New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-06-09

sion appointed by him to examine the
customhouse at New York. 1t is this re-
port which called forth his letter of ap-
proval already published. We give there
fore the heads of this report, in order
that our readers may infer what is to be
the policy of reorganization in the Gus
tomhouse of New Orleans:
The New York commission has made a
''broad inquiry into the general orders OF
the customs service and not a scrutiny
into individual delinquencies" Of It's en-"
ployes. 1t finds the following general
facts:
1. That appointments have been made
in great part under political pressure from
party considerations and with insufficient
regard to the fitness of the appointees
Under the existing system the incumbents
of Office in the customs service, however
high, responsible or difficult may be the
duties, requiring often the skill and expe-
rience Of experts, are appointed generally
at the request of politicians and political
associations in this and other States with
little or no examination into the fitness of
the appointees beyond the recommends
tons Of their friends.
2. That employees are required to con-
tribute to the support of the party. Most
of these officers comply with this demand
and some of them repair diminished sala-
ries by exacting or accepting from the
merchants unlawful gratuities. Under
these predicates it is not surprising that
the commission report as their conclusion,
from the evidence given and from their
own observation, that part Of the force
now employed in the service are deficient
in the proper attention to business, as well
as in business qualifications and integrity
of character; that few of them are en-
ployed more or less in private business,
to the possible detriment in some cases of
the interests of the service, and that some
fraudulently accept moneys for services
rendered in their official capacity. Nor
that they should pronounce this manner
of appointment to be unsound in prinei-
pie, dangerous in practice, demoralizing
in its influence on all connected with the
customs service and calculated to encour-
age and perpetuate official ignorance, in
efficiency and corruption, which, pervert-
ing the powers of the government to per-
country with debt and taxes and assisted
to PROSTATE the trade and industry of the
nation.
From these views and with their in
dorsement by the President the people Of
New Orleans may anticipate what is the
course prescribed to the collector here.
There are incidentally some reasons why
the collector of our port should scrutinize
carefully the condition of the customs
revenues when the Office shall come into
his hands, because we are satisfied that as
the decline of the city OF New Orleans
has been attributed to Republican mis-
government of the State, 50 the continued
decline of foreign imports at this port
viii be imputed to Republican collector.
It will be found that the foreign imports
of New Orleans we're in the year 1857
more than twenty-four millions, and con-
stituted twenty-five per cent of the whole
imports of the United States. They were
last year eleven millions of dollars, or less
than five per cent of the whole imports.
This diminution of revenue and rates is
due entirely to the importation and de-
livery by steamer and railroad. This fact
is proved by the immense increase of i'm
port receipts at the Eastern ports, and
especially by those Of Baltimore and
Philadelphia, once not tenth of the
values imported by New Orleans, but now
more than double those receipts.
The attention Of the Collector viii be
called to the importance of improving
these receipts by urging upon the gov
eminent the construction of railroads
and other trade facilities for this post,
and also by the increase of the in-transis
trade, especially with Mexico and
Canada.
The nomination by our collector
Of Mr. F. Il. Hatch, a former col.
lector, on commission of inquiry, will
afford an excellent opportunity for com.
pairing the revenue and political system
which prevailed here in the palmy days o.
the Slidell Democracy with the reforma-
ton in both proposed by President
Hayes.
The Republicans here desire only to b
relieved Of the responsibilities Of com
mercial dealing inevitable from III.
modern change in The course Of trade
and. therefore, look with approval upor
the timely and broad inquiry ordered b,
the administration. We need neither DO
lltieal tinkers nor bummers, nor corrup
ton funds, but clear field for the intro
duction Of Republican measures Of pro
gresa We expect to prove that q nationa
railroad 10 Mexico, national appxopria
pEiations for steam postal service from
New Orleans to Brazil and Panama, SOM
favonble trade treaties will start .anev
the foreign Imports received ct New On
leans, and thus give tie Republican part,
a better claim upon the respect and SUI
haees Of the people than tbs bulldozin,
Democracy can possibly have. The Nev
York commission has recommended Tia
The force now employed in the custom
house Of New York .may be safely "a
duead in numbers twenty per cent. = Thi
Recommendation Is no doubt, due IL par
/ e The superior expedition Of through In
+ pogis. The importation ia bond, and thl
szcpfi1n e apssaY and sheltarod trans
. ...trt A. -. -. a.. - 49, 49,