New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-09
rtorial rights In China or their commerce 10 Do IN
terfered with by either France or China
COMMISSIONER DUNCANs SONS.
WHAT JUDGE WALLACE AND DlsTNCr-Aiiof'Nhi

WHAT JUDGE WALLACE AND DISTMCr-AilohNEi
ROOT THINK OF TIE YOUNG MEMS SALARIES
Judge Wallace. of the United States Circuit
Court sent to the clerks Office yesterday an opin-
ion in relation to the accounts of Shipping Comnis
sioner C. G. Duncan. District Attorney h9ot
several weeks ago called the attention OF the Judge
to the fact that the fees OF the Commissioner
amounted for the last year to over 1000 ana tnat
the exact amount received was used for the e1-
penses of the office, including large salaries pala 10
before United States Commissioner Gutman, tne
Master who examined the accounts, that ne mas
paid only 50 600 or So 1000 into the treasury III 'ne
last ten years, though the receipts nave Deeu 40
high as S54 600 year. His three sons are deputy
Shipping Commissioners and they receive saiali e
which vary according TO the receipts ana shiIoo w.
exhaust the years revenues. Eaon VI 'n0 ~
After Mr. Root had charged that the salaries paid
excessive Judge Wallace reques.ea rnH
TO the case Mr.. Root sent the papers with letter
in which no SAID:
It appeared to me that salaries paid to the clerks
in the shipping Commissioners Office ought TO receive
atention that the practice by which the shipping Co
missioner divides up the fees OF the once among te
members OF his family was one which would De genel,
aly aud properly regarded abuse aud which would
naturally tend TO bring both the shipping commissioner
Court under whose supervision he acts INTO as
credit, and to which 1t was therefore my duty 10 can
your attention. have had some conversation with Mr..
Benedict since the matter before you lie mas De
scrbed to the nature of the duties performed by she
three sous OF Mr. Duncan IL seems clear 70 a . un5
duties very much than they would receive ior ser
OF similar nature uuuef tllhcF our
State Municipal system, or III any private business
doubt that competent persons, not members OF
Duncans family, could be found glad to perform tue
services for half the money or less MORGAN DOUBT
that the Shipping Commissioner himself would I'LL THESE
places with competent clerks at smaller salaries re MS
Judgment affected by his parental relation to the
persons employed
Judge Wallace, in the opinion filed yesterday, af-
ter referring The fact that the same question has
been raised before each of his three predecessors on
the Circuit Court bench, and has been decided IN
favor of Mr.. Duncan, says:
The shipping Commissioner must cOncede, himself
that the that these salaries are adjusted
upon he xible which ncieaSes or dminishes them,
so that connection with the other OF the Of
always absorb the entire receipts Is well cacu
lated to excite unfavOrabe criticism IL Is not strange
therefore, Notwithstanding tine action Of this Court on
former OCCASIONS that the pfopety OF paying these sal
aries should questioned again. think II is due TO tue
Court. whose officer Mr.. Duncan Is, to the United states
Attorney and Mr.. Duncan HIMSELF that there should
a thorough Investigation OF the whole matter IN order
that If any abuses exist they may be eec ualy sup
pressed, and found TO exist that shipping
Commissioner may DO eXonerIted henceiorth from I'M
just suspicious.
The Judge then refers the whole matter to Mas
ter Gutman to examine into the question oil the
reasOnablencss of the salaries Dald ny the shipping
Commissioner, and the DistrIct-AttoIney IS author
lied to Introduce testimony on that subject MesSrs
Benedict. Taft x Benedict Commissioner Duncams
counsel, have asked to DC heard In relation TO the
salaries paid.