The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-05-14
COLLECTORS, Salary.

In the case Of the suspension Of Coliec-
tor Craig there arises many new questions
for consideration. just now the New
York Herald and other northern papers
are discussing the al rights Of q slls
pended collector. such as Craig, and a
temporary appointee By designation Of the
President. such as Shepherd. rs his sue
cessor. These papers, it is said. have en-
ployed able counsel to investigate the mat
ter
The question is as to the compensation
of Mr.. Shepperd should the Senate of the
United States fail to confirm his appoint
ment-whether he would be entitled to
any compensation at all or not.
The Vind5cdtor in its issue of re-
cent date was in error i'll quoting the law
fixing collectors salary at Sl.5O0.00, and
in addition thereto commissions, SO that
the net compensation should not exceed
$4, $780, co. that is the old law but by act
of March LIST, 1879, salaries were fixed for
collectors in lieu of commissions.
Section u of that act March lst, 1871
is as follows: ''That each collector of In
ternal Revenue shall be authorized to APP
point, by an instrument in writing under
his hand, as many deputies as he may
think proper, to be compensated for their
salaries by such allowances as shall be
made by the Secretary Of the Treasury,
upon the recommendation of the Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue. Allowances
shall also be made in like manner for sal
ary and office expenses of collectors, all Of
which shall be iii lieu Of salary and com
missions heretofore provided by law pro
cided, however, that the salaries Of collec-
tors shall be fixed at 100000 each per
annum where the annual collections
amount to $50 ,00G.00 or less, and shall, by
the Secretary, be graduated up to the
maximum limit of s. 10000 which latte T
sum shall be allowed in all cases where tt e
collections amount to 81 GOO 100000 or up
wards. :; i But the total
netsscompensation of collector shall not,
in any case exceed 81, 500 90 u year. And
no collector shall be entitled to any por-
tion of the salary pertaining to the Office
unless such collector shall have been con-
frmed by the Senate, except in cases OF
commissions to Gil vacancies occurring
during the recess of the Senate "
Had Collector Craig resigned upon re.
quest of the Secretary OF the Treasury, then
vacancy would have occurred, which
| the President could have filed, and Mr..
| Craje's successor would have been entitled
to draw his salary.
But Craig did not resign. and his sns-
pension by the President may or may not
have created the vacancy contemplated by
the statute. III case it did not and the
Senate refuses to confirm Mr.. Shepperd
then he would not De entitled to any com
pensation at all.
BUTT is not only the salary Of the new
collector that is il the muddle; for it
would seem that his deputies also would
have to go without pay, depending upon
Mr.. Shep perd S confirmation by the Sen
ate.
| The question also would arise, in case
the Senate should fail to confirm even
Shepherd appointment, whether the sal
aries to which he (Shepperd) and his dep
uties would have been entitled upon Shep
perd $ confirmation by the Senate, would
not revert to the old collector (Cralgl and
his deputies.
The various questions growing out Of
this change are intricate and novel and
may cause very serious trouble and liti'
CATION ( or the new collector.