Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-23
PASSPORT REGULATIONS
TOLD OF BY HASKIN
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskip

WASHINGTON. D. c., May 2S:-
Most people think they know when
and where they were born. They may
not know of their own knowledge,
Of course, but they believe that they
have dependable information. They
live along from year to year in alb
solute serenity as to this matter OF
vital statistics, and then suddenly
they discover why such data are
designated as vital" They decide
upon a hurried trip abroad, or they
determine upon an altogether leis-
urely trip and decide that the only
important thing to be looked after
in advance is the engaging of steam
er passage. and then all at once
they learn how important it is to be
able to prove such little things as
| place and time of birth, for they
run up against the passport regula-
tions.
The simplest and most satisfactory
| proof, naturally, is a birth certificate,
but how many Americans have
them? 1t is only within the last
twenty years that birth registration
has become general in the United
States, and in only about twenty
FIVE states is such registration now
80 per cent perfect, according to the
antiquities.
And when you haven't a birth GER
tihcate and are called upon to prove
where and when you were born you
are likely to discover how difficult a
little thing as that can be. Or, II 1t
is not so difficult, you find that it is
extremely annoying, or that it takes
more time than any other part OF
your preparation for your Journey
abroad.
You might find yourself in the
predicament of the young woman
from California who was in New York
and received a cablegraN asking
her to Join her fiance and his mother
in England before a certain date to
accompany them on a continental
trip. She went to the travel bureau
Of her hotel and said that she must
have passage on a liner sailing that
week in order to keep the engage
ment. She was amazed when she was
asked if she had her passport. She
hadn't thought of that. She was
more than amazed when the prin-
clpal requirement in getting a pass
port was explained to her-she must
produce a birth certificate, or an
affidavit to support her own affidavit
as to her birthplace.
why I live in California, and I've
Just come from there" she said. u
don't think l have a birth certificate
and 1 can't possibly send out there
and get an affidavit before the boat
sails"
Her indignation knew no bounds
She was a native American. Every
body in her part of California knew
that he was. and anybody could tel
! that was so by merely looking a
her, and why would she want to lie
about it, and such regulations were
too absurd and too ridiculous FOL
words! But--the steamer sailed with
out the young lady.
Passports Not Needed To Get Out
PASSPORTS are not needed to ge
out Of the United States. The Govern
ment makes no such requirement o
its citizens. However, they I need
ed when our citizens undertake t.
land in foreign countries, and steam
ship companies require them becaus
they do not want passengers VIII
may not be permitted to go ashor
at the other end of the route an
therefore have to be carried RICH
back to America again.
And since Americans must hav
passports in order to travel abroad
the Government officials have excel
lent reasons for the exacting regul
atoms as to the issuance of sue
documents. When the Secretary c
State issues a passport he requests
in effect. that foreign government
protect the person to whom it IS is
sued, for whom he vouches as a cit
izen of the United States. Back {
every passport are the power an
prestige of this Government. Accord
lingly it Is obvious that the Secretar
Of State must require documentar
proof of citizenship birth Gel
tifcate, naturalization papers, or
lsworn statement-before the pass
port is issued. He could not be e1
pected TO certify to the citizenshi
OF the passport holder without sue
proof.
In lieu of the birth certificate til
? applicant for a passport may sui
NIT a baptismal certificate, or tn
affidavit Of some person, preferabl
a relative. such rs p father {
2 mother. brother Of sister. but pc
, missibly a friend who has know
the applicant since childhood ar
has known the family. so that I
may swear to his birth in this coui
Itx REesumably any indiytdu'