New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-07
A SHAMELESS APPOINTMENT.
THE NEW COMMISSIONER OF NAVIGATION.
WHAT WOULD Br A FARCE III II WE'RE NOT DAN

WHAT WOULD A FARCE II n WE'RE NOT DAN
GRRoUs BLUSDFR.
WASHINGTON, Dec 6.-The appointment Of Colo
rel" Charles B. Morton. of Augusta. Me-. TO be
Commissioner of Navigation. announced n day or
Two ago, Is. perhaps. the most agrantly and shame
lessly bad among all the bad appointments OF
President Cleveland. The Bureau of Navigation
was established in July. 1884 Its duties
are onerous and complex requiring special
and technical knowledge of maritime law and OF
commercial affairs. All the duties relating To the
registry of vessels hitherto reposed in other bureaus
OF the Treasury Department are transferred TO the
Bureau of Navigation. The Commissioner OF Nav
igafion is charged with large discretionary power
and duties. The law prescribes that he shall IN
vesrgate the operation of the laws relative to nav
igation aud annually report to the secretary OF the
Treasury such particulars as may in his JUDGMENT
admit Of Improvement or require amendment
The law further prescribes that "the Commits
sioner Of Navigation shall be charged with the
supervision of the laws relating to the admeas-
urement of vessels, the assigning of signal let
thereto and desig natinQ their official numbers;
and on all questions OF Interpretation growing out
of the 0xecuton of the laws relating to these sub
jects and relating to the collection of tonnage tax
and to the refunding of such tax when collected
enormously or lille ray his decision shall be final"
There many other una ters connected with che
Board OF Navigation which involve the safety OF
human life and of property such as prescribing
rules for preventing collisions of vessels. the
respective rights and duties OF steam and sailing
vessels in passing at and so on, through many
sections of the Revised Statutes OF the United
States. When the Bureau was established in 1884,
President Ar bur Apo nted Captain James Patten
of Bath, Me-. as Commissioner. Mr.. Patten is
+Ea 1frtta Ot
this important office as any man living.
He has bnilt ships commanded ships
and owned ships He has besides been all his life
a close student of the laws of navigation and of
commerce. and is the author of a commercial work
entitled 1.-The Scaports OF the World which has
given him a uame aud fame IN the Shipping CIRCLES
of all countries He has held the office two years
aud hi work has been considered invaluable 70 the
Navigation interests OF the country. President
Cleveland has now turned Captain Patten out
before he could have an opportunity TO
single term in the Bureau be has
organized. Maine gentleman long IN Office here
saws that The appointment of Charles b. Morton to
the place should be regarded simply as farce.
it not for the fact that laundering in the dis
charge of the official duties may involve the safety
of human life Morton never held any higher
! position than that Of clerk in a country express
ONCE and Tor SNORT Time tnat OF clerk III ln VloO
of a weekly newspaper. He Is utterly uneducated
beyond the simple rudIments acquired in a common
school. In regard to navigation. be Is as
ignorant as man can be- aud touching matters
of Jaw he knows nothing whatever
In fact SAID this Name office-holler, - if you
would hand Morton a copy of the Revised Statutes
of the United states, he would not be able, with
the aid of tine index find the law on any subject
| don't believe that he even knows there Is such q
! book as the hevised Statutes"
Tie title of " Colonel might suggest that Nor
ton had served ID the war. bat ne never did be
acqulr red the title from being the staff of Cover
eruoI Garceou, the time OF the infamous at
! tempt TO steal the state Government OF Maine
| Morton has for years, so the Maine office-holde
says been a representative OF he worst element
OF the Democratic party. and his appointment Il
this respons bic place will be Notifying and hu
initiating to the respectable Democrats Of his State