New-York tribune., 1869-01-07
THE SPOILS or OFFICE.
THE NETWORK CUsTOM-HoUsE.


THE NETWORK CUST0M-HOUSE.
At the present time, when so many are
patrotically seeking an opportunity TO cooperate with
the new Administration In its efforts to restore the coun
try its old prosperity and happiness, and only wait to
learn in what capacity the public desires their services
the following article will be found full Of interest and
timely information In studying the sysem OF labor In
Custon-House must indeed wonder at the extent
to which the spirit OF public duty and sacrifice Is relied
calls for so great draft from the most capable of
citizens And yet, we believe. can he found ready
to stand In the gap at every one OF the posts Deo"
The Collector of this Port has salary of 5000 beside
perdnses arising from seizures, which amounted III the
last fiscal year $4,000 There are other sources
from which Collector may derive revenue, but these
we may aude TO hereafter In his immediate duties ne
is assisted by Asstant Collector, who has salary oi
5000. aud some 10 clerks. =. .
In hs ad GTga12o no u d divisions fsS proper
The First Division is the Auditors Department which
keeps the general accounts The Auditor receives sal
Of 8 600 and assisted BY FT1 assistant i SiIh o
"a salary M dd oi 5000 era ~ 20 er, WIN
second pivso9 the Cashiers DEPARTMENT nd The
arc about 10 Clerks beside III this Department
The remaining departments are IN charge OF ten Deputy
Collectors. who receive a salary Of 5000 each.
The Third Division, Warehouse Department, is one
OF the most extensive and important ones under the
Collector and employs force OF about 70 clerks In ad
dton II has charge under Superintendent of all the
warehouses This Superintendent also receives salary
OF and has tho Immediate control OF the b store
proprIetors OF tile bonded warehouses which they
are employed The opportunities Of the Deputy In charge
OF this division ample for private arrangements with
warehouse propretOrs, and for extended ineRtlnate
transactions, both under cover OF and IN defiance OF the
Tho Fourth Division has charge of the entrance and
clearance Of vessels and employs about 20 clerks t
understood that Pollard from Virginia. has lately re-
signed his position in this diyisonJ
The Fifth Division has the control and direction OF the
business OF all the entry, bond and amendment clerks
beside the exclusive direction OF the issue Of Free Per
mits" The deputy Of this division desguates also, the
cases which shall be sent to the appraisers Tor examiba
ton The chief clerk receives. By special act OF Congress
salary OF $500 which may not have been extrayagant
IN the DAYS OF his youth and usefulness His assistant
receives 81 TOO and the 10 elry clerks 800 eaeh In add
levy upon the merchants they pass entries Be
side mentioned. there some 20 more clerks
The sixth and seventh have charge OF the in
voices and orders, and employ some 40 clerks .
The Eighth Division or Drawback Bureau, has some Is
clerks with less employment than formerly Dy reason OF
The Ninth Division, Law Department has charge or
all suits brought by against the Collector the cancel
ation bonds and charge Of the archives, and employs
The Tenth Division. or Seizure Bureau. employs a smI-
lectors through this channel ITS business
is attended to with unusual vigilance The Surveyor
and constitute with the Deputy in charge. trumyrate
that not only terror to eyidoers but also to the g
The Eleventh DIVISION has the custody Of the goods
while IN the hands Of the appraisers and employs some
50 clerks Its duties coordinate with those OF tho ap
pTbe Twelfth Division ia newly devised scheme for in.
creasng the expenses collecting the revenue and fur
nishes necures 10 six or eight patriots VINO attend
to the cOrding and scaling Of packages which are des
tined to be Slipped via Panama The chief of this Di,
vision eIpcrienced merchant from the eommerciai
The Naval Once is presided over by naval officer
with salary OF 5000 and shares similar TO those OF tho
Collector 1t is present vacant. THIS Office was or
ganyed under tho law Of l799 which provided for giving
credit for the payment OF duties under system that
required the taking Of bonds for the amounts probably
due The bonds having for different periods. 1t
was found necessary have the iay action OF the Col
lector checked by coordinate officer BY law OF 1915
this provision repealed, and cash payment OF the
duties required, thus making the Naval Once wholly su
perfuous 1t still remains, however, sacred relic OF
former times 1t is merely an unnecessary audit OF the
Collectors accounts, which are all thoroughly reviewed
by tho Commissioner OF Customs IN washington Inc
office has not been filled since the resignation OF Gen.
Blk who held II for some time after he was appointed
Minister TO France and It's duties are now performed Dy
a special deputy, who IL Is understood receives part
the shares growing out OF the distribution The Office
employs three deputies and five entry clerks at e. 500
oaoh and other clerks numbering co In ALL at cost oi
about 100000 per annum.
incidont TO the collection OF customs The Sur
veyor h in the eye OF the law chief deputy or head In,
spector-tho Recommendation Of tho Commissioner OF
Customs that lie should be more independents or the Col
lector 20 tho contrary notwithstanding The surveyor
pockets and the spos equal In amount to those OF
the Collector lilo employs three deputies, at salary OF
$500 One OF these gentemen WITH corps OF dozen
sengers with their packages, and consequently, abund
ant opportunities for making seizures The law awards
noiety to the sezng officer In practice however tls
found that the Surveyor, with his deputy or some
ring absorb all the money accrung from seizures, to
the exclusion OF the faithful officer who should De re-
gardod the nformer This branch OF the service en-
poys corps OF $50 inspectors, at ~ por day. ana half
many night watchmen at 50 day IL has also ut It's
disposal two Revenue cutters for boarding purposes tho
charge OF which the Collector has assigned TO literary
gentleman, who occasionally doYotes an hour 10 the d
attaching TO tho CustomH0Uso attributable To the OPP
erations OF the Inspectors Some OF them indeed
ceeut men. but many receive their appointment Chiefly
"a reward for their services as pothOuse politicians
Tho demands OF these inspectors, especially upon the
steamship lines are becoming more and more mp0rtu-
nate intoerabe, and exrayagant, In fact so much so
that the salary which each officer receives from the Gov
ernment II far the small share OF the booty he carries
away with him. in addition TO all this the Surveyor has
rhcing individuals who hold these positions draw each
salary OF $500 and perquisites amounting 10 as much
moro and kindly permit their foreman to do their work
for remuneration paid by the Government The weigh
ers aud gangers employ also labor FORCE Tor which they
eXpend an annual stipend Of s200.000
The Appraisers Department independent or Tie Col
eoor having charge OF the appraisal OF merchandise
The Appraiser receives salary OF $4,000 and his 10 AS
estant Appraisers receive 5000 each These give AGAIN
employment TO "a EXamncrs. with salaries ranging from
$500 10 $4,000 and so clerks and leo abOeIs sly led
openers and packers receive compensation OF s. per
day for service that Is usually concluded by p m.
There is also Genc' Appraiser with $50 salary and
q clerk assistant with s25VU.
The manual labor the Appraisers store Is now per
formed by contract. ut Of 100000 per year whe
the carriage OF goods To the public store for which the
Goyernment has To pay cost 100000 more bringing the
entire cost OF tho Appraisers Department including rent
up to tho respectable figure Of S6000 The Collectors
department that OF the saryeyor with
total cost OF collecting dutos AT the Fort OF
moro than s2,0OOO00 per annnm.
There about 205 positions with salary OF $3.50 TO
5000; 1863 that bring 0OO 154 with 2OO SOL with AGO.
a with 800 33 with G0 ~ with 1900 81 with $4,000
"a with 1850 % with 5000 beside with $500 or
$1,000 Beside these regular forces there arc many others
at work In the pursuit OF money-brokers, lawyers 49,
most OF whom seem TO prosper
How may get OF these 200 places and how to
turn penny when there together with other interesting
iteus incident to the place. may chronicle hereafter