The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-11-23

-GOssip OF the Hun.
(From Our Special Correspondent
BOSTON, Nov. 81.
A Boston paper computes that over 81 900, !
900 in salaries is drawn yearly by federal
officials in Massachusetts,
The fact didn't hit me with half 80 much
force as did the assertion Of a custom house
clerk that he believed the offices ought to be
the spois of victory and that the new ad-
mipistration ought to make clean sweep.
This course would cost the clerk his place,
but he stood to his principles nevertheless
He insisted that all government offices, even
that Of messenger boy, partake Of the ad-
illustrative character and should be filed
with men who sympathize with the policy Of
bhe administration.
Two reasons were advanced for the sup
port of this position. One was that clerks
may greatly embarrass governmental func-
lions and bring the executive into disfavor
by pigeon-holing papers. The other reason is
that the turned out officials become naturally
q sci of detectives They will watch the
course Of their successors in office, and can
discover more readily than the ordinary citi-
zen whether the duties are performed con-
Bcientiously.
felt in rather odd position in urging the
Righteousness of what is sometimes sneered at
as 'snivel service reform" upon a clerk who
insisted that he ought to be bounced because
of his opinions.
have found other customs officials of
similar convictions, though they are not
anxious to lose their salaries.
x**
A customs inspector insists that Boston has
%
found in the country. and I dare say he
h right, for when Boston merchants want to
smuggle in goods they generally prefer to
land in New York know of several dealers
who have made a practice of importing
articles in this way for years. One claims
that she has brought in $4,000 worth of
goods in half dozen trips by bribing in
spectors.
This isn't conclusive proof Of the integrity
and shire wdness of the Boston force, for it is
well-known to the smugglers that they stand
a better chance of getting by the spies if they
which they have in their trunks. So they
prefer to enter at another than the home
port
A Boston inspector says it is not usual to
assess everything of dutiablo nature that is
found among the passengers effects. eff we
did it would take week to get through the
trunks if there were many of them. OF
course anything of unusual value or any
number of the same pattern of article would
be detained for assessment But small
trlnkets to be used as ornaments or to be
given as presents are passed over. An in
spector must exercise more or less judgment
in examining the passengers effects; for in
stance, If the wife of one of our wealthy
residents had a new sealskin sack and several
silk dresses made up for wear packed away
in her trunks, the supposition would be that
they were her personal property, and that
she intended them for her own use; but il the
same articles were in the possession of per-
son who gave no evidence Of ever wearing |
such costly fnery. Or if it were known that |
deal ~ five would make careful
Mvestig' - admitting free of duty"
The pr, 81 Of tipping was formerly SO
common That it was not safe to neglect it,
particularly if a passenger had breakable
goods in his trunk The inspectors would
pass the liberal mans trunks with scarcely |
a glance, but would rummage every corner
Of the boxes Of the man who wouldn't bride.
Gradnolly stricter discipline was en-
forced upon the inspectors, till now
bribing is at least not compulsory. Says an in
spector: "They put only one construction on
such a proceeding-that it is a combination to
cheat the government. Nine times out of ten
they would be correct I saw in New York
paper the other day, a statement that an in
spector had declined to accept fee from
gentleman, and they made so much talk
about it that one is led to the conclusion that
such displays of honesty are quite unusual
among the employees in Magone's big estab-
But don't some officials have their price?
Very likely. The steamship companies which
bring beggarly immigrants could perhaps
supply some information.
-.
Some of the funniest experiences on record
at this port concern the immigrants from the
Provinces. An enduring and Woodworking
people are those who come here from down
home" by many thousand year, but COM
parative absence of money in their native
country has often induced habits of economy
which strike the Bostonian queerly.
An old man displayed the greatest anxiety
when an inspector grasped his frail, hairy
skinned trunk and extended his hand for the
key. The Nova Scotian inquired in a tremulous
voice If it was necessary to unlock it, and
manifested disposition to buy off the in
spector with a 10-cent piece But the officer
was one of stern virtue and he insisted on
looking into the trunk, which creaked
With the heavy weight inside. A
group gathered round eager to see
what important capture had been
made. With shaking hands the old man un-
locked the trunk, threw back the lid with a
3espairing gesture, and exposed several
bushels of rosy-cheeked apples which he had
brought down to comfort his boys, at work
N the city.
An elderly woman's shrinking gaze and un-
certain movements called suspicion upon her.
She was taken, half -dazsd with fright, into a
room where women searched her clothing.
They brought to light four pairs of wooden
stockings, which the good soul had knit for
aer chicks who had left the home GOOD to
struggle for Yankee dollars
s@s
The inspectors life Is not hilarious one. |
There is always the annoyance of suspectinQ
he honorable man who isn't smuggling, and
he ehagrin Of letting the clever importer 20
". There Is the hurried trip down the
,arbor before breakfast on the government
aunch to meet the Cunarder, which more
'ften than not arrives in the dark, and often
he whole Of a stormy, foggy night is ,
Il, L /