The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-19
PORT BAR HARBOR.
A Ridiculous Yarn Told TO Justify
Its Improved Customs Facilities.


Its Improved Customs Facilities.
WARRINGTON, July 1S.-The peculiar
Significance OF Senator Calder's report
favoring passage of a bill establishing
Bar Harbor, in the State of Maine,
as a port OF entry and delivery, for the
immediate transportation without ap-
praisement, OF dutiable merchandise"
was not grasped until Senator
asked. rs Bar Harbor anything but a
summer resort?"
That started trouble which did not
subside even when Senator Hale Of
Maine assured his colleagues that Bar
Harbor is a town OF between 5000
and 1000 inhabitants. where "of
course. in the summer time there are
a great many more people"
1t is not always possible to awaken
the Senate: at times it seems as IL
nothing could: but this did. Senators
began to take notice that the bill. out
Of a Democratic committee, affecting
Maine. was reported not only by a
Republican but by New Yorker.
Senator Hale deepened mystery by
confessing: Il know nothing about
this bill / never heard Of 1t until 1t
came up for consideration few min
utes ago"
Senator Smith of Georgia thought
the Finance Committee rather than
the Commerce Committee should have
| considered Bar Harbor's customs
needs. and Senator Simmons, chair
man of the Finance Committee, said
he should regret to see a bill pass in
conflict with the general policy" Of
referring customs matters to his COM
mittee.
Senator Calder smiled but said
nothing.
Reed of Missouri was astonished
The great twin metropolis. Kansas
City. spreading over parts Of two
sovereign States. had its custom
house taken away from It, What, he
asked, is the mystery Of this effort to
slip through for Bar Iarbor facilities
for importing merchandise denied to
the teemins thousands on the banks
Of the kaw, the Missouri?
Mr.. Vardaman. a member OF the
committee. denied that "any body had
such an intent in the bill, as to try
to slip 1t through" Lenroot, whose
transfer to the Senate from the other
end Of the Capitol has intensified the
aridity in the smaller chamber, first
suggested a line OF thought which
brought about hint OF possibly
moist purpose in the bill. The Wis
cons!n Senator, In short. suddenly de-
veloped chilly toes, AS a member of
the committee he had voted for
favorable report on the BILL but when
Senator Smoot told the Senate that
Bar Harbor would have to be sup
piled with a customs appraiser TO
assess and collect the amount Of
duties residents must pay before they
can remove their imported mer-
chandise TO their cellars or wherever
imported merchandise is stored in
that favored isle; when, as has been
said. Senator Smoot revealed this fact
Ienroot arose to assure the Senate
and Wisconsin. "If I had known THAT
factl I should not have Joined in a
favorable report without further in
vestigation"
Other Senators expressed a desire
to be informed why the immediate
transportation without appraisement,
except at Bar Harbor. of dutiable
merchandise into the pearl of Penob-
scott Bay was such a pressing mat
ter. Senator Calder remained elo-
quently silent. But he smiled. Calder
long sat at the legislative feet of the
Hon. John ]. Fitzgerald, who once
announced. 1T is easier to kiss n bill
through Congress than to kick it
through Calder just smiled and
smiled
Well, anyway, no one having tried
to kick the bill through. the Presi-
dent finally murmured. The question
Isl shall It pass"
IL passed.
This is not TO say tina. the mystery
was cleared up by a story some one
afterward told Calder in the cloak
room. but II deserves repeating If only
TO point out and condemn the foolish
tales people will invent to make fun
OF even the most merltorious folk.
1t seems that this summer so the
ridiculous yarn goes, n British Cap
tain OF Engineers convalescing from
wound was the guest OF a friend in
Bar Harbor. One morning overlook
ing the beautiful bag from one OF the
Captain remarked, II say, II YOU run
that mole out from shore much
further you'll get beyond the three
mile limit and have jolly interna-
tional row on your hands besides the
one you're in now
What mole?" asked the puzzled
host.
Why responded the Captain.
pointing with his cane to rugged
extension running out from a rocky
point nearly as long and broad as
Rockland's beautiful breakwater, that
glistening mole right away beneath
U.S."
THAT" exclaimed the host, laugh
ing heartily, so the absurd tale goes,
that Is our dump for empty bottles"
After a long pause the Captain
gasped. "Oh. I say" After another
pause he added my word, but you
Americans are a hardy lot"
Botanically 1t Is Fruit; DomestI-