The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-02
! Ion.
From The Journal of Commerce.
MIR. G.. DAVIS BILL TO REDUCE THE FDRCE
EMPLOYED AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE IN
NEW YORK.
Your obedieni servant

EMPLOYED AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE IN
NEW YORK.
The preamble to the bill states in substance, that
the revenue collected being considerably larger in
Is26-27 than in ls4O4I, employed during the first
period l64 persons whose pay amounted TO Sil2 COO,
and during the latter period SOP persons whose pay
amounted TO S4S9 900
The statement is erroneous in two particulars -
lst the actual pay of the revenue officers the LIST
January, 1923, $4,000 instead OF SIP 1000
and I'd, the number Of persons employed on the lst
January, 1872 was 4S0 instead Of 500 these correc-
tons being made il appears that the amount of com
pensation has not increased in greater ratio than
the number Of persons receiving it,
But why should the number of officers in 1912, be
nearly three times larger than in 1928 when the
venue collected in l840-4l considerably less
than that collected in l926-'27.
The first reason is that although the revenue col
lected during the first mentioned period less the
amount of business transacted and duty performed
more.
The principal indications of the business of the
Custom House are, first the tonnage entered second
the value of imports and third, the number Of entries
made by the merchants.
The tonnage entered in lS4c'l was 1876 600 and
in 1867 it SGT 900, being an excess of 50 per
cent. in the first named period.
The value of imports in lS40-'l was hun
dred and thirty-two millions, and in 1867 it was
seyenysix millions, being excess Of 10 per cent
in the first named period.
The number OF entries passed in 1901 was
Il 600, and in 1867 it $4,000, being
Of los per cent on the first named period
As an illustration of this inquiry it may be added
that the same merchandise which, in l640-1 paid Sc
venteen millions duty, would have paid forty-twc
millions IT the tariff had been the same IN 1857
or nearly twice as much as collected in the las
mentioned period.
The extension of the space within which bushes,
is transacted is also to be taken into consideration
/ has had Ilatnt
add largely to the duties Of the various officers con
nected with the guarding and dschargmg Of yes
sells.
The impulse which has been given to the CONNER
cal and manufacturing activity, during the last IF
teen years has developed new schemes Of fraud
Formerly il frequently happened that one officer SUI
perinended the discharging of two or three vessels
lying at the same wharf; but il is found
sary to detail at least one officer for each vessel dis
charging cargo, and to employ corps Of night in
spectors, 10 in number this class Of officers
known in 1867 and forms large part Of the pre-
sent increased force.
| The unavoidable effect of the act passed in 1880
to regulate the aPpraisement OF merchandise, ha
been to require 80 persons TO perform the duties o
that department, while in 1857 two appraisers ant
one clerk were sufficient to discharge the simple du
ties committed TO them.
II proper TO add that the number OF officers EN-
ployed on the lst January 1912, was material,
smaller than the present Collector found when he en-
tered upon the duties of his Office and that furtbe
decrease has since occurred.
Due consideration being given TO the various fact
which have been stated, it will appear that th'
amount Of revenue collected is not a fair criterion
for determining the number Of officers requisite,
that the number now employed is not excessiy,
when compared with the duties to be performed.
From the report Of Messrs. Kelley and Stewart
Commissioners appointed to investigate the affairs o
the Custom-Iouse, II appears that they examined th
subject with much attention, and they state, a, page
46 and So of part first, House Doc No 2l2 that M
greater number of clerks and officers were employed
than the current business of the port requires IN,
testimony taken upon the subject appears at pag,
s34, part second, same document.
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