The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-30
OUR nav COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS.


Under this heading We find in the issues of
yesterdays German papers published in
this city the Virginia Stats Gazette and Ger
man Anzeiger, very interesting and fattei-
ing notices on the advent of the new in
cumbent, which is the more gratifying since
they advocate different political views from
our own. But it shows that our German
friends are ever ready to accord justice and
merit where they are due, and we hope
that the practical suggestions limited at by
them may not go UNDECIDED by our new
collector, since they seem to be given irre-
spective Of partisan motives. The Stats
Gazette says:
ut is of rare occurrence that high off,
Gals OF the government are dismissed
shortly before an election which Al is to decide
upon the continuance of the incumbent
administration without sufficient cause,
and merely on account Of political heresies
and meddlesomeness, which appears to
have been the only crime of the former
incumbent and which the powers that are
will not easily overlook. We have but
shortly witnessed that the chief Custom
house officer was politically beheaded, or
rather hat apparently, sans rime ct sans
rdison, the door was shown to him, and in
order to right matters, DR.. Charles s.
Mills, one of our most esteemed and hon.
| orable citizens, and one of the few who
are not ofhce-seekers, was appointed in his
stead.
From such q man we have at least a
right to anticipate that be will conduct the
office for the general good and satisfaction,
and not to use it, strictly speaking, to make
political capital of it therefore, we take
it upon ourselves to remind him that GER
tain reforms are necessary in his depart
ment, which will enable him to facilitate
the business of his office.
" 1T is an indisputable fact that, compa-
r~atively speaking, there is not q port in the
United States where as many German YES
sells arrive as in this, and the captains as
well as the supercargo are compelled to
come in contact with the Custom-house of.
f~cials, and particularly with the inspectors,
whereby often explanations and informal
ton are absolutely necessary, but notwith-
standing this, we believe that the former
incumbent never paid any attention in this
matter during his management. We hope
and trust that DR.. Mills may profit by our
suggestions, and improve upon his prede-
cessor by the appointment Of a proper
quota Of Germans as inspectors"
"Dr. Mills should more especially give
this matter a proper consideration, since
his adversaries have frequently asserted
that he was ~unfavorable to foreigners, and
since he has q good opportunity to prove
the falsity of the ISLANDERS, if they be such,
while on the other hand he will also have
an opportunity to exhibit to the public
that he values the discharge Of his official
duties above political considerations"
The Daily Anzeiger remarks: DR..
Mills. our new Collector of Customs,
would receive the unanimous thanks and
appreciation of the Germans of this city by
the appointment Of a respectable German
as Inspector of the Port, no matter to
which political party he may belong. Ger
man vessels arrive in this port in consider
able numbers and our export trade is on a
rapid increase, so that our Collector, who
possesses the personal respect and regard
of his German fellow citizens by his long
and social intercourse with them, by the
appointment of a respectable and compe-
petent German for the above position, one
who is perfectly conversant with the Eng
lish rs well as the German languages, and
we'll qualified to discharge the duties that
may be assigned him satisfactorily, would
be a wise selection by the Doctor"