The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-14
PASSPORT RULES
ARE MADE STRICTER
State Department Announce. a
Revision to Protect Ncu-
trality Policy.
LAX SYSTEM ADMITTED

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.--Compltn. b,
lbelligerent Governments that enemy STE
liens were using American passport. Ia
furtherance of their designs against t.,-
Government have resulted In a r,y.,.a
of the rules for obtaining United $ ...,
passports, the effect OF which is ~ n..,g
them much more rigorous than hcr,to'r.
The order putting into force tha $
regulation was signed by rresld,u W...
son to-day The new regulations thus 800.
proved were drafted by the Department
of state. The British Governmeu' l.uI
some notable examples of the abus o.
the system under which American pass.
ports were issued. Heretofore, the. IS
been required little more than the .,..,.
cant's own statement that he was IN
American citizen to obtain an Amer m
passport, with the result, IL Is CHARGED
that the Germans have succeeded 10 sct.
ting into England for purposes OF 'sp,on-
age in the guise OF American citizens
Other similar cases have been also re-
ported. The new regulations require ab.
soiute proof OF Identity and Citizenship,
and applications must be witnesscd ana
presented before a clerk of "A Federal "
state court to whom either the applicant
or his witnesses must be personally
known. The new regulations require mat
shall be set forth, and In case Of coun.
tries which are at war the nature of ne
business OF the applicant must be specified.
The Omcial Announcement.
The following announcement was made
at the State Department to-day
"JJnder the former rules II was not dt-
fcult to obtain passports fraudulently Il
was only necessary for person claiming
citizenship through birth in the United
States to make a sworn application q
that fact before a notary public or other
official authorized to administer oaths and
to have II supported by an unsworn dec
laration OF a witness. 1t was not ~
auired in the rules that either the ap-
plicant or his witness should be known
to the notary.
"The Department has reason to believe
that notaries and other persons taking
passport applications have been In many
cases very careless and have failed to
make sufficient inquiry as TO the identity
and citizenship of applicants for pass
ports Under the new rules an applicant
for a passport must make sworn appli-
cation before n clerk of a Federal or
State court within the Jurisdiction OF
which he is resident and the seal of the
court must be affixed.
ut Is also required that his witness
who must be an American citizen, make a
ton before the same ofticiab The appli-
cant or his witness must be known 10 he
clerk OF the court before whom the apU.l-
cation Is made or must be able to satisfy
such officer as TO his identity and the
genuineness OF the application.
Another requirement OF the new pass
port rules Is that an applicant for
passport is required to state the names u
the foreign countries which he expects 20
visit and II any such country is al war
he must state the object OF his visit
thereto.
THE latter statement should Toe brir'
and general In FORM as for example. Com
mercial business or To bring wifi" and
children to this country statement
in accordance with this declaration win
be written upon the face of the passport
Eject of the Requirements.
1T is believed this requirement will not
only prevent persons from going to
belligerent countries for objects which are
contrary to the principles of neutrality
but will also be OF assistance to those who
find II necessary to visit bel.gerent coun-
tries for legitimate purposes,
The legal passport fee which is sent
TO the Department OF State with the appl-
cation is 81 only. In the past many
notaries, steamship agents. tourist agents
and other persons who have made IL
business TO take passport applications
have required exorbltant fees for their
slight services In the matter. sometimes
as much as So for a single Application
1T is believed that clerks OF courts who
take passport applications will requig"
moderate and reasonable fees for Their
services so that the abuse mentioned viii
be stopped"