The New York herald., 1873-09-08
UNCLE SANS TRUSTS.
Business at the Custom House. PEN
sion Bureau and Post Office.
DoINGs OF FEDERAL OFFICIALS,
Vacancies at the New York Custom House-Civil
Service Rules To Be Applied in Filling
Them Statesmen" Anxious to Serve
Thor Country-Paymento Of Quar-
terly Pensions-Postal AfHalrs


terly Pensions-Postal Affairs.
This ts the season Of the year when matters con-
nected with federal Offices quite active. The
officials who are fortunate enough or have the
means 70 indulge In summer vacation have
mostly all returned from the rural Districts and
have hung rod and rife and hammock, net, bob
and sinker on the wall, to remain there until the
next heated term. and the NimrOd OF few days
ago has settled down to hard labor In downright
earnest. The first one to come back was the inde-
fatigable Collector, General Arthur, and his trip
to the Brazos improved him wonderfully.
There IS considerable activity existing In i'm
portations. as every arriving steamship brings in
large quantities of goods. Withdrawals. for sew
era days past, have been greatly on the Increase
and the OF this activity may be noted as two
fod-nrst, the commencement OF brisk fall
trade, and, second, the sudden dropping or in the
premium on gold
SHORT OF HELP.
Ever since the resignation Of Mr.. James as
Deputy Collector OF the Third division. and his
promotion to the Postmastership, the vacancy
thus created has never been filed Colonel
Des Anges. his chief clerk, has discharged the
dual duties Of Deputy Collector and his
own. In this same division another vacancy has
existed, caused by the resignation Of Mr. Harvey
Major, Deputy superintendent OF the Custom
House and assistant to the chief clerk OF the ware
house division. This happened about the 1st OF
April Shortly after Mr.. John r. Lydecker, Special
Deputy Collector, and in charge OF the Fifth
division. promoted to Storekeeper of the Port,
thus creating vacancy In this department,
which has not yet been filed. As the business of
the Custom House has been retarded considerably
owing to these causes, the Collector has deter
mined not only to secure officers for the existing
vacancies, but has applied for and received au-
thOrlty to appoint three additional deputy col
lectors In Order to carry ont this purpose and
the the law regulating such matters General Arthur
THE CIVIL SERVICE CODE,
and ordered an examination OF applicants for the
10th inst. The competition win be for three addi-
tional Deputy Collectors, four 81, 900 cerkships,
several clerks at salaries Of $1,000 each and two
night inspectors. The two latter named positions
may be contested by outsiders, but for the former
only the present employees OF the Custom House
short time ago for the vacancies in the Third and
Fifth divisions. from which the two showing the
highest standard OF proficiency will be selec;ed BY
THE RUSH FOR OFFICE
at present is immense especially Is this the case
On all sides by ''curbstone statesmen" each one
laborlng under the delusive impression that he is
political Atlas, on whose shoulders rest the wei
fare Of the country; and, to carry the burden, this
man aud thaaAnan should-Day, must be appointed.
In this emergency the enactment Of the civil Ser
vice law has proved boon to the Collector The
'.statesmen'' are well received and as politely
referred to Mr. Fred j. Phillips the coectors pri
trlots with blanks to apply for appointment,
subject to the Civil Service rules. THIS duty
| Mr.. Phillips exercises with so much suavity
Of manners and good grace, that the '.'patriotsh
cannot possibly take offence. L there is hard.
| one. Late and early he Is az his desk, and in the
course OF q day he is called upon to answer thou
more individuals.
| QUARTERLY PAYMENT OF PENSIONS.
Many heart was made glad on Wednesday last,
and many a poor widow who had anxIously awaited
the coming OF the Atm Of September has been able
since to o supply her little M ones with square
Of pensions to soldiers and sailors OF the late war;
anu their widows. was begun by Pension Agent
! SiIas b. butcher, in the basement OF the custom
| At this payment the biennial medical examina-
| tion is made by three experienced surgeons, VINO
| constitute the New York Board. They are in at
tendance from eight A. M. to iour p. NJ each day
male applicant as to the continuance OF his dis
ability. every pensoner whose certificate does
not III express terms exempt him thcrefrom, or
whose disability Is not OF q permanent character,
such as loss OF arm, leg, &C. Is subject to being
examined. said examination, however, does not
apply to soldiers OF 1872, as these are SURVIVORS,"
and not Classed as 'lnyalds."
II the surgeons, in their physical investigation of
wounds, or that the degree is less tnan that ior
which he was originally rated, his pension Is re-
duced and payment made accordngly: This, how
| ton for an increase whenever in the judgment Of
| the surgeons, MS disability is increased.
The utmost care has to be exercised by the sur
| gcons In their examinations ior II mistake Is
| made in this certificate and payment granted
thereon they cannot recall 1t to rectiy the error,
and the soldier is put TO the trouble and expense OF
renewing his Application. Drs. L. Franklin Smith,
J. +. Ferguson and M. x. Hogan compose the
| Medical Board at this office. Under the law the
Commissioner OF Pensions mas authority to appoint
additional surgeons during the period OF biennial
examinations II the exigencies OF the service de-
| mand 1t. Among the pensioners whom Mr. butcher
pays are Governor John A: Dix, the venerable
| Thurlow Weed General william II. Morris, Daniel
Drew, the millionaire; Louis LOunsbery, born 1901,
| aud others. The amount these 'vets" OF 1912 re-
| ceive is at the rate OF $8 per month. Polly Buck
| ingham, the widow OF a Revolutionary soldier died
| since the last payment or pensions. at the ad
| vanced age OF nnety-six years. She was next to
| the Oldest pensl0ner on the New York list. The
| oldest pens0ner is Dolly Love- who comes at every
| payment TO the office Tor her stipend aud, under
the weight of ninetyeight years, looks remarkably
| Thus far about 100000 has been paid out. The
medical examination progresses slowly, and in
consequence Mr. butcher, with his additional help,
| can easily pay all who apply with their amended
| certificates
| The present payment Will probably continue for
POST OFFICE AFFAIRS
are rather quiet. but the great activity existing
| there remains undated Whoever has anything
do with handng s4e M mails mpss
| In this branch or the government service.
Postmaster James has not abated one jot from his
ONCE to the highest state Of perfection, and MS
system OF rapid deliveries is genuine succ ess.
The new letter boxes for the Post office have been
placed in position by sections, one at time,
rom the closing of the ONCE on Saturday night to
Monday morning. in order not TO interrupt busi-
ness. Four thousand OF these boxes are now up and
completion thereof Mr.. James proposes to make an
innovation In delivering mail matter, which will
not only be great accommodation TO the public,
but Will astonish the natives"