The record-union., 1891-07-31
OFFICIAL FIGUREHEADS.

The resignation of Joel B. Erhardt as
Collector of the Port of New York is
notable event in the political history of
the country, and has greater significance
than appears at first glance. Though his
resignation has been in the hands Of the
President for several weeks, Mr.. Erhardt
has steadily refused to give the reason for
his resignation until Wednesday, when
the President accepted the resignation
and named his successor. According to
the telegraphic dispatches, Mr. Erhardt
gives the following reasons for his resig
nation:
resigned because the Collector has been re-
duced to a position where he is no longer an
Independent officer, with authority com1nen-
surate with his responsibility. | have given
bonds for $4,000 ! have received for the
Government during the twenty months last
past 1922, ,697, ,135, and q small time was per-
sonally responsible for enormous values in
money and merchandise. My duties are
necessarily performed through about 100
employees. I am not willing to continue 10 be
responsible for their conduct unless l can
have proper authority over them. The recent
policy of the Treasury Department has been
to control the details of the customs admins
tration at the port of New York from Wash
ington at the dlctation of private individual
having no official responsibility. The Col
lector is practically deprived of power, while
he is left subject 10 all responsibility. The
Office is no longer independent, and l am
therefore obliged TO take this action.
There is food for reflection in this brief
statement of the ex-Collector. There are
many Federal and State officers who are
placed in the same position, and who
tamely submit to being overridden by
political bosses rather than give up their
hold on the Office. The position taken by
Mr.. Erhardt is highly creditable to him.
and his independence viii be applauded
by all honest and self-respecting men.
The Office of Collector of the Port of New
York is one of the most important within
the gift of the President, and there are
plenty of men who are willing to fill it
even if they are allowed very little to say
in the disposal of its enormous patron
age. a self-respecting man might be per-
fectly willing to hold the Office and con-
duct it entirely according to the wishes
Of the President, even to the appointment
of sub-officials and clerks, but it is not
the President who forces upon the Col
lector all sorts of incompetent people,
and practically runs the affairs of the
office. 1t is the political boss who is be-
hind the throne, and who is permitted by
the President to name the men who shall
fill the places in the customs offices.
Every Collector of the Port of San Fran
cisco has had the same experience to a
men in the Custom-house in San Fran
cisco during every administration who
could not be reached by the Collector
because they have had political ''pull'
stronger than that Of the Collector him
self.
The same rule has applied in certain
State Offices in California Everybody
knows that during the last administra-
ton certain State officials had practically
no control over the people supposed to
be in their employ. Every position was
filed by the political boss who had
pull" While the evil is not so great
under the present administration, there
is still enough of the old system left to
cause comment. 1t is all wrong. The
person appointed by the Executive to
position as the head of department
ought TO have the appointment of his
subordinates and absolute control over
them, without interference by the ap-
pointing power or any of his friends. It
was mainly because of this abuse that
the people of the State demanded that the
State Printer should be elected by the
people instead of being appointed by the
Governor, and the demand was so loud
and strong that the Legislature was COM
PEELED TO make the change. Itwas change
that ought to have been made long ago,
and viii be found to be in the interest of
good government
J. Sloat Fassett of Elmira, New York,
who has been appointed by the President
TO succeed Mr.. Erhardt, is well known in
Sacramento. He is the son-in-law of
Mrs. L. B. Crocker. Mr.. Fassett repre-
sents his district in the Senate of New
York, and is the leader of the Republi-
cans in that body. He has been very act
i've in reform movements, and VIII no
doubt make creditable record as Col
lector of the Port of New York, provided
he is permitted to have anything to say
about the management of it.
AT the late unveilino of Va1ant;pa,s