Evening journal., 1896-03-17

Only Draws Two Candidates--A Resume
of tho Position.
o. August 8 next. the term Of Office OF
George l. Townsend collector Of GUS
toms OF tho port Of Wilmington expires.
and the oiiice viii pass into Democratic
hands The commission OF Mr. Town
send dates from July 90 but 80 the then
collector. Henry NJ Barlow. did not
retire until August o, he WAS permitted
to complete his term
The Office while an important one, Is
by no means what Is considered plum,
at least not IN comparison with other
gifts Of Uncle Sam In former ears it
was. but tho removal Of the duty from
goat skins and hair dealt severe blow to
the pefquisites Of the collector. Then
the falling of IN the lumber tfade, and
the decsdence ia boat building proved
another set back Not so many yesrs
ago there were on an average, thirteen
boats built here, or about boat a month,
and the measuring OF these craft proved a
big item. Lsrge cargoes Of lumber we're
entered every month aud this proved
another source of income. while large
shipments Of glass from abroad swelled
the collectors fees to fairly good-sized
proportions.
Now there Is little lumber received, the
boat building has practically disappeared
aud dealers In glass find that the home
product is equal TO that OF Belgium, aud
do not 20 away from home 10 make their
purchases. With these draw offs the
emoluments Of the Office hsd fallen to
sum which made the position one Of
more honor than pay and there Wers not
90 many seekers after It
Me- Townsend shortly after taking
charge, ascertained that the piers az
Maicls Hook from which all the crude
and refined oil Was shipped. although
clsssei In the jurisdiction Of PhilGoel-
phis. were. In reality, 10 Delaware. some
500 yards, aud at once Sc. about effsctlnE
q transfer of the business here The oil
works lle over the line In PennsyIVanis,
but the piers at which the ships are
loaded are this side the liue This mat
ter Was FIRST called TO the atttntiln Of
tho collector OF the port Of Philadelphia,
but az he failed TO take auy action ia the
matter, 1t was laid before the secretary
Of the treasury TIE senator's from this
state, while they did not oppose the
step. looked upon 10 as foolishness to at
ieups TO defeat Philadelphia, but the
movement proved sussssful aud the
transfer was ordered Pflor TO this
the salary fees. etc OF the Office had
fallen 60 somewhere ia ne neighborhood
o. $500; this transfer raised It again TO
about 81 600.
The collector has TO give bonds Of
SIC, 600 and is custodian OF the Federal
Building and is also held responsible for
bis deputies. His force consists OF a
deputy. who acts as conf ieniisl clerk
and holds his power Of attorney aad gets
81, Goo year; deputy who also scts as
weigher, gsugar and messurer and whose
salary is 81 70 per day; a deputy at Sea-
ford whose compensation is $500; one at
Lewes who gets Us a day aud has Eve
boatmen under him payable $500 year
each; and a deputy at Marcus Hook at
So 40 a day. There Is also a deputy at
New Castle whose salary Is the same as
at Marcus Hook
The collector Of ths port Of New Castle
occupies the polition Of a sinecurs, as
no business at ell is done there The
present incumbent Is Samuel q Black, a
brother IN law Of Senator GRAY The
cfhsB Is en- eye-sore 30 the Office hsrs and
last year 10 was abolished-for i1st one
day. About 10 o'clock one morning Col
lector Townsend received an order 10 the
effect that 10 had been abolished At 8
o'clock he received q telegram uulllfying
the oIdlr-snd the government a. New
Castle lived. In the estimates
handed Ia 10 the Treasury Department
for the coming fiscal year the NeF Castle
station Is noticeable for its absencs.
So much for the cfiice and It's work.
III 10 the present date there have bsen
bat two candidates for the coilectofship
at least there have bsen bat two who
we're at all honest In their candidacy and
who stlll remaiq They are Dr.. William
Il Cooper. Of Ksnton. Kent county, aud
w. A. Comegys. Of Middetown, at
present deputy collector.
DR.. Cooper Is brother OF Richard @
and Alexander b. Cooper, aud connected
by marriage with Senator Gray. BE was
looked upon as the successor Of C0llec' or
Townsend two years ago but was
defeated By the rssnlve Of President
cleveland TO allow otfi ,ers ia charge OF
Offices to complete their terms.
Mr.. Comegys Is sn * member Of the
House OF Representatives and wss selected
By Collector Townsend ss deputy on the
retirement OF Deputy FlYnn He has
served in bis present position accspta5ly
and hes a strong backing f,r he place Of
collector.
Want to Succeed COfqnboun.
Another position, this time In the
municipal ranks, which will become
vacant shout May 1. Is that OF secretary
Of the Board cf Health, registrar Of vital
statistics, chief sbater OF Duisapcas-and
a whole lot of other titles which carry
honor with them, but little Of the lucre
This position Is filed by the Board Of
Health. the members OF which will be
named by the Democratic mayor, and
there is a host OF applicants for the place.
Those who are mentioned - either by
themselves or thsir friends are ss follows:
Morris Crosssn, said to be backed by
his brothor-i law, DR.. Willsrd Springer.
mart phVsieiaD. Uerman First who has