpger of discredit
Is pointed to any act of mine 10 this ma
ter" he aaid. 81 don't intend to be
made crimiual of when I have acted
perfectly within my rights and only after
the most careful investigation of the Gu :
toms regulations on my psrt.
"Plesd guilty? No si; by God, l
don't intend to plead guilty to any thing"
{ his was before the colonel knew jass
where he stood 10 the eyes of the Gus.
toms people). 81 thick the vigilance
of the customs inspectors is grest:r than
necessary; st least 1t 10 greater than
their discretion.
"Don't mistake me. I do not believe
that any purpose exists to do me wrong.
But think that the customs people have
done me great Injustice In thus giving
publicity to this matter before thorough
invesdgst:on could bring ont the real
trcth Of the csse."
Colonel Stuart and his wife went up
TO the public stores building late in The