Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22

time The bureau is part OF
the State Department, the bureau of citi-
zenship. of which the issuance of pass
ports Is the chief work. especially during
the months of heaviest travel abroad
From this office is issued every passport
made out in this country for an American
citizen. During a year approximately
25,Ooo passports are issued, while during
the three heaviest months. April, May
and June, more than 11GG0 are issued. or
a monthly average of nearly 1908.
Every American bound for Europe does
not of necessity carry a passport, but
every person so supplied does of necessity
secure it from this specific bureau estab-
lished for that purpose. Consequently.
when the season begins, the busy time
for the clerks in this office also arrives.
Taking the monthly average as 1890. for
instance, that would make the daily aver
age of passports issued reach 40.
To secure a passport an application
must be filed out and sworn to before a
notary or the chief of the bureau. In the
application must be stated whether the
applicant is a native-born American, a
naturaIized citizen, or claims naturaliZa-
ton through husband or parent. The
oath of allegiance must also be taken. An
important lart of the application is a Sc
ries of questions of descriptive nature
which must be answered. These relate to
the age. height. forehead, eyes, nose
of the applicant. and are to serve as a
means of identification on presentation of
the passport abroad.
Xxx
With the application fee of 81 is re-
quired. The applicant is then. provided
nothing of nature to rouse the susp-
cion of the officials is contained i'm the
application given the passport. This is
an official document, bearing on the top
of the page the coat of arms of the United
states Under that is the following: ITO
all to whom these presents shall come.
Greeting" Under this follows: a. the
undersigned, Secretary of State of the
United States of America. hereby request
all whom 1t may concern to permit -
a citizen of the United States, safely
and freely to pass, and in case of need to
give all lawful aid and protection In
the first space goes the name of the per-
son to whom the passport is issued, while
the second is left I'm the wife, chill
dren or servants are to be included. This
statement is signed by the Secretary of
State. Opposite this Is a duplicate list
giving personal description. under which
the applicant signs his name. Between
the two is placed the seal Of the United
States. Thus officially recognized. the
american CltlZen can go ABROAD ana pro-
claim his nationality without need of
long and laborOus explanations and
proofs. In case of necessity passport
can be issued by diplomatic consul or
officer abroad. although comparatively
few are thus issued, and only in emer-
sency cases. In such case the fee is So.
Although 1t is part of the State De-
partment, the bureau of citizenship has
offices in a separate building at the corner
of 18th street and New York avenue. The
chief of the bureau is Richard w. Flour
noy, jr.. with James II. Tibbetts as assist
ant chief. Aside from the issuance of
the bureau of citizenship has
charge of matters pertaining to citizen
ship, the rights Of citizens. etc. The Of
6cial seal of the State Department is
also kept there, and the duty of anthem
ticating all documents falls upon this Of
ice.
while not all Americans going abroad
secure passports" said Mr.. Flournoy, "a
considerable portion do. The chief ad-
vantage in having a passport lies in the
fact that it proves ones citizenship with
out tedious explanation. In addition,
too, some countries demand that all per-
sons entering have passports. az for in
: "a