As one of the young men bent over a packing-case it was noticed that his coat-pockets bulged suspiciously. Before he could offer a protest he and his mother and brother were hurried away to the offices and searched.
In spite of their best endeavors the inspectors were unable to find anything dutiable in the belongings of this charming family, and finally the young Frenchmen were permitted to go on their way with their mother and their belongings. It would have been a little interesting to have obtained from them their first impressions of America.
The officials were, however, so angry that these good people had not turned out to be smugglers, that they gave the next few passengers who fell into their hands a very unhappy time.
One man who had bought a two-dollar doll for his little girl was obliged to pay $1.50 as duty on it. Another who had spent $200 on new gowns for his wife had to pay another $126 before he was able to take them to her.
One father was loud in his protests because he was taxed for the dresses his daughters were wearing, and which he declared had been used by them for a year and a half.
Nobody escaped on that unlucky day, and from eighty passengers about $5,000 was collected. If this keeps up, our treasury will soon be overflowing.
So annoying has the Dingley Bill made matters for travellers that a consultation has been held by the customs officials, to see whether it is not possible to make things a little easier for them.
The bill was aimed at importers, or people who buy and sell goods manufactured in foreign countries. It was not intended to harass the lives out of tourists who have merely purchased a few pretty things while they have been abroad.
It would of course be unjust to allow these said pretty things to be brought into the country free of duty, lest unscrupulous persons should take advantage of the Government's kindness to avoid paying duty on articles they intended to sell.