The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-11-28
TARIFF ] | PAID
CHRISTMAS
Sent ABROAD
Just as Other Classes Of Ar
ticle and 1t is Well to Know
the Rate before Sending.

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WASHINGTON. Nov. .27.-Many
weeks In advance, the preparat tons
are made for the international tours
of Santa Claus. Americans who are
planning to send Christmas presents
to persons in foreign countries want
to be sure that those who receive the
gifts will not be compelled to pay any
charges. Many letters come annually
to Washington, asking what to do to
avoid difficulties. The communities
tons have already begun to arrive,
and are being answered by the bu-
reau Of foreign an domestic COM
Eerce. department Of commerce.
The writers Of these letters which,
before the end Of the year will have
come from every part OF the coun-
try. are PARTICULARLY interested in tar
IN rates which must be paid on gifts
in the lands to which they are sent.
Many express regret that there should
be such a thing as a foreign tariff in
the season Of generous giving. Some
indicate that they think the charges
are really omitted. They believe that
during the holidays the barriers are
torn down. * I 3. x
The truth, however, must be told
in replying to these inquiries, and the
bureau is compelled to inform its cor
respondents that that whatever the
customs tax is in any foreign land on
any class Of preesnts. that tax is col
1ected in every season.
Many persons who write to Wash
ington, asking for tariff rates in par
ticular countries, fail to specify the
kinds Of articles that are to be sent
abroad as Christmas gifts. 1t is quite
necessary that such details should be
given in order to learn the amount Of
the tax. The bureau cannot send on.
an entire tariff schedule in answersto
each letter. and even .if it did, very
few persons would know what to do
with 1t after they received the docu-
ment. r. X. q fii.
The first Of the 1916 letters arrived
on November II, and was addressed
tc the treasury department. The
writer asked for the rate on Christ
mas gifts" to Canada, and the bureau
Of foreign and domestic commerce, to
which the matter was forwarded, was
unable to reply until 1t was known
whether 1t was some mechanical 10Y
for a child, diamond stick pin for
an absent friend, or a warm garment
for some deserving persons that WIS
to be sent as q gift across the nh-
tional boundary. A large proportion
of the letters usually received have
this same defect. They are sent TO
various departments in Washington
every Christmas season. But all come
eventually to the bureau which has
the desired information.
Many persons in the past have ASKED
what method should be adopted in or
der that the tariff charge might lie
paid at the point Of shipment in this
country, by the giver Of the gift. AL
such queries have been answered uni-
forlnly with the statement that there
is no direct way in which the import
duty charged by another country san
be paid here, but Il the pack lgs is
placed in the charge Of an exp ass
company. provision can be made for
payment Of duty by the express agent
abroad. n
Although there Is no exemption
from custom house charges for Ch,ist-
mas gifts. there are some con1 it:uns
under which certain gifts going from
country to country may escape pay
ment. Some governments rulc that
wedding presents brought in by sub
jects shall not be taxed. Some also
exempt possessions that are part Of