New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-03
CHANGES ~ TIE CUSTOMS SEkTICE.

DEPARTMENTS AND SALARIES REGULATED BY THE
WORK DONE-REASONs FOR MINOR CHANGES
A reorganization of the departments and
the clerical force the Custom House effected
terday plan has been for long time under coDsid-
GRAFTON by commission appointed by Collector Merritt
TO increase the efficiency of the service The report sub
mitted by that commission has been approved MOI only
by General Merritt but also by the Secretary OF the
Treasury Vurous transfers and consultations were
recommended In the report OF the commission and the
salaries OF the employees were graded according TO
work and responsibility. The reorganization aI-
plies to tie Naval Office and to the Offices under the
Immediate charge OF the Collector Each division -
separated into bureaus devoted to special branches Of
work deputy-colector remains in charge OF each
DIVISION and clerk assigned to each bureau Under
this system each bureau represents special work, and
each division includes all matters relating To that spe-
cifc work The salaries in these divisions have been
adjusted to the amount and character OF the work done
The reduction in clerical force made ny TINS chanGe ID
methods will result In an annual saving 10 the Govern
ment Of $4,000. Added to the reductions made before
January saving In the cost Of the service VIII make
total saving In the clerical force OF the Collectors
Department, Of $4,000 since July 81. 1873.
BY this reorganization ten OhceS have been aOollshed
and removals made in accordance with those chagnes
All the changes have been made ~ j. tla' on per
of the commission. The office OF Chief Discussing Clerk
of the AUDITORS office, recently held ny H. W. Belcher,
has been abolished and Mr.. Belcher made Auditor at
salary of So OO0 place Of Charles Irechel while the
of 50 800 place OF John Herrich who has been re-
moved to a clerksnp at a salary OF $1,000 Alvin Rose,
iopnerly clerk in the division. has been removed.
Mr. Rose had been suspended recently ny Auditor
Techel upon written charges deemed 10y the Collector
sufficient for his removal but he has been permitted 20
remain with the present organization. TIE Department
Protests and Appeals has been consolidated WIN the
Seventh Division, and +. NJ. Evans wnO has had charge
of the de paTtmeut has boru removed.
several changes in salaries OF the officers have been
made That OF Mr. Noble who has charge or tue Seizure
Room has been reduced from 5000 to ~ 400; That Of
Gratl0t WashbuTne, con OF CX Minister Washburne,
from 81 coo IL 400 and IN the Naval ONCE that or
Specal Deputy II. VI. GOurey from $500 10 $1,000 The
salaries OF Green Comsock aud O'Meara who have been
chief clerks in tine Naval Offers division, have been
raised from 81 200 81 800 and that OF Auditor Meeker
fro 900 ~ 800. All the removals thus made 10y tue
Collector are sad by familiar with the service,
to have made for good reasons and TO have re-
ceyed the approval OF merchants who do business III the
Custom House the reorganization Is said also TO be an
attempt to cut ali the red tape not actually necessary 10
the efficient collection OF the revenue Collector Merritt.
who returned yesterday morning from Washington sald
that changes had been made solely Tor the purpose
of lmproyiug that there was no foundation
for the published statement that the changes were an
ottnck on the friends Of cKCpllectOr Arthur He as
serted positively his intention. Ia every possible way To
improve the business methods and 10 Increase the
efficiency OF the service