National Republican., 1883-12-24
A Field for Reform.

In his recent annual report the secretary of
the treasury called attention to the fact that
there are twenty-five ports of entry at which
not dollar of duties has been collected for
years at q time, and thirty-two ports in
which the collections from all sources during
the last fiscal year did not equal the expenses.
But, said tho secretary, "the custom houses
in these districts are kept up, with
all the formalities of activity, with
deputies, inspectors, and clerks to
mako official returns to the accounting Off
GERS of tho treasury and the bureau of
statistics" There would seem to be field
for practical business reform in the abolition
of these ports of entry or their consolidation
with other districts. Turning to the report
of the register of the treasury we find that
the receipts at Frenchman's Bay, Maine, dur
ing the last fiscal year were $22120,
while the officers were collector,
at 81 1,496 per annum; a deputy, at $1,000;
one inspector, at $l,095; two inspectors, at
$6O2 each, and one ut $1S, making total Of
$5,O13, or $i,792 more than the receipts. At
Saco, Me- tho receipts during the year were
$2O.4O, while the expenses wore 1902. At
Nantucket, Mass, the receipts were $75.97
and the expenses were $1,3lS. At
Edgartown, Mass the receipts were
$16s.71 and the expenses for one
collector, two deputies, three inspectors
one watchman and ono boatman were S4,923.
At Dunkirk, n " the receipts were S2.5i,
and tho expenses for ono collector and two
inspectors were $3,316. AT Little Egg Har-
Dor, N. j., the receipts were $40.96, and the
expenses for one collector, one deputy, and
two inspectors were $1,6s2. At Stonington,
Conn., the receipts were $19S.6s, and the OK
penses for one collector, ono deputy, and two
inspectors were $1,000
These are sample cases, and will suffice to
illustrate the statement of tho secretary of
tho treasury that there are thirty-two ports
where the years collections did not equal the
expenses. This is due in great measure to
tho changes in the course Of trade caused by
the substitution of steamers for sailing vessels
and by tho present system of rapid inland
transportation. Some of the ports which now
fall far short of paying expenses were
once important, but their foreign trade is
gone. Another result Of our inland railroad
system is that somo interior cities, many
hundreds of miles from the coast, have be-
come very important ports of entry Thus
the receipts at Chicago last year from customs
duties were 81, l20,270, at st. Louis 81, 1867, ,44G
at Cincinnati, $S59,263, and SO on. 1t is true,
all of these cities are accessible by lake oil
river navigation, but a large part of theil
foreign importations is by rail, the good:
being shipped in bond from the seaboard and
entered for payment of duty at the inland
port. Nothing could illustrate in more
striking manner the changes wrought in thu
modern course of trade than the fact tina
Chicago now imports far more largely thar
some cities which were important ports o
entry long before Chicago was first settled. II
fact leaving out Boston, the receipts of Gus
toms duties at Chicago last year exceeded tn
aggregate receipts of all the ports in New
England,
Accompanying his report and recommends
tion for the abolition or consolidation of use
less collection districts the secretary of tn
treasury submits a schedule showing the fea
sibility of the plan and the large saving I
the government which would result from il
+ adoption. lie also promises to submit to cor
, gress the draft of bill for tho purpose
, There will, of coursdp bo opposition on tn
|, score of local pride and personal interest
, any plan which looks to tho abolition of ust
less districts, but tho measure will commen
itself to the practical business sense of tn
4 country.
Q IN the near future great fortunes will
i made in the coal fields of northern Alabam
d Already trade is being built up in AlabAm
n | coal ot ATob;io tl,ot ,rin oyantuoll,, ,,Iay a