New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-06-02

Collector King has Addressed the follow
ng Communication to the parties con-

Collector King has addressed the follow
ing communication to the parties con-
cerned @
CvsToEHoUsH, CoLLseyoR's Owes,
New Orleans La Nay 81. 1871.
General H. A. sheldon and Colonel ., B. Batch
GENTLEMEN have been instructed by
the Secretary of the Treasury to have q
thorough examination made into the
method of business and the efficiency and
character of the force employed in the
Office of collector of customs at New Or
leans. To accomplish this object have
been authorized to appoint tive persons
to act in conjunction with General A. M.
Barney, the special agent of the treasury,
now on duty in this department.
In the exercise of the authority thus
vested in me I have sought for repre-
sentative men of conceded capacity and
integrity, of irreproachable anteeedents,
of enlarged and liberal views, who are
familiar with the practical operation of
the revenue laws, and who would inspire
the confidence of the commercial public.
Added to this, think the two political
parties should be represented in the pro-
posed examination, and / am confident
that this view will accord with the policy
and wishes of the national administratio
The position Of one of you General
Sheldonl as an active and distinguished
member of the Committee of Commerce,
when in Congress, gave you an opportu-
nifty to faniliarize yourself with the bust
ness necessities of the Mississippi valley,
and Of the requirements of New Orleans.
The former connection of the other of
you Colonel Hatch) with thisvdepartment
as collector of customs, your intelligent,
faithful and efficient administration of its
affairs, and your acknowledged character
for integrity, eminently fit you, to sub
serve the interests of the country and the
wishes of the President, as a member of
the proposed commission. / have, there
fore, selected you as the two members
who, with General Barney, are to COM
pose the examining committee.
1t will be your duty to make thorough
examination of this Office in various de-
partments; to suggest any improvements
that you may deem necessary in the man
ner Of conducting its business; to ascer-
tain where there are any existing abuses
or irregularities, and, if any exist, to in
dictate the manner in which they may be
corrected; to look into the practicability
of diminishing the force now employed,
and of reducing the pay in any cases
where it may appear excet slve, and, gen.
orally, to make any suggestions tending
to the improvement of the civil service in
accordance with the policy of the admin
istration at Washington.
In the prosecution of your investigation,
think it will not be unwise to seek for
information outside of the officers and
employees Of the Castomhouse, and to
consult the business men of this city, and
more especially the merchants, whose in
telligence and sagaeity have enabled them
to study advantageOusly the practical re-
lations of this Office 20 the commerce of
the country.
To aid you in the discharge of your re-
sponsible duty, you will be supplied with
the written detailed instructions from the
Treasury Department, and with such in
formation as may be derived from the
officers and employees under my control.
1t is needless to add that 1 shall be
pleased to confer with you freely and fire.
quently during the progress of the
thorough examination you are expected
to make.
Hoping that you will find it convenient
to accept the responsible trust which ]
have felt it my duty to repose in you, ]
remain, very respectfully, your obedienI
| servant, JOHN E. KING,
Collector of the Port