Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-30

Maen YOU return, good plan would he
- 20 10 the customs officials in kansas
city before You start and have the
clothing trunks. jewelry and other
things that yeu are going to take with
you invoieed, identified and certified to.
MtnY persons Who go la Canada or
Europe from here each summer follow
tins plan and save trouble and dis
putcs With the revenue officers when
they return. Many more do not know
that Tie law provides for this Kind Of
invoice and certificate.
Under the tariff law clothing and
other personal effects taken Out of this
eouatrs. if not Increased in value on
improved in condition While abroad,
may h. brought back to this country
without duty being paid. But now are
the castoms officers to know thai ali
the Things brought back were really
taken Oh the journey AianF an article
has been brought into this country
duty free upon the assertion that Il
WIS taken on the trip. Especially IS
this true af furs. 1t is a weH-knoWn
fact that furs are cheaper in Canada
and IN some European countries than
in he United States. and women We're
in the habit af getting furs while
abroad and bringing them into this
country as wearing apparel.
80 prevent this fraud, and 70 protect
honest persons from suspicion and
trouble, a law was passed permitting
4 person going abroad 10 inV0ice the
articles he was taking with linn and
get from the nearest customs officer u
certificate of the articles taken. Since
The adoption of that law the customs
officers demand payment al duty en- all
furs coming in without the certificates.
Another good plant recommended by
Charles ". Clarke. United states Sur
veYor u Customs in kansas City IS 10
pack all dutiable articles volt have
bought while abroad into one or more
trunks by themselves. Then, when you
have landed in New York. or any other
port. on the home coming, YOU can
save time and trouble 10y telling the
customs officer that those trunks con-
tain dutiabic articles and that you
wish them shipped straight through 70
Kansas city. The officer will then card
and seal them and they Will come.
without extra charge. in bond 60 air
Clarke in Kansas City When they ar
rive here he viii open and appraise the
articles and determine the amount Of
duty 60 be paid. You pay this and take
the trunks home
Each tourist coming from abroad is
allowed to bring in, in addition 70 what
he took away with him. $l00 worth Of
goods, in which is included clothing,
toilet articles, combs. brushes articles
of personal adornment. such as jewels.
personal effects, including cameras,
canes, fishing tackle golf sticks, guns.
photographs, parasols, smoking arti-
clas, steamer rugs. shawls. toys, trunks,
valises. &c. But these articles must be
for the personal use of the person
bringing them in.
a great importing business is done
through the port of Kansas City. In
1910 St7S49tS worth Of goods Was i'm
ported In 1911 $1.1SO.3ii eaine la and
All of those goods passed under the
notice of Mr.. Clarke and We're apprais-
ed and classified by his men. OF the
goods imported IN 1911 si.126,5gS We're
dutiable and se52. 7Sa were entitled to
come in duty free
a large part Of the goods that came
ia duty free were palm and cccoanut
comes by the train load 1t is admit :
ted free OF duty heuause il is hot pro-
duced in this country and because it rs
in % crude state
tinder y recent act passed by Con-
gress works cf art more than 20 wears
old and articles Of artistic merit such
as furniture leo years old, are admitted
free. Under this law ] r. Morgan IS
bringing in his art treasures bought IN
Europe
Anything intended for use in public
Libraries. whether hooks maps or
works Of art, or anything for use in
medical schools, is admitted free Of
duty The University OF IS nsas inn
ports many things, su,h as ray ma
chimes through the port o ailsas CITY
under this law
Last week the Park Be q Of Kansas
CITY called up Mr. Clarke and said il
had some maps coming from Bremen,
Germany, and, as they were intended
for public use, the board Wished 10
know if they would come in du1y free.
Rut the law does not mention Park
Boards and 50 duty had 20 be laid up
on them
The importation OF dutiable nier-
chandise from abroad is accompanied
with considerable red tape" The law
provides that each consignment OF
goods OF over $500 in value must be
accompanied with a consular invoice
Say, for instance, that a merchant IN
Kansas City buys 500 ostrich pluiaes In
Paris The merchant il Paris from
whom the goods are bought calls in a
man from the American Consulate
office there and he issues a consular
certificate and invoice in triDlicate, one
of which goes TO the department in
Washington, one to the merchants here
and one to MIR Clarke.
The consular certificate contains
the sworn declaration Of the merchant
in Paris that the attached invoice is
correct as 10 quantity, quality and
Al. 4 81,