The New York herald., 1873-08-31
FEDERAL OFFICE AFFAIRS.

Payment OF the Months Salarfes-Con-
troversy Between the Customs Officers
and the Postmaster-The Sanctity of
the Mails Must BE Prcserved-Payment
of Pensions-Civil Service Affairs.
most interesting epoch in the existence OF
government officials is the end OF each month, at
which time salaries are paid, and, in many cases,
the hard earned stipend Is taken by the one
to whom it is due in order to merely pay it over to
the sharks who have taken advantage of the en-
ploye's necessities during the interim of the month
by advancing money at the nominal interest OF ten
per cent or 100 per cent per annum, to relieve his
pressing need.
The last DAY Of September coming on Sunday
the employees Of the several government Offices re-
ceived their salary yesterday. The
BUSINESS AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE
during the past month was an Improvement over
that OF July yet it was by no means what 1t ought
to have been at this season Of the year.
MOST IMPORTANT CONTROVERSY
as well as highly interesting to merchants and
Others, has been carried on during the past week
between the Custom House people and Postmaster
James 1t was claimed by the former that when
ever any letters are received at the Post ONCE
pected of containing valuabes subject to duty the
same must be sent to the Customs Department, to
be opened then and there and appraised for tariff
Dues Mr.. James claimed that
THE SANCTITY OF THE MAILS
must be respected; and no one, except the parties
to whom letters were addressed, had right to
break the seal. The Cdsus beut was carried to Wash
ington; and the stand taken by Postmaster James
tresweI. rs but the Secretary Of the treasury in.
structed General Arthur to detail customs ofllcer
to the Post ONCE, with Mr.. James concurrence,
be opened and disposed OF. Mr. James Is strength
ened in the acuon taken on this subject by the
POST Ovrrrr prcrrI ArroN
which is ample in Its provisions on every point in
volved In this controversy
SECTION 62-when letters packages from a foreign
has believe mat Or packages con-
tain cssf 81 he Sh sa n ss
located the receipt OF such letters or packages and the
The ms or seksSses S must 5e;ansd
by an officer OF the customs will be opened BY such
sf parties wSc ss
Office and open the same postmas,ers are expected to
through the mails
FILTHY CONDITION OF THE POST OFFICE.
Notwithstanding the constant tinKering and
temporary repairs TO the Old church the Post Olce
building Is 10 norrid state. In order TO gain some
S rans Se %efe oot pr the once
almost swamped, and the water, instead OF running
or settles under the moor and becomes stagnant.
Inc Ou bOWcI vi liueTV sIrees Whs TcluONtu u
short time andpn its cavity new room fitted up
besides which floor was rented on Liberty street
and added to the postal department; yet the ac-
commodations are stIn very limited. Mr. A. b.
Muet, supervising Architect OF the Treasury De-
partment was at the Post Once yesterday and
promised that he would exert all his power to have
the lower part OF the new building ready for the
Postmaster by New Years. The increasing busi-
ness In mail matters makes IT desirable that in
creased facilities be speedily extended to the New
York Post Ofce.
Mr.. James received o notification yesterday tha.
the Post ONCE at Annandale N j., had been robbed
on Friday night Of postage stamps to the value OF
$3.50. high official or the government reports
that Postmaster Samuel Booth, OF Brooklyn, will
resign his orice and that Captain Sam p. Russell,
superintendent OF Bonded Warehouses under the
Custom House authorities, will be his successor.
Postmaster James desires to contradict the re.
port published recently In regard to the arrest OF
Alfred Mcf'yke for robbing the mails. II was
stated tnat the accused was clerk In the Post
once, whereas he was only driver In the employ
Of the New York Transfer Company, and IN this
way connected with the Post Office. McPyKe was
suspected iog some time past hy SnecjA AgspI