The New York herald., 1877-07-28

come vacant the chic clerk OF that officer charged
with the performance ofthe duties formerly devolyns on
the Assistant Collector We think that he should nave
ST. 900 while he performs this duty. There arc Two
other chief clerks whose salaries now equal 10 tha
Of Deputy Collector but whose duties are pernaps a. 1re
DIVISION who guides and directs ihc entry ana hqui
dating clerks IN the proper assessment OF Imports o
the chief iquidaor OF the Auditors ONCE VINO mas sso
charge OF tho voluminous correspondence rcaung W
protests ana appeals, both positions roqur'ng
geusn sp,iow Snowease ,v W. % shink that each
Of these clerks should receive $aooo tnc
amount at present paid them ana ,r ina. 'ne nj .,
naming chief clerks should each receive, 10 ~
present SO 500 per annum That the remaining clerks
in the Collectors office should be graded according & 70
$500, 81, 600 81 400 and 81 200 per snnum with two
grades Of messengers at $s4o and S72o per annum.
That the rst class snoplH INC dues o ihose
clerks In adjusting and estimating mo imposts
assessed require talent OF n'gn ordor ana r, arc
Inc otner clerks of the Collectors Office should be
graded by the Collector in other OF the classes
mentioned, according to duties and ability; We also
recommend that the Comptroller of tho Naval Office
and the Auditor OF the Surveyors oice be each paid
salary Of 81 600 por annum provided they hold ne Inc
plans OF eradation In respect to salaries not liked
by law Tor the clerks IN tho Naval and
praiscrs oflce. We also regard tho present
salaries Of OF the examiners In the Appraisers
Office as and We think tina, eacn man 81
$4,000. Al London, while there Is no Customs ON
Ger who receives as much as tho Collector al Now
York with a salary OF $4,000, the average saa-
rics of the upper officials Is beyond the average
OF ours OF tho relative positions In tho service
in Paris, where, 1t Is said no government Is more OK
more faithfully served, tho salaries are much smaller
But tho French service has features wh'ch cause
places DO sought with eaeerncss by men lifted ior
the work. The ntness OF candidates Is asccrtalncd
with care A system OF promotion affords stimulus
to cxcron and makes the members OF the lower class
a check upon the higher. while with good behavior
the incumbent who holds office for thirty years Is re-
tired with pension OF about two-thirds OF ms salary
for the rest OF his life. In this way The government is
said make the most oil human faculties ana interests
al the smallest cost.
CLOSING RECOMMENDATIONS.
Should Congress, in view OF the increasing and in
genous efforts the part OF persons abroad and IN
ihis country to cyadc tho laws and deiraud the
toms constituting has been said, a standing con
spracy against tho Treasury" be impressed with the
extent which the su5jcction Of the customs service
Ito partisan control endangcs at once the revenue the
commerce. tho industry and the morality OF the
country it will doubtless desire TO do IT'S part toward
urresng that peril toward securing in the service
the tests required by Washington and Jefferson N the
youth OF the Republic--ot honesty and capabiliiy.
Should it, looking simply to the safety OF the
revenue confirm by appropriate LEGISLATION the
steps taken by the President to place the
Cnstom House at New York on a business basis a
simple prohibition OF the removal Of subordinatcs
ccpt for cause would probably enable the governments
to reduce somewhat the scale OF salaries without der
to The public Interests. IN conclusion the Com
mission respectfully recommend:-
l. The adoption OF the scale Of salaries herein set
forth.
ii. The adoption oil an order exciuung from lug
Custom House all merchant clerks, Custom House
brokers other persons who, after the promugaton
of the order shall violate the law against making or
Offering make any gratuity or present OF any money
other thing OF value TO any person employed IN the
customs service.
ILL., That revision Of tho force similar to that
directed by letter TO the Collector dated May 2S
1877 be made at stated periods, upon written reports
OF tho chiefs of departments, and that employees found
wanting In the capacity industry integrity and good
habits referred your said letter who shall be
found guilty OF any OF the offences therein specified
be replaced by Others whose good character and fitness
for the post shall be ascertahed and certified In such
manner the wisdom OF the department shall deter
mine.
All OF which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN JAY.
LAWRENCE TURNURE.
j. H. ROBINSON
To Hon. JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary OF the Treasury,
Washington.