New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-29
ANXIETY AMONG OFFICIALS.
EXPECTING TROUBLE FROM WASHINGTON
RUMoRED CHANGES IN THE CUSTOM HOUSE AND
ELSEWHERE.


officials I'm this city continue to attract attention.
Whether or not any changes will he made Deloie
the end of the terms of the present ucnmOen's 10 "p
parentIy more matter OF doubt no" WIN '"o
politicians than 1t was lew weeks "Ro, "'o"
John f. Smyth, stephen il. French, lie wiz ~
Wheeler, f. NJ Johnson. Michael ). Da'V anu
others were bending then energies mt Washington
IN GET their friends in office Some OF these would
be dispensers OF patronage have Just returned Io'n
the capital and in conversation yesterday 'n'I
expressed tho belief that Naval othcer surf anu
Surveyor Graham, whose terms VIII expire oi Jun
porv 2 and AppruiseI Howard. United States At
torney Woodford and Internal Revenue Collector
Weber will soon be ont of office. These politicians
seem to have reached the conclusion that Post
master Pearson and Collector Robertson viii not DE
dis,nrbed at least. as one of them sad "until THE
Civil Service Reform talk dies out" When asked
how suon that would be- this friend of tho Admins
tration and member of the State Committee re-
plied: ooh, very soon. They are getting slck oil
it down there in Washington now. That fendie-
ton bill IS absurd ana it won't take long to iaIk IL
TO DEATH"
The members of the Civil Service Reform Asso-
cation in this city, among whom are george III
lam Curtis ana Everett 7. Wheeler. are anxious
for tbe reaupointment of Naval Officer Bnrt. be-
ems, he has been a consistent and efficient sup
porter of Civil Service Reform, and because as the
head of the Custom House Board TO carry our tue
provisions OF the law, be has gained al experience
that will make him of stu greater SERVICE uuuoi
the Pendleton bill should that become law. James
s Smart. of Cambridge n. Y, member of the
State Committee IS an active candidate Tor the
office and has the support of John +. Smyth' Sic
nben B. French and other managers of the recent
disastrous Republcan canvass in TINS state. These
men are especially bitter toward Nr Burt, because
n greater number OF the clerks in the Naval OiDcc
refused to pay assessments TO the state COMMITTEE
and to Mr. Hubbclls committee than III any other
branch Of the Federal service. sir. Smyth was oil
the opiuion that the silly Civil Service Reform
ideas" of Mr. Burt encouraged the clerks to refuse
to come to the aid OF The STATE Committee.
There are several candidates for surveyor III
place of General Graham, and the politicians aprar
emily feel sure that lie "must co. Not because OF
any complaint concerning the administration oil
his Office. however, M because Do WIT L. Wheeler
wants tue place. since Mr. WheelerS services rs
boudsman for star Route contractors are NJ longer
in demand he has botn locking for something e'se
and his friends think that his labors IN the can
yasS demand recognition at the hands OF the fres-
dent. Hence he Is regarded as formidable candi,
date for Surveyor. Captain Eiackett the special
Treasury agent JIG also SAID to be a candidate and
to have the support Of Thomas {. Acton George Bliss
and Others Some comment has been canNed 10y TIE
fact that in his report on the enforcement OF the
Civil Service law Nr. Bracket said not woTd
about the SubTreasury, OF which BIS Trend Mr.
Acton Is the head. The Sub Treasury il specially
mentioned in the act, and the provisions for Clvl
Service examinations and appointments were made
spe cay applicable t. tins Office Yet 1t Is SAID on
good authority that while Board of LAamlners
was appointed for the Sub-IreaNnry. there have
been no examinations, and that Mr. Acton has
made his appointments witAout regard TO this law.
The Treasury Department. however has not lGvesil-
gated his Office to see how the law has been en-
forced but has paid careful attention to other
Federal Offices Appraiser Howard is understood to
have called the attention Of the Treasury officials
to this fact as showing mat the fault found with
his ONCE by n special agent WAS inspired by poilt-
zeal mott ,es and not bv anxiety TO see the Civil
Service law strictly executed. cut ol 100 cases III
the APPRAISERS Once IA which removals. appoint
ments and advances were made under tine ClVIl
Service act Captain Brackott reported tnat six
were not IN strict accordance with the law These
were rases of small advances III the salaries of Ole
officials one of whom had been IN the service Tor
thirty years
Tho politicians have been anxious for some time
to secure the Appraisers On'ce. There are 30 EN-
ployes, and the patronage amounts to about
knowledge AMI experience, many experts III tue
value of importatIons of ali kinds being employed.
50 that the average OF salaries Is higher than IN the
Custom House proper. For MS reason politicians
arc auX 10 control the places. amt changes have
been more frequent in tine heads OF the Appraisers
Once than in otnei deparImentS OF the Federal
service IN the clty Appraiser Toward was ap-
pOiniel in February, 1850, aud ms service Oi
nearly three years has been longer than that of
any one OF his four predecessors rms once Is IN
dependrnt OF the Custom House the Appraiser APP
pointing all OF his -ubordinirs win Tue approval
OF the Secretary q, the Treasury, excepting the
nine Assistant Appraisers. THESE officials receive
~ 600 salary each and are appointed 10y the lrrsi-
dent aud confirmed by the senate IN the same way
the Appraiser ~ appointed IhIs practically
makes ten independent heads, 7nd hence there IS not
always the same harmony in the Appraiser de-
pertinent rs is found IN the other branches % the
Custom House.
There is also "A General Appraiser, Mr.. Kctchum,
appointed by the President and confined by tine
Scuate. He decides certain cases on appeal for
Teappr oisement, but his duties are distinct from
and independent OF Appraiser Howard. Mr. ketch-
um has been the candidate OF George BLISS tor Mr.
Towards place, and in connection with tins some
interesting lact> have been deyroped. Nj. Bliss 0p-
posed the nomination OF John j. OBr'tn Ter
County Clerk in the recent campaign, and pre-
viOdsly opposed at Washington some ol the changes
which Mr.. OBrieu and other machine leaders
wanted made in Federal Office. These leaders
scented this asserting that Mr. Bliss desired Il set
himself up as "A zeal boss IN place OF General
Arthur. When thew eaGned that Mr.. Bliss wished
Appraiser III ward removed a to have his friend
keiChum appointed, they got mp petition rcCltIng
various alleged abuses III Mr.. ketChum present
Office asking for his removal on those grounds. and
recommending the appointment OF Alderman Don
aid Mclean a. his successor IL Is thought that
this will interfere with Mr.. Kelchums prospects OF
succeeding Mr.. Howard.
Assistant Appraisers Hall and Brdsall are also
said TO be candidates for this position. Until
after President Garfield died nothing said in
regard to a change in the Appraisers Office, but
since that time the candidates have been numerous
Ex-senator Robert ii. Strahan has frequently been
mentioned but he says that ne has no desire for
tbe place There is no fixed term for the Appraiser
and there is II one for Internal Revenue Collectors
Some of Mr.. Towards friends think That he will
be allowed to serve four years. when ~ the term OF
fine Collector and many other Federal office holders
Internal revenue Collector Weber has been III