The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-01
CUSTOM-HOUSE GOSSIP.
LEWIS IN COMMAND OF THE NAVAL
OFFICE-MORE CIVIL SER
VICE REFORM.
Packard swinging Around the Circle
He Makes = Plank Movement
Upon Omaha.

| The Custom House Commission having nearl,
completed their labors, the members thereof viii
quietly subside to their daily avocatons within
the next few days, to rest two weeks or So salts
fed that they have served the people in the mat.
ter OF civil service reform at least.
A partial report was forwarded yesterday, and
the finale will 60 forward later In the season
II may be possible that the Commission will no,
recommend that the
NAVAL OFFICE BE sNUFFED OUT,
as IL is stated now that section 1858, which au-
thorized the Secretary Of the Treasury to abolish
that office, does not strictly speaking give such
authority, but merely names such offices, not in
Guiding that at the port OF New Orleans. which
can only be abolished by an act Of Congress.
| The section alluded to seems to contain cler.
cal error or two. and as that was portion of an
act amendstory to section twenty-nine Of an act
approved July 10, 1866 and that again is re-
vision OF section nine Of an act approved May Z,
| 1922, which provides that the Secretary OF the
Treasury may turn into the treasury oil fees Of
| certain customs officials in excess of
CERTAIN AMOUNT.
and thus the whole matter settles down to that
question.
LII COHV0rbAUOu WIFI tn6 COllbGtUFs JuuS6 MUG,
yesterday he stated to a DEMOCRAT reporter, In
| substance, that he would not approve any rec
ommendatiop that would give the auditor an
Office Independent OF bis unless that official was
. bonded officer which, as stated in Saturdays
DEMOCRAT, would not accomplish the desired
civil service reform by the abolition of the Naval
Office.
That Office was turned over last evening by
Rard to james Lewis, the new appoin' go, who
assumed the honors without any set spsech on
the part OF the ''In" or the tout" Lewis will re-
tain Mr. Starr as chief clerk, and while he may
make several changes in the business Office, he
will not do so Immediately.
The Collector having addressed letter to the
Secretary OF the Treasury recommending that
until October the business hours OF the customs
offices be, as before, from 8 "a. m. until 5 p. M,
the Secretary replies that the recommendation
IS NOT APPROVED.
in consequence Of which the central hall (sweat
box), which has scarcely any ventilation, will
continue to hold the clerical force during the
ira hour in the afternoon.
The Collector Is also informed by general or
der from the Secretary OF the Treasury that the
Office Of the Superintendent of Bonded Ware
the duties thereof must be performed by one of
the deputy collectors, which is another slice Of
civil service reform,
The commission shipped
IT'S PARTIAL REPORT
90 above stated, and adjourned for couple Of
weeks to see, perhaps, what effect the report
would have at Washington. They have not a.
yet submitted even the partial report to the Col
leotor, but expect to have copy made for his in.
spection tomorrow.
M fur her changes In the prominent positions
in the building are likely to be made at present,
the only two at all constable by the hungry and
extinct Republicans being the Pension and the
Land Office. IL that which was stated to Pres
ideut HAYES concerning the fitness OF one APP
plicant for the former position (TwltcbelD be
true is not at all likely that he will trouble the
Pension Office and go far Darrall and Mercy have
noh secured the Land OH 90 for their men,
Mr.. Wurzburger, the to-be chief deputy
United States Marshal, was in the Marshal's
Office on Saturday
LEARNING THE ROPES,
as 1t we're, and getting an idea Of the system Of
Office. The other appointees are MessrsJ O.. Fahey
(reappointed), Nv. J. Elliott (colored) and Chas.
Steele (reappointed), who will constitute the
force OF the Office until November and whowill
assume their positions tom Trow.
telegram received from Packard, on Satur-
day morning, announces his safe arrival at Oma.
ha, Neb., where Republican State Convention
Is about to assemble.