Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
BOOMERANG SEEN
IN PORT COURTESY
Treasury Hints at Careful
Check of Favored TraV-
e|ers' Baggage.

Persons returning from Europe this
Summer armed with what the Treasury
Department calls an Il. A." will find
that agitation over the practice Of
granting freedom of the port has OPP
Grated to their inconvenience.
The "I. A" Is an instruction served
on the collector of the port of entry to
furnish the bearer of certain credentials
with immediate attention" and grows
out of requests of Senator'S and Repre-
sentatives in behalf of constituents or
friends. This attention has operated to
provide the traveller with expeditions
handling OF baggage, averting delay at
the dock.
The courtesy of the port, indicated by
the Il. A." instruction, is distinguished
from the freedom of the port in that
traveller accorded the former Is not re-
lieved from payment of customs duties
His baggage is supposed to be examined
carefully, but. as pointed out recently by
Treasury Department oficial, it does
not work out that way.
I'VE get hundreds Of requests from
members Of Congress for this courtesy"
he said, and naturally grant them as a
mark of respect to the Representatives.
In many cases 1t works to the advantage
OF the Government as well as the
traveller. There seems little need of
keeping person waiting at a dock for
two hours while an employe Of the GUS
toms service explores his baggage, and
in keeping him there, the Government
and he are subjected to lost motion and
waste Of time.
Disadvantages Are Cited.
But the practice has disadvantages.
FOR example, here is Duke x of a
steamship, imposing in costume and
proffering a credential stamped T. A
The $2,600-a-year dock employee, duly
impressed by the dukes maRnifcent
manner, his irritation at the delay,
however slight, takes look at the re-
quest for immediate attention, gives the
dukes luggage a pat or two, and is
done with the job. The Duke may be
bringing in six bottles of French cham
payne, and his trunk may contain an
assorted vintage of wines for all the
fumbling customs employe knows.
AS rule, less distinguished travellers
are accorded the same immunity. A
man returning from London recently
told me that Of 1000 passengers on the
liner more than 1000 had letters from
members of Congress emitting them to
the courtesy of the port. Where there
are so many all in a lump the presump-
ton Is that examination of baggage was
OAAoh CuloOAyB OCulb AupOSOlDlC
to give all Of them immediate attention
that was immediate
But in other instances It doesn't
work out so well. The agitation arising
out of the Panama incident may cause
swing in the other direction. In future
the traveller entitled to expeditions ham
ding Of baggage will get it, but he may
get also more careful scrutiny than
he has had. If attention is centered on
the men who make the examination you
can wager that a suitcase containing as
lite as half pint of wine, will be held
up, however cleverly it may be protected
from view"
Will Not Deny Privilege.
The Treasury Department has as
sumed that in requesting special at
tention for their friends, members of
Congress have been mindful of the
possibilities opened by their generosity.
AS matter of fact, Congressman have
not been especially discriminating, as
evidenced by the great number Of re-
quests. The laXity growing out of the
practice initiates against any check on
abuses and the only way the Treasury
Department might affect the situation
would be to deny the exercise of the
privilege. This, said a department off,
cial, will not be done.
There is no likelihood that the mat
ter will be mentioned to members of
Congress-" he said. ut would be dis
courteous and probably would not have
a helpful effect. But the courtesy Of
the port is being granted to so many