The morning call., 1895-03-04
TO ABOLISH THE
NAVAL OFFICE.
RECOMMENDED BY THE D0CKERY
JOINT COMMITTEE OF
CONGRESS.
COL. IRISH MAY LOSE A JOB.
How THE NAME CANE FROM ENG
LAND-A CHECK ON THE
COLLECTOR.

A dispatch from Washington announces
that the Dockery joint committee of Con-
gress has recommended that the position
of Naval Officer at all ports except New
York be abolished and that change be
made in the method of collecting and
auditing customs accounts by rendering
them to the auditor of the treasury.
This would do away in San Francisco
with the fat Federal Office held by Colonel
John P. Irish with salary of $4,000 year,
the position of Deputy Naval Officer held
by E. W. Maslin and thirteen clerkships.
This office with the ill-ftting name has
often been called the ''fifth wheel of the
Custom house coach" and efforts have been
made to abolish it in nearly every Congress
for the past twenty years. The name orig
mated in England and in making our Gus
toms law the first Congress adopted it. 1t
was the law in England that the ranking
naval officer whenever man-of-war cast
anchor in customs port should proceed TO
the seat of customs, look over the accounts
and certify to their correctness or other
wise. This is the origin of the name which
has made many people wonder what con-
nection Colonel Irish has with the navy.
There are six Naval Officers in the United
States-one each at the ports of New York,
Boston, Baltimore, New Orleans, Phila-
delphia and San Francisco. The officer is
really check upon the Collector OF Gus
toms. Every document or paper that
passes through the Custom house must be
examined and countersigned by the Naval
Officer or his deputy. His clerks must eX-
anime all goods on arrival at the port, esti-
mate their value and duty, and see that
the duty is collected. There are at times
clashes between the Naval Officer and Col
M, ho1 lafa IN
Waite, who died while Secretary of State,
was Naval Officer, and Walter Mead his
chief deputy, during Grants second ad-
ministration, Milton S. Latham imported
some mosaic tables, and the Collector
classed them as works of art, which are
dutiable at 10 per cent. The Naval Office
insisted that they should be classed as
manufactures of marble, which pays a
duty of so per cent. The higher duty was
paid under protest and the question APP
pealed to Washington. where the Naval
Officer was sustained.
Colonel Irish was seen yesterday at his
home on the verge of the marshes of West
Oakland. He said:
''This is new edition of an old story.
Every Congress for years has attempted to
abolish this so-called Office of Naval Officer,
which office, as matter of fact, controls
all the customs. Bills to that effect have
been put through both the House and
Senate at various tunes, Dut never through
both Houses of the same Congress, and
am not surprised that the matter is again
up.
"I think, however, that there is mis-
take here. l do not believe it is the Dock
ery committee at all. A bill of similar
purport was introduced by Stone of Penn
sylvania some time since, and | was asked
for report of the conduct of the Office in
San Francisco. This / sent on, and l be-
lieve my report was the first received.
"There seems to be little comprehension
of the duties in this office by the public at
large.
''rhe office should really be called Con-
troller OF Customs In the first place the
| importer puts up bond when about to re-
| ceive consignment of goods. This bond
| stands against him when he takes his
goods out. Then the appraiser and col
| lector go over his account and he pays
what they find due in duties. This bond
is supposed to cover the amount, but more
often it does not, and this is not learned
until the whole business passes through
the hands of the Naval Officer.
''The Naval Officer makes it possible for
the merchant to get his goods out of bond
sooner than he would if there was no such
! office. If the Office were abolished the
merchant would have to wait until the
whole matter had been referred to Wash
| ington before he knew exactly where he
! stood in his account with the Govern
ment, and l am of the opinion that the
merchant would be the very first man to
! object to such a change as would result in
| hOli icl Of ha Of