The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-08
PASSPORTS HAVE BECOME
 VALUABLE POSSESSIONS
 SINCE THE WAR BEGAN

This is the birthday of the United States passport system. the first of Uncle Sam's credentials for travellers in foreign lands having been issued 119 years ago today, July 8, 1796. Be- fore the European war, began few Americans travellng abroad bothered about securing passports and the sys- tenn of granting permits to ''pass the port" of another country was gradual 1y becoming obsolete. When the war broke out the tens Of thousands of Americans caught in the European maelstrom bitterly regretted their nuegiect to secure the engraved linen sheet which entitled them to the rights and privileges of a free-born subject of Uncle Sam and made haste to rectdfy the omission by applying or consular officer Those who had armed themselves with passports pranted by the secretary of state be- fore leaving home deemed themselves fortunate, and were the objects of envy among those tourists who had prev1ou usly considered the possession Of a letter of credit a sufficient pass port to any country beneath the sun.
 Getting a passport from Uncle Sam was a very simple and easy matter be- fore the war began. but the regula-= lions and restrictions are now much more stringently enforced. It has been alleged that German spies have found a United States passport of great assistance in carrying on their operations in England and France, and Uncle Sam has determined to see to it that only bona. .fide citizens get his credentials.
 The passport, in it's modern form, is merely a certificate of Identification. The first American passport was merely a printed letter sheet, but this N. .7-.-- x-.k -T.- rate example Of the aengraveF'S art, on a large sheet]of bond linen. bear-l ing the sVateruarked seaI of the de- paxtTnent of state and engraved with the coat Of arms, Passports original ly cost five dollars. but the fee is now only one dollar. At that price they would be probably be considered dirt cheap by many enterprising war spies.
 The passport Sets forth the name, address, ases stature andN particulars regarding the eyes. nose. mouth. fore head, chin, complexion face and hair of the applicant who is required to swear allegiance to the United States. A naturalized cftazen is required to procuce his cardf1cass6 Of natura1iza- tions or 8 certified court copy of it. and must give many additional de- tails to the country Of hds origin, the ship on which he sailed. where he has lived. etc.
 Uncle Sam is now very particular about granting passports only to bona fide citixens, but he doesn't exercise the right to inquire into the appn- scant's morals. A thief or a burglar is as much entitled to a passport as the most respectable of citizens
 Passports also play a part in the declaraton Of a war, for in such cases tho ambassador or minister of the coun1ry which is about to become an enemy state Is ssgiven his pass ports,
 In the United states passports may be fssued and granted by the secre- countries except in cases of emergency Hsuch as a war. The life of a United States passport is two years from the date of issuance, when it must be re- neved if the holder has further use for it..