The New York herald., 1875-11-21
THE CUSTOM HOUSE PANIC.


HEADS TO BE OUT OFF AND SALARIES TO EB
REDUCED.
perfect panic reigned in the Custom House yester
day among the officials in reference 10 the proposed
reduction Of salares-afteon per centor reduction
OF fifteen per cent OF the officials at the option OF CoL
lector Arthur. That gentleman admitted to HERALD
reporter that he feared very much the reduction in
question will cause considerable hardship. II is
sdered however that action will be taken for some
days till further correspondence has taken place be-
tween the Secretary OF the Treasury and General
Arthur Upward Of ten officials have been discharged
within the last fortnight, and all applications Tor post
tons in the Custom House steadily refused by the
Collector. When the axe does fall il is believed that
the most removals will be among politicians, while
hard workers and efficient to be retained
1t Is also reported that OF the overpaid clerks
will be 'docked" heavily and that the laborers will
their wages reduced from forty cents to thirty cents
hour also that for the future the clerks will have
attend their duties from nine sharp three in
stead OF from fifteen minutes past to fifteen minutes
to three. In conversation with Custom House OH
cial, who knows whereof he speaks, he said-''rhe
whole oil this alleged leak comes from the purchase OF
tho Appraisers Oce In Washington street. for $50 900
formerly Paul Spoford'a property, and the cost OF
the Naval 0ice The rent Of Post Building, where It
is, Is $50 600 year, the cost OF dtng IL up
and furnishing It has been $4,000 This Office was
established in King Georges time, when naval officer
sent To examine the accounts OF the Collector
or the Customs who had been detected in fraud and
this is the cause Of the existence Of the present Naval
ollce, which checks the work done in the Custom
House. IL Is nothing but solemn farce, and Of no
than the fifth wheel OF coach
The sooner It is wiped out Of existence
the better for the less cumbersome working OF the Gus
tom House Then there are tho nineteen veighers at
81 500 each. Two OF these could be dispensed with to
advantage The majority of the large salaries In tho
Custom House fixed by Congress aud cannot be
altered The salaries that be reduced clerks,
messengers porters, weghers assistants guagers men,
laborers and others The appointments made at Wash
ihgton lately OF Mr.. Leet OF Leet Stocking fame AZ
Assistant Collector Jersey City is farce and gives
that gentleman snecure Some of the boys hope that
when Congress meets 1t will make an appropriation for
Secretary Bristows Custom House deficiency. 1t is
thought In the Custom House that he Is in error in
imagining that this Custom House will behind
The general impression is that the reduction that
General Arthur will make will be OF salaries and not OF
men,
The following facts in this connection will prove in
teresting:-
CUSTOM HOUSE EMPLOYEES SALARIES.
The following the principal officials aud salaries
paid collector $12 600; Surveyor, IS, ,000 Naval
Uicer, s. 600 The following the principal ofl-
cers-l assistant collector l chief clerk I3 deputy
collectors assistant collector OF Jersey City deputy
collector at Castle Garden auditor assistant auditor,
l chief district clerk, cashier. assistant cashier,
storekeeper Of the port 2S2 inspectors $4 day. 122
night inspectors (S3 night 10 weighers 81 500 to
each or whom q clerk and foreman is attached s
gaugers measurers OF passenger vessels In addition
to this there large number Of other officials, max
ing aggregate of some 500 men. There are
four clerks at So 000 IL at 81 500 at 81 400 % at
81 200 23 at 81 O00 chief cigar inspector at 81 200
80 a. 81 500 4s at 600 50 At 400 IS at 81 200 "a
$4,000 10 assistant appraisers, So, 0OO examiners,
81 2O0 Is examiners 81 000 and examiners 81, 500
The total cost Of the 'machne" Is about g. zoo 600
CUSTOM HoUsR NOTES
Treasury commission Is to be sent 70 Europe u
take further evidence IN the Schulof Grape frauds
veyor sharpe yesterday afternoon the subject Il
was reported. Of the reduction question.