The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-17
A COVETED PLUM.
Aspirants for the Office of Gen.
eral Appraiser.
Importance of the Newly Created Board-The
Effect Of the Ruling on the Revenues
of the Nation.

There was an air of speculation about the
Federal buildings yesterday. Everybody
was discussing the fat offices created by the
new administrative bill recently passed by
Congress- The bill provides for the ap-
pOintment of board of seven General Ap-
praisers, with salary of $500 each per
year.
81 do not know" said Local Appraiser
Leavy yesterday "who will be appointed
from this Coast as one of this board Many
names have been mentioned, among them
them the names of IA. NJ. Estee, Robert A.
Thompson, Congressman Morrow, Colonel
Evans, the Special Agent of the Treasury,
Ii. NJ. Miller and myself. They are all good
men. Perhaps the best fitted for the place,
so far as a knowledge of the customs laws
is concerned, is Colonel Evans, who has be-
come a recognized authority throughout the
United States on these subjects. My COL
league, Robert A. Thompson, is also well
fitted for the place and may be selected as
one of the Democrats; but Of course these
speculations are idle"
Colonel Evans was asked what he thought
OF the bill, and replied:
ut is q good measure IL properly admin
isteTed. 1t creates a Board OF General APP
praiSers with headquarters at New York,
which is TO be court of review and appeal
Iul III CdocS VI us puleu Ills
board will take the place of the old system
of merchants appralSement, which was
good enough when the country was small,
but which has long since ceased to be ade-
quate for this work. Over $500, 100000
worth of merchandise is annually imported
into this country. Three-ffths OF this enor-
nous amount comes in through the port of
New York. The task Of correctly collect
ing the customs duties upon this great vol
ume of importationS has become so intri-
cate that the system OF merchants appraiSe-
ment creates endless confusion. Why, no
less than 10000 decisions upon customs APP
pralSement have been rendered by the Sec
retarles OF the Treasury since 1868. If you
consider the vast number of different arti-
cles that have to be passed upOn-alm0St
everything grown or made under the sun
you VIII understand the complicated condi-
ton OF the customs laws.
IF the proper men are appointed to fill
this board 1t will cause uniform appralSe-
ment to be had throughout the United
StateS-a very important thing to importers.
What sort of men do l consider ought
to fill these places? Well, in the first place,
they should conform to George Eliot's def
dtion of genius; they should have an in
finite capacity for taking pains. George
Eliot herself would make good general
appraiser, so would a man like Abraham
Lincoln. There is fellow in the United
States Senate named Blair, who makes
eigtt-day speeches on education bills. He
would make good general appraiser.
Then the men ought to be well grounded
in customs law. They should be trained
TO it as men are trained in the law before
they are eligible 10 the Supreme bench.
WHO will be appointed from this dis
trict | cannot say. | think that Local APP
praiSer Robert A. Thompson has a good
chance for one of tile Democratic places.
The bill requires four Democrats. Mr..
Thompson has good reputation at Wash