New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-04
THE oUSroMHoUsE d UDIToR SUSPENDED
COLLECTOR ERHARDT SAYS THAT CHARLES l.
PERRY rs INCOMPETENT.

COLLECTOR ERHARDT SAYS THAT CHARLES L.
PERRY rs INCOMPETENT.
Collector Erhardt suspended Charles L. Perry, the
Auditor Of the Custom House. on Thursday afternoon
because he had become dissatisfied with Mr.. Perrys al
ministaton. The suspension not made pubic
until yesterday and created great interest and much
talk I'm the Custom House The Collector sent Mr.
Perry brief letter informing him that he was sus
pended until further notice. Mr. Perry called on Sh-
Collector yesterday morning and asked tho reasons or
his SUSPENSION and the Collector gave thein MI
Perry told his friends that he should 10 washington
and present bis to President Harrison ana score
tary Foster Deputy Auditor Knapp is now In charge
Of the Auditors department The salary OF the Auditor
Of the Custom House Is So, 900 year.
Mr. Perry came into Office eighteen months ago. He
is young man and his selection was compromise
between number of strong candidates 1t was said
at the time that he had the support Of President
Norton United States senator Hscook and ex-United
States Senator Plat. Mr. Perry Is related to MI
Morton By marriage. He had had O mercantile tralh
ing and it was thought that he would make an ex
cclcnt Auditor. But the Collector suspended Mt
Perry the charge Of general incompetence, and all
that the Collector would say was 81 have given the
Auditors Office much Of my attention since became
Collector was not satisfied with Mr.. Perrys admin
istratve ability and otter consideration suspended him
until further notice"
The Collector regretted tire necessity OF taking this
stop but he would not discuss at length the causes
which led him to It, Although the notice sent to Mr.
Perry indicated that he suspended 1t is not prooa-
bic that Collector ErhaTdt will restore Mr. Perry TO ms
Office In fact, Mr.. Perry will be allowed to resign II
he desires The Office of Auditor Of the Custom House
is personal office with the Collector and it Is believed
that Collector Erardt would not have gone to the OK
IRENE measures that he did unless he had intended TO
sever Mr. Perry's connection with the Custom House
There was Of course, defence presented lmper
sonally by those of Mr. PerryS friends who happened
to be in the Custom Honse yesterday without IN
tending TO dscredt the Collectors honesty Of purpose
ono man said that 3Ir. Perry had made good record
as Auditor and that the cause assigned for his sus
pension, general incompetence" was very general
tenn which did not cover Mr.. Perry's case There
was something behind It, rather the Collector per-
haps unknowingly, was led for personal reasons to
suspend NJ Perry and ii would have been better TO
have informed the Auditor Of that fact Mr. Perry took
an active part In the Woodruff Baldwin tight a year
ago and IL is understood that the Collector advised
him 10 pay less attention TO factona politics and
more to his business Subsequently 1t was necessary
supplies and give it to Joseph Murray, the custodian
of the Custom House. There had been friction be-
tween Mr. Perry and Mr.. Murray ever since.
A reporter OF The Tribune who called at Mr. Perrys
home In Brooklyn. No. 507 ST. Mark save. was IN
formed by members OF the household that Mr. Perry
was not in the city and would not be home last night
IL was understood that he nteifded 10 leaYe New
York for Washington last night, but no one at thc
house would either confirm or deny the report