Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-24
CAUSING GREAT AGITATION.
Secretary Cages Recommendations
for Consolidating Customs Districts.

secretary cages HecOmm enda lions
for Consolidating Customs Districts.
The recommendation Of Secretary Gage
that customs districts throughout the coun-
try be consolidated wherever possible is
causing considerable agitation. The bill
p1 epared by the Secretary is meeting with
violent opposition in some quarters and
strong commentator in others. Repre-
sentatives are being besieged by customs
officials who may lose their offices to op-
pose the bill. The Secretary himself is
asked for conferences to talk over the bill.
Some of the prominent republican leaders
in the House and Senate are understood to
DO pushing the measure because it will
save a considerable sum of money each
year to the government.
Secretary Gage points out many humor-
Gus situations in the matter of customs
districts st. Mary's, Ca, is still MAIN
tanned as customs district, and has a COL
lector drawing a salary. The Secretary
says 1t has no wharves or docks where
vessels can load or unload, and has abso-
lutely no customs or commercial business.
The same thing, the Secretary says, is true
of numerous districts throughout the coun-
try.
Washington and Alexandria are to be
consolidated into one district, with George
town as the port Of entry.
Speaking of some Of the districts the
Secretary says:
1T will be observed that the inclosed
draft OF bill provides for six districts in
the state of Maine. whereas the present
number Is fourteen, and wherever 1t has
been found practicable a similar reoreant-
zation has been suggested. 1t Is proposed
to consolidate the districts of Passama-
quoddy and Machias under the name of the
district of Eastport, for the reason that in
the Machias district the importations dur
Ing the last fiscal year amounted to only
81 go. The importations in the districts of
Frenchman's Bay for the same period
amounted to 81. 473. and In the district of
nd = f0 Ah
posed to annex these districts to the dis
trict Of Bangor. The port of RockIand has
long been the most important customs
port IN the districts of Belfast and Waldo
Loro and 1t Is desirable that Rockland
should be the chief port In the proposed
district to be formed by consolidatine said
districts. The importations into the dds
trics OF Wiscasset during the last fiscal
year amounted to only $316. for which rea-
son 1t Is proposed to annex this district tn
the district of Bath. There were no i'm
portations and no collections whatever in
the districts of Saco. Kennehunk and York,
the documenting Of vessels to the number
OF thirty-nine all told. Hence It Is sug-
gested that these districts be consolidat ted
with the district of Portland
During the three months ended Decem-
ber 81, 1896. the total expense for the Gus
toms service in the then district of Yer
mont, comprising the entire state of Yer
mont, amounted to $21, $685. For the
IL ~.
total expense Of the customs service In the
new district of Vermont was SIC, so. and
In the new district Of Newport, in the same
period. was $9.6s2. 09-a total for the two
districts In the state Of Vermont Of $25.-
93.6S, showing an increased expense for
three months only Of $4,O57.11. by reason of
the erection of two customs districts In the
state Of Vermont. At this rate the in
creased expense Of the customs service in
the state Of Vermont would amount to
ever $4,000 per aEnum. As the customs
service was well conducted Under one col
iector, 1t Is proposed to consolidate the two
districts in Vermont. to the end that this
increased expense may be avoided here
after.
I'm the state Of Massachusetts, 1t is pro-
posed to consolidate the districts of New
turyport, Gloucester, Salem and Beverly.
Marblehead and Fall River and the port Of
Springfield with the district Of Boston. for
the reason that the importations into the
districts first named are almost nominal.
For the same reason 1t Is proposed to con-
|. solidate with the district of New Bedford
the districts Of Plymouth. Barrstable, Nam
tucket md Edgartown.
The consolidation Of the four districts
In Rh1de Island into the new district Of
Providence II obviously desirable"