New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-05

Assuming that the object or Congress III requiring tn
report was to obtain estimates for specific appropriations
10 defray the expenses OF collecting the revenue IRON
toms each district that there might be repeal Oh
fine present law providing permanent annual apprOpr
ZION for that purpose, caused examinations 10 pe o
the several districts, by officers OF TINS ~
conjunction with local officers selected by coiecVors Vi
customs. Ar, ,o. 90
transmit to Congress- on 9th February. IssS, scneie
showing the number and compensation OF the employees
recommended for each customs district ana each port US
then established There have been some changes since
Of little comparative Importance In the number ana o
ton of officers. These schedules amended 10 NJ WIN
changes are again transmitted and marked respectively
No and No. 2. No shows existing districts anu p3Ies
and requisite compensation OF officers and employees In
each district and port The agregate amount OF money
OF collectors and surveyors In all Of the then existing a
tricts and ports, $665076l AZ yearly II was Sa6G
that those officers varOusly compensated-sOe Dy
salaries commissions and fees. some by aa
fees only, some by salaries o1yaanu ut , te
service competent men. and that III DINERS te saia
and emuuments were excessive for the service rendered
IF was shown that there are many districts in which no
duties have been collected for years. and others IN whcn
lection The iabors of the officers in those d rics con
fined almost entirely TO issuing documents 10 vessels COZ
ecng hospital tax and fees and making up monthly aud
quarterly returns to the Department, often OF no th
sactions'' ,o
Custom-house fees began with the act of March 2,
1899 II was thought that1he customs service would he
practically selfsustaning and that the burden OF lts
maintenance should fall on those who had dealings with H.
with nominal salaries only in addition to the fees Inc
system has not been e eSaP a 600 G Nor
the annual cost Of collecting the customs revenue over
S6,000,OO0 , ..-,- o-,o
tions from importers and shipowners difficult to collect
and involving much Improbable clerical Work IN nc
Beside that the of them In Instances Is so
large as to compensate the officer beyond desert:
The advantage OF fixed salaries Is obvious An once
onablc feature of the present system is the temptation
at small ports to obtain additional compensation lor
too is the uncertainty OF the amount OF COMPENSATION
BY the act of June d. 1874, Congress recognzeu an
ports but left others UNCHANGED. ...
The oaths required he taken before collectors upon
Inconvenience importers by compelling their personal
attendance at the customhouse They deter NOT tne aus
curity OF entries by honorable merchants simple nec
laratlon by the importer attested by notary sane
toned by penalties would prove RELIEF TO merchants,
and be as safe.
CONSOLIDATION OF CUSTOMS DISTRICTS.
There arc useless customs districts and nothing but
local pride interest will disagree thercfrom There are
twenty-five ports OF entry at which not dollar OF duties
has been collected years different times There are
thty-two ports of entry in which the years collections
from all have not equaled the years expenses
These had Importance when foreign trade was carried on
in sailing vessels, and before the concentration of inn
portaOus large ports from regular lines or ocean
steamers and the present system or rapid inland trans
pOtaon The customhouses in these districts are how
ever kept up with all the fornalites of activity with
deputies inspectors and clerks to make Official returns
the accounting officers OF the Treasury and the Bureau
The consolidation OF districts and dmnution of ports OF
entry are called for oy SGlhd
withdrawing proper facilities FOR d0cumenng vessels
10 vessels anu inc
initial dues may as well he done by subordnates and the
unpoductivc districts abolished saving expense aud pro-
noting the efficiency OF the service Owing to the In,
capabilities IN the present compensation or collectors ana
surveyors and to the nature OF some OF these Offices SIN
almost, 1t found impractcable TO adopt any
uniform rule for fixing salaries OF collectors and survey
under the present organization.
consideration subject that districts should be
sOdated and the number thereof reduced The matter
such importance, bearing upon an economical con
duct OF public affairs that presume TO present IN TINS
annual report and to again otter my views and the facts
Haon tiara which think nnlOld
new the propositions which then made.
The statement herewith submitted, and marked " A."
went with the letter and exhibits the number that
time OF employees and expense for salaries IN each district
as now constituted and the estimated number OF
ployes and expense for the districts proposed that
Congress should authorize them In these respects II Is
near enough TO statement of the existing state
of things TO show It with coseness 10 accuracy. The
number Of officers and employees In the existing districts
as given by II is 4255 The number thought To be needed
under the arrangement Of districts proposed would DO
4O5l the reduction being mostly OF those receiving the
largest compensation The actual cost OF the service In
the districts for the fiscal ending June 30 1882 Is
given S651o595 or the estimate for the year ending
June So 1884 with the districts remaining as they are,
is stated at S665O7sI AZ The cost, If consultation Of
districts as proposed made is estimated al S6 S55.
These figures show that the consolidation would save IN
public expenses 1901 026 ~ the estimate for 1888
iss2'sS Tho estimates submitted according law 10y
this Department for the fiscal year lsS4-so call for an
appropriation OF S55OO,OOO.
In addition thereto Is the amount from the pro-
vision OF the United states Revised Statutes Section
1867, which makes permanent annual appropriation OF
$2750O0O for the expenses the revenue from
customs for each half year. In addition to such sums as
he received from fines penalties and Orfeitures con
Dected with the customs, and fees paid into
the Treasury by customs officers and from storage, cart
age drayage labor and services In the year 1882 the
amount derived by the operation OF this section sweed
the amount OF the annual estimate to the sum OF SGS43
34S in 1888 10 S6,936236 These figures furnished
TO from the warrant division OF this Department IL
they err at all it is that they arc ess rather than more
than they should be- Consolidation according to tho o.
innate above given Is In expense less than this by near
Schedule No 2 shows In detail the NUMBER class and
pay OF the officers for each OF the proposed consolidated
The name of each district made the same as that OF
the chief port in it, thereby to clerical labor at the
customs offices and at the Department, and prevent the
confusion among the unfamiliar arising from an arbitrary
christening, ~ that of tho port OF Oswegatche, ~ "
when the chief port is O5densburg, n. Y The pay OF
keepers Of bonded warehouses has not been included IN
the estimates because the number OF them depends upon
the number Of warehouses which varies, they being ca
laDished or given up ~ II the VINO are
keepers And in connection herewith a recommended
that the proper appropriation bill have clause appro
atug the reimbursed therefor aud for overtime and
night service when for benefit OF consignees.
PLAN FOR CONSOLIDATION.
The plan outlined IN schedule No Is the result OF much
thought and CAREFUL inquiry test In practice may show
some iInpcrfections and doubtless WILL Alteration In the
plan suggested clearly IN the way Of Improvement may
from time 10 time BIZ needfu In the event OF adoption Of
IL by Congress with the numbers and boundaries of dis
trcts fixed by enactment the Executive could apply
Immediate remedy to evils that practice might show To
exist Hence there may be doubts whether system I'M
chaugeabc, by legislation, Is the best mode for
practicable well economical administration OF the
customs service. TO iOesta aiure the power could be
given to the President to alter districts and designate
appoint officers thereto is his power with internal
collection Districts by section Of United States
Revised Statutes
further recommend a repeal Of section OF 2,64S of
United states Revised Statutes, authorizing charge for
blanks by the collectors and surveyors tho northern
northeastern and northwestern frontiers and OF all laws
allowing commissions, fees and charges for storage.
also recommend that, la lieu OF present salaries and
all nocties and perqusites and commissions dishrse
ents, received by collectors naval officers and survey
there he All annual SALARY To prepare for an
sion requiring the change OF any salary In the
OF Congress, the Law might provide that one not beyond
maximum named by law, might be fixed by tho Pres-
dent 10 be reported Congress at the next after
his action, subject 10 Its approval change. also
cOueud that section 1857 United States Revised S1u
ties, De repealed.
send herewith maps, which show the customs districts
they are, and they would be II the
consolidation herein proposed is e6ectuatcd The space
within the blue lines Is existing district that within