The San Francisco call., 1899-04-01
Chief Dunn Is on His
Way Hither.
HE WILL REMODEL THE WORK
CUSTOMS INSPECTORS RETURN
TO THEIR POSTS.
All Members to Be Appointed by the
Secretary of the Treasury and
to Be Responsible to
Him.

News comes from Washington of a rev.
oluuonary change in the management OF
the Chinese Bureau at this port. The
many scandals which have disgraCed the
bureau Tor several years past in the Clip
rico-Williams- Meredith cases have set the
Treasury Department to thinking seri-
ously. The irresponsible and unsatsfac-
tory composition of the local bureau, and
the report of Special Agents Smith and
Linck with reference thereto, have been
carefully studied at Washington. Before
the appointment of Rev. John L. Gardi-
ner as Chinese Inspector and the arrival
here of Chinese Inspectors Barbour and
Tippett, the work of the bureau was done
by Customs Inspectors appointed by the
Collector of Customs, or on his recon-
mendation. No extra salary is received
by the customs officers acting as Chinese
Inspectors. Their occupation has been
changed without any change in emolu-
ment, even the chief Of the bureau re-
As these customs officers are subordi-
nate to the Collector, the Treasury De-
partment has deemed it advisable to di-
VorCe the bureau from the Custom House
and to make il an independent body, as
IS the immigration Bureau, with its head
and all It's members appointed by the
Secretary OF the treasury, and directly
responsible to him. This decision was ar
rived at d short time ago, and the first
step was taken at Washington yesterday
by the appointment Of James r. Dunn as
chief of the Chinese Bureau at this port
Chief Dunn is now on his way TO this
city and Is expected to arrive within a
few days. On his arrival, Customs In
spectors Lynch, BOyce, UrqEhart and
chief tlesh will assume their former du-
ties as Customs Inspectors under the au-
JhOrity of Surveyor Spar. Gardiner,
Barbour and Tippett, being Chinese In
spectors appointed by the Secretary of
force may be strengthened by one or two
additional inspectors to be appointed also
. by the Secretary. The falling off in the
number of Chinese immigrants arriving
since The Call began the agitation about
eight months ago has lightened the work
ana fewer inspectors will be needed in
the future than in the past.
Mr. Dunn was a Deputy Surveyor of
Customs before his appointment as chief
of the Chinese Bureau, and his salary Of
$500 per annum will be retained and prob
aoIy increased he was in charge OF tile
interests OF the Government at the Nasn-
Vile and Omaha eXpositions. and has mad
considerable experience with the willy
Chinese and his brokers.
The new arrangement will relieve the
Collector of the Port of much work and
trouble. He will be no longer indirectly
responsible for the sins of the bureau.
save such as may arise through lack
OF WatChfulneSS, and the members of the
bureau, being appointed by and directly
responsible 10 the Secretary of the Treas
ury, viii be put upon their mettle, know
ing that local political influences can
have no bearing on their official acts.
Another consideration which has had
weight with the Secretary in making the
change IS that the chief of the bureau
should be d man of higher standing and
responsibility than a simple customs in
spectOr. He will be less trammeled in
the performance of his duties, and IL he
makes mistakes those mistakes must be
on the side of the Government, and not
on the side of the coolie brokers; other
wise he will be likely to lose his head
without a 6 much ceremony as was wasted
in the case of Chief Meredith.