Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-21
MONEY BY MILLIONS.
Bureau of Customs Methods of COL
lecting Import Duties.
DOLLARS THAT COME VERY HIGH.
What 1t Costs to Watch Some Unimportant
Ports of Entry.
HOW THE ACCOUNTS ARE ADJUSTED
CORRESPONDENT OF THE DIsPATCH.l


CORRESPONDENTS OF THE DIsPATCH.I
WASHINGTON, March 20.-While the
subject of the tariff is in the mouth of every
man and woman who takes an interest in the
politics of the country, few know anything
definite in regard to the machinery by which
the tax on importations is collected. 1t is q
vast machine that does the work which lies
at the bottom ofthis vexed question, operated,
however, by fewer number of workmen
than one would suppose when the tremendous
amount collected is taken into considera.
tion.
The whole number of ports at which Col
lectors or Surveyors, or both, are stationed
is about $50. and the entire number of en-
ployes is nearly 1000. The amount of col
Iections has increased from about S139, ,000,-
900 for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1879,
to upward of 1925, 900, 900 in 1889. the col
lections for the latter year being nearly
$4,000, 900 in excess of any former year.
EXAMINING THE ACCOUNTS.
The number of accounts and the clerical
work necessary in the bookkeeping of this
vast business are simply incompatible, and
yet the final examination of them is made
in the Bureau of Customs of the Treasury
Department by small force of clerks, num-
bering not more than 35, some Of them not
any too efficient. Here the bonds of the
collectors are examined and signed and the
appointee started in his official duties.
Here his reports upon Receipts from Gus
toms. Expenses of Collection" Excess
of Deposits Refunded" "Debentures and
Drawbacks" Services to American YES
sells" MARINE Hospital Disbursements, "
and other minor accounts are finally passed
upon, and the collector regularly informed
by letter of the condition of his accounts.
The first examination is made in the office
of the First Auditor, where the accounts
pass through the hands OF two or three ex-
pert clerks. Then they are transmitted to the
Bureau OF Customs and must receive the in
dorsement of clerk. the Deputy Commits
sioner of Customs, and, finally, that of the
Commissioner of Customs.
FEW MISTAKES PASSED.
Requisitions for money for the conduct of
the business at the various ports must pass
through the same gauntlet of red tape, and
it is a very smart error indeed that escapes
all eyes aud passes into the hades Of ire
trevable mistakes. Through this bureau
also pass for adjustment the accounts of the
immigrant officials, the accounts of the
lighthouse and life-saving service; in short,
all accounts that bear upon the Government
business on seaboard or on rivers.
In the adjustment of the accounts Of Col
lectors OF Customs vast amount of work is
entailed on the department clerks aud Off
cials by the Ignorance and carelessness of
Collectors or Surveyors and their employees.
1t is probable that great ma jority of the
employees at the various ports are like the
Collectors, appointed not on account of their
fitness for the work to be performed but as
a reward Tor "solid' labor for the good of
the party to which they belong.
POLITICS INTERFERE WITH BUSINESS.
While they may desire to make a good
record, their minds are not on their duties
so much as upon party work, and so the
trail of the serpent of party spoils is over
this portion of the civil service as of every
other. Errors are constant, and often of a
character which indicates only the grossest
of carelessness. 1t frequently happens that
an error of cents will involve a page or
two of explanations to the Collector, for
every mistake is fully and clearly explained
by letter to the Collector as soon as the ac-
count is adjusted.
Were this portion of the civil service Or
ganized on business basis, as well as every
other, the army of accountants might
be greatly reduced. 1t the clerks of the
Bureau of Customs were changed as the
collectors are, the accounts of the customs
branch of the Government service would
within few months be in a condition Of
confusion from which they could hardly be
rescued.
CAPACITY IS RECOGNIZED.
Deputy Commissioner Lockwood, of this
bureau, has had his hand in customs work
in the Treasury Department for more than
80 years, and several OF the clerks have been
in the bureau Tor long term of years. No
sooner does Commissioner of Customs take
his chair than he discovers the importance
of retaining his force OF experienced clerks
intact if possible, and no matter how we'll
developed a spoils politician he may be he
becomes civil service reformer so far as his
own office is concerned.
In all the years of the life of the customs
branch of the public service, the accounts of
customs officers have been slowed away, one
after the other, and in the vaults of the
Treasury they may every one be found
Every letter is copied as soon us written, in
the copying press, and from this it is copied
into ledger, which, when full, is packed
away for possible future reference. 1t has
happened that these records are vitality
important, even after the passage of 30, 40
Or 80 years.
AN EXPENSIVE SYSTEM.
That the system of collecting the duties
On imports is too cumbersome and expen-
sive, goes without saying, when it is remem-
bered that the places are given out as the
,poils of party success. Yet it is not as bad
as one might expect under the circum-
stances. Many things that seem utterly
useless at first glance are really verv neces-
lary. For instance, there are many ports
which do not collect a sufficient sum in
luties to pay The expenses OF collection. But
f only one vessel enters a port during the
year it is necessary that customs officer
should be there. And il there were no en-
ries at all he would still be necessary for
he prevention of smuggling.
Some curious figures may be found by ex-
mining the business of the various ports.
The accounts of the collector at New York
It times foot up S20,O00,0 900 in a single
1atement, while the aggregate receipts at
he port of Beaufort. S. c., during the last
iscal year we're just 50 40.
WHAT A DOLLAR COSTS.
At this latter port 1t costs fraction more
han S2O7 to collect each dollar the Govern
nent receives. At Saco, Me-, it costs S172
o collect a dollar; at Petersburg Va,
A; at Georgetown, S. c., S37; at Edenton,
Z. c., S53; at Chrisfield, Md, $40; and so
n, with numerous other ports in lesser
uns.
There are at least 40 ports which do not |
ay the expenses of collection, but as the |
ggregate collections are 1925, OGO, 900, and |
he entire cost of collecting that vast amount |
5 little more than 81, SOC. 900, the loss at the
Insignificant ports is OF small importance.
E. w. L.
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