The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-23
CUSTOM HOUSE AFFAIRS.
Heavy ImpOrts-Civil Service Rules APP
piled to the Vacant Surveyorship.

Heavy ImpOrts-Civil Service Rules APP
piled to the Vacant Surveyorship.
Yesterday, being legal holiday, the Custom
House was closed during the day, with the excep-
ton Of one hour, between nine and ten O'Clock in
the morning. for the entry and clearance of vessels
to which duty Deputy Collector Embree and his
chief clerk attended. Otherwise the granite build
ing was deserted, except by Mr.. George Hitler,
the Supern tendent and his STAFF OF watchmen.
The business Tor the week past has been very
heavy indeed, and will compare favOrably with
that of the week previous. The receipts for duty
exceeded five million dollars, and the prospects are
that for OF least a month to come heavy importa-
lions Will be the rule.
THE OWL SERVICE CODE
is at present agitating everybody in the govern
ment Offices consequent upon the vacancy OF Sur
veyOr, which position is to be filled by COMPETE
tive examination. On the 18th instant the Secre-
tary of the Treasury wrote letter to Collector
Arthur and Messrs. George william Curtis and
Jackson Schultz, Of New York, requesting them to
act as q committee TO consider the merits, actual
and relative, OF the persons now employed In the
Offices of the Surveyor OF the Port of New York for
nomination to the head Of that office. Keeping In
view the rules OF the Civil Service, they are to
adopt such means as shall seem to them proper for
ascertanng the character and qualifications of the
several persons who may be considered cand-
dates for promotion, and make particular report
in regard to the three who may appear to be best
qualified.
This order has set the bali in motion. Candidates
are now springing up every day; but whether they
will remain In the field after ascertaining what Is
tremeiy doubtful While the present Special
Deputy Surveyor, Mr. james l.. Benedict had been
nominated by the President and his confirmation
was pending in the Senate everybody wished him
well and hoped that he would gain the rich prize.
But as soon as 1t became known that his nomina-
era Grant did not wish to offend any one in par.
ticular), the "Civil Service" rules offered CAPT
tai bulwark for the veteran warrior to watch the
contention from afar and he now says, Let the
asprants fight 1t out on that line II 1t takes all
Summer"
Collector Arthur states that he has received no
other Instructions than those quoted above; but
this commission will necessarily be ruled by the
regulations promulgated by the President April
49, 1872, and the schedule Of groups prepared by
the Advisory Board upon which the following has
q particular bearing:-
When vacancy in the office of Collector of the
Customs in the customs districts Of New York. Boston
leans, Philadelphia Vermont Burlington, Oswego,
Niagara, Buffalo Creek, Champaign Portland and Fal,
Santiago SgfS % Texas ayeston ad sSsa
Treasury shall ii any the subordinaes in the
district T which such yacancy are %
Of The ocs e be Med such ,Sa be
judgment qualified the position, which
~ But i no such suSOrdlnas BE- found auaasd Sr i
made az the re Of he
curing such positions the customs service In
said districts included In the suboined classified
ton will be filled In accordance with the rules Appoint
ment to all other positions In the customs service In said
districts may be- until otherwise ordered excepted from
the operation Of the rules.
No doubt Mr.. James L. Benedict Will be o candi-
date again, and risk his reputation upon an exam-
nation. Deputy Collector Thomas l.. James, OF the
Third division, Is one OF the most prominent candi-
dates, and being Chairman Of the Board for Exam
nations In the Collectors ONCE, under the Civil
Service code, having been selected for his intelli-
gence and general aptitude, he will doubtless prove
a formidable antagonist in the list Of aspirants.
There are numerous other candidates, but their
names have not transpred.
A vacancy OF assistant appraiser in the depart
ment of Appraiser william A. Darling, to 1li the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. David
b. Melsh, elected a member of Congress from the
Eighth district will be filed next Wednesday by
competitive examination.
In the Naval ONCE two separate examinations
were held last week under the supervision OF
Messrs. 8. w. Burt, A. w. Green and Etheridge.
For promotion to position OF a 81, 400 clerkship
Henry b. Whepley, james ID. Andrews and Lock
wood r. May ranked highest. The other examna-
ton was accessible to outsiders TO compete for a
81, 200 cerkship. Ten gentlemen appeared In the
class, and the three highest In the class were
Messrs Lewis M. Meeker Timothy O'Meara, George
B. Squires. or these, Naval O6icer A. II. Lann
viii make his selection Of ONE for each position
and when confirmed by the S,ecretary OF the Treas
ury the lucky candidate VIII receive his proper ap
| pcintment.