New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-15
mouth College lave voted to adopt the oxford cap and
THE NAVAL OFFICE.
OUGHT IT TO BE ABOLISHED.

OTGHT IT TO BE ABOLISHED.
MIR. CORNELL PREFERS NOT TO GIVE AN OPINION
CLEAR STAT, MENr FROM CONTROLLER bohl-
DUTIES OF THE OFFICE
A. Il. Cornell was asked, yesterday, his opln-
ion Of the project again mOoed in Washington Tor aOo-
fishing the Naval Office and turning lis functions over to
the Custom House proper lie replied that III we" OF
his peculiar position at the present tme he Thought that
whatever be might say would he likely to De hsiniu
preted and therefore preferred to say nothing. Inc
question Of his removal still pending III he Hrho'
the nomination OF his successor being under coh'"'i"
ton by the Committee on Commerce. OF when SeI"'oi
Conklmg il Chairman. While he thought IL womb DO al"
wise for him TO spa of the importance OF an Once from
which the President WAS DESTROYS OF removing him 10
would call Assistant Conirollcf Burt. who was NOR
ouglv Informed on the subject and would give all de-
sired information
The reporter who sought Mr.. Conell's views on the
question had formed rather unfayorable opinion OF me
usefulness of the Naval ONCE ON the fact that during
the course Of the previous week he had called eisht
times AT the Office in business hours without once hnd
ing its chief in This tihng circumstance did not, how
ever preiudice him against the very clear explanation OF
the workings Of the office. and It's importance to full
collection Of the revenue, which Nh Burt proceeded to
make.
There is a prevalent opinion" said Mir Burt. that
the Naval Office is a sInecurc, and every two or three
wears bill is introduced in Congress TO abolish it, The
idea grows Of total ignorance of the duties OF the
Office It's title Is misnomer 10 begin with, and leads To
many misconceptions. The Naval Officer has nothing To
do with naval affairs. He is the head Of bureau oi
control which n chec. upon the Collector Of customs
His business to that the oIlector gets the dues
on all duhable goods brought to the port ana turns inc
money over 10 the Treasury"
81 confess ny total ignorance 10 the functions OF
the Office" sad the reporter VIII YOU kindly explain
further Z"
Certainly. Every vessel entering the port must get
permit from Naval Officer before she can laud her
cargo and to DO this the captain must file here copy OF
her manifest We the manifest and charge the
Collector with all the duties he ought to collect that
cargo Afterwards get IRON the Assistant Treasurer
statement Of the amount he has collected and the di
fcrenc as II any, become matter for investigation
Tnus as you see the Naval OGice holds the Collector
and his Officers to an accountability for their work,
and exercises a supervision them. Tie importance
Of such control will be understood when you think OF
the precautions the Government takes to insure the
proper disbursement of money. Take the ease Of army
payments Tor example. Their accounts are first revised
by the Pdymaste General, then dizzy audited by an
auditor the Treasury, and finally examined again by
the Second Controller Now with all this pains TO make
sure that tc money out right 70 would be absurd
the Government had system " seeing that ii gets its
dues beyond the Ordinary collection machinery OF the
Custom House. The duties OF the Naval Oiccr ana the
Controller quite distinct Under the old moety sys-
tenn abolished in 1874, there community Of inter
est between them which was injurious 10 the ehcchc!
the service"
GLOW did the Naval Officer who, It seems is really
Controller, &c, this absurd tiie?'
IN colonial times there was, DE ice Controller an
officer appointed 10y she Crown whose special duty was
to enforce the navigation laws lie scaled the Naval
Oiccr .Thctwo Offices were consolidated. aud Congress,
after the Revolution. in making new cis ms CODE re-
tanned the ue OF the place. the duties OF which hid be-
come obsolete ana applied 1t 10 tnc office Of Controller
The error constantly msca people who know little OF
the customs service"
What t. Thought in the Collectors Once Of the utility
Of this branch of The seryiccl" " ud Toe only natu-
rel" replied Mr. Burt that those engaged in collecting
dutcs should th the oversight o the Naval on could
be dispensed WITH such, however Is NOT the opinion Of
the Treasury Department, which the best judge OF our
work"
How many persons are now connected with the Of
Meet" "Iu all, sixfyfour. Except the men who supcr-
wise thc inspection OF The baggage ~ Passengers arriving
on ocean steamers all employed inside the O1ice.