New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-15
TEMPTING REVENUE OFFICERS.
GAUGERs AND sToREKEEPERs WITHOUT PAY
THROUGH THE INACTIoN OF CONGRESS.


THROUGH THE INACTIoN OF CONGRESS-
fBI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNF.l
WASHINGTON, May 14.-Tbe same Democratic
Congress which has closed the courts of the United
States kept the marshas out Of their fees nearly
year, aud would compel the discharge OF prisoners
without trial. and which has put out the lights IN
the Custom Houses and Post Offices Throughout the
country s also guilty of injustice to another large
class Of the public servants. In 1878 and 1879,
the appropriation for the pay of internal rev.
enue agents, storekeepcrs and gaugers was
81 $50 900. Notwithstanding the actual increase
in the number of distlleries and the still larger
prospective increase during the year 1S79-oO, the.
appropriation for this year was cut down to
81 800 O00 although the Secretary of the Treasury
asked for 81, 100000.
The consequence was that early in the Winter
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue found the
funds running low, and sent deficiency estimate
of $3.50 900 to Congress. The appropriation asked
in that estimate has not been made. The appropria-
tion for the pay of gaugers was exhausted on the
1st of April. 1t requires about $4,000
month to pay these officers. On the 1st
instant the fund for the payment OF
revenue agents and storekeepers was exhausted.
Up to the present time. therefore, the arrearages
due officers of the Internal Revenue service amount
to about $125,0O0 The actual deficiency began
after Congress had been in session four months.
three
informed that the insufficient appropriation made
last year was nearly exhausted
Treasury officials express fear that the interests
of tbe Government are likely to suffer from its ina
biiity Opay the storekeepers and gauGers promptly
Said prominent officer of the Treasury TO a lRlB-
UNE correspondent to-day: These men cannot
live on air on prOmises-eyen GOvernment
promises" OF course plenty of distiers Will be
willing enough TO help the storekeepers and gam
gers along in return for which favors Will be eX-
pected. Such favors can only be granted at the
expense of the Government
NEW-YORK TO KEEP ITS POSTMASTER.
COLONEL JAMES WILLING TO CONTINUE TO STRIVE
THIS CITY RATHER THAN TO BECOME CABI-
NET OFFICER.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, May 14.-General Anson McCOok
showed the President to-day letter just received
by him from Postmaster I. L. James, Of New-York
City, in which the latter says:
Let me thank you most sincerely for your great
kindness in the matter of tho Postmaster
Generalship. The pressure of the mercantile
community for mo not to consider the
question, and natural aversion to leave
those who have made my administration success
full force me to decline being longer mentioned as
a candidate: May ask that you Will inform the
President of my determination -
The many friends of Nir. James in New-Yerk City
and elsewhere will be gratifed to learn that his
withdrawal from the candidacy for the Postmaster
Generalship is not case of sour grapes" Mr..
James has every reason to believe that the Pres-
dent had considered his candldacy WIN mucn
favor, and that if he desired the office his chances
of obtaining it were. when he wrote the letter
quoted above, better than those of any other man
whose appointment has been suggested. Mr. James
also has the satisfaction of knowing that
his promotion, from the day it was first
suggested, was universally looked upon as
one emiuently fit to be made; one that would re-
feet no less honor upon the Administration making
it than upon Mir. James himself. While the names
nf 9TH
dent by their friends, it is believed that no
one ventured to present any good reason
why Mr. James should not be Given the
place The City of New-York may, therefore, con-
Gratuate itself that, while the General Government
has lost an excellent Postmaster In posse II
will retain the man who, Judge Key remarked the
other day, was not only the best Postmaster the
metropolis ever had, but the best probably IL ever
would have.
In speaking to TRIBUNE reporter about
e matter last evening" Mr James said that the letter
substantially covered the whole ground He appreca-
ted he said the ad things said OF him In connection
with this matter by the newspapers and by private ct
Gems as well as the honor of being considered by the
President with respect to the place. But the assoca
tons connected with his present duties were too strong
for him 10 consider the prospects or breaking away ro
them He felt this the more emphaticaly because SO
MANY of his friends IN the mercantile community uO
whose ind gment had reliance, had urged Dn
leave his present place telling nm that tais was