New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1910-11-19
AMERICAN AND FOREIGN
CUSTOMS.


Every American who sails ava
from New York knows. that on al
rival at any foreign port, all bag
gage is carefully examined. an
afterwards while travelling on tn
Continent all personal belong ~
are rigidly held up for scrutn
upon crossing each boundary l1nt
In some countries it is twice III
spected; when YOU arrive at Bou
logne or at any other Frenct
port, and again on your arriva
IN Paris. Ia Switzerland thcr,
is very little delay, and It Is al
ways courteous. In Italy it is IN
soent, and conducted in the spirl
of a criminal hunt. Very llttl'
discretion is exercised by eltheI
Italian or Austrian officials
Germany is generous; Great Brl
tam is suspicious The most un
pleasant custom house officers
have ever encountered, during tiv'
years almost lnceSSant travelling
have been in Italy and n Canada
For the former there was S)me cX
cuse born out of curious c0ndl-
tons and traditions. You eX-
peot sort Of banditti zeal II
Italy. In Canada the offensive
ofliciousness, inspired by a little
brief authority. starts a curious
feature in Canadlan
blood.
Many Americans complain OF
"indignities" which they undergo
in the hands of the United State
Custom Service, and make odlouS
comparison with the treatment
they had abroad. This Statement
is based upon many contortions OF
fact and is utterly unjust to
American inspectors. No doubt
an escaped American burglar, un-
known to the Paris police, night be
treated here with distinguished
consideration, but upon arriving
home might find a disagreeable
welcome. -
Every woman who makes false
pretenses and, swears to a lie, de-
serves all the "indignities'' that
are heaped upon her in the New
York Custom house. She had no
difficulty in entering a French
port for the reason she had moth
ing dutiable, or tried to conceal
anything. The French inspectors
bowed and scraped over her glad
rags and the whole proceeding
was a diversion and an "experi-
ence" that was covered by a
strange foreign glamor. Had a !
French woman, on her arrival in
Paris exposed dozen new gowns
with Chicago labels, she would I'M
doubtedly suffer the same "hu-
initiation and indignity' to which
her American sister is exposed in
trying to smmggle a dozen French
gowns into New York.
The laws of the United States
are perfectly plain on the subject
of smuggling. They are fair and
logical laws, and founded by the
citizens themselves. It is just
as much of crime to attempt to
evade them as it is to make moon
shine whiskey, or run saloon
without a license, or attempt tO|
use counterfeit money. or cancel
ed postage stamps. The records
show that comparatively few men
to cheat the Customs,
unless they are criminally in
clined. But the records show that
women as class, however born,
are open to suspicion in the exam
nation of baggage. Women defy
the law in this subject with an ir-
and independent determ-
nation. The average woman can
not comprehend that in trying to
heat the Government she is cheat
ng herself. Any seE-respecting
nan or woman who honestly fills
tut the baggage declaration, will
ing to stand by all purchases
made in Europe, will not only
rave no trouble at all in an Amer
can port, but will be treated with
ivility and dispatch.
The arrangement now made at
he American docks of any line :
or prompt inspection are super a,
,r, in system and convenience, to 10
ny port ia the world. / ma 70
{ rsonally had several opportui- lfo
les to admire our own system Dc
nd thank the pleasant faced
Dung men who were appointed r,
rom a waiting line to examine fo
lie trunks of our party. There in
as not the slightest dcla.y or tic
Dubt; every dutiable article had ii.
zen named on the blank baggage al,
declaration and entry that had an
zen handed to every passenger by an
e prrrser of the ship together bu
it'll blue folder "notice TO pas ma
myers" concerning which there ag
'uld be no possible mistake. To lof
'ceive the authorities by false eft
'Od or prevarication is plainly an fo,
dictable offense. The tariff act ma,
passengers exempt bag
&c is as follows: ,
Wearing apparel PARTICLES of to
rsonal Adornment, toilet (arti- the
s, and similar personal effects del
persons arriving in the United Ka
stes; but this exemption shall ing
~ include such articles as act wit
lily accompany and are in the (ch
OF, and as are necessary and VIII,
purposes Of the jour lly
7 and present comfort and con- obs