New-York tribune., 1901-03-01
SHAKE UPLN CUSTOM HOUSE.
ORDERS FROM WASHINGTON DROP
TH1RTY-ONE INSPECTORS AND
TWO SURVEYORS. AND
MAKE NEW RULES.

A bombshell hurled from Washington fell into
| the Custom House yesterday. destroying the Off
cial places of thirty inspectors. who have
constituted the Surveyors staff and incidental
" causing great excitement throughout the big
gray structure. Two of the higher officers Of
the same department seem likely to share the
fate of the inspectors-Deputy Surveyors 7. F.
Reed and Daniel E Dowling-whose resigna
tions. it is announced. have been asked for.
Mr. Reed. who is said TO be a Tammany man.
and who entered the customs service with Sur
veyor Mcclure, has been in charge of the dis
trict inspectors and Mr.. Bowling has had charge
of the discharging inspectors. II is intimated
that the two deputy surveyors will refuse to
comply with the request of Secretary Gage. Mr.
DowIing is said have the backing of a fnan-
cier of international reputation
News that something going to happen
leaked out early in the day. and the corridors
of the Custom House were crowded with dis
missed employees and their friends. Pulls
were brought into play, but without result. it
was said The APPENDED statement was given out
late yesterday afternoon at the office of Col
lector Bidwell. who declared that the recon-
mendations made by him and approved by the
Secretary of the Treasury. were utterly without
political significance
After carefully considering TIE provisions of
the new tariff law governing the entry of pas
sengers effects and the present system OF exam
lining and passing their baggage on the steam
ship docks. Collector Bidwen has submitted
certain recommendations the Secretary OF the
Treasury, which, /; is believed. Will result N
bringing the system into closer conformity to
the, statutes, and in enhancing the efhclency OF
this branch of the customs service.
Under the proposed plan the Collector has,
with the concurrence OF the surveyor recon-,
mended that what has been known as the
surveyors staff be dispensed with. The duty
of these staff officers has been to go down the
bay and board incoming ships for the purpose
of taking passengers baggage declarations In
asmuch as these declarations are, in fact en-
tries of the merchandise contained in the bag
gage the Collector has deemed ii proper, and in
accordance with the law. that they should oe
taken by Collectors clerks, and has therefore
recommended that. il lieu of the surveyor
staff a corps of sixteen clerks be appointed TOT
this duty. The Collector further believes lhdt
-he strength Of the outside fierce will not be
weakened the service IN any way llhPdItcu
by abolishing the places of NUMBER OF Gus
toms inspectors. and has therefore recon-
mended that the following thirty-one inspectors
be dropped: Samuel w. SwayZe. Herman bioch'
James H Cochnower, Herbert {. DaNlqsoH'
James E Fitzgerald, Lawrence j. Hanley sam
mel Kruckman Charles F. Whtbeck, Daniel j.
Sullivan Malcolm c. Turner, Thomas T. HOW
ley Walter OMara. James f. Costel!o' JQnn !ii. w.
Dost Patrick Ellif Michael j. Rush, Nllllam
Beebe Charles II. Conklin, Thomas Z. Jun
miskey John Helm. William j COBB rank o.
neus E Murphy Simon ?. Donnelly. Francis
I Driscoll Daniel ]. O'Connel Albenus X
Mccoy William Lamb and Alfred Grimm, -,
1t is learned that the present practce OF lssu-
ing permits TO go down on the revenue cutters
TO meet incoming steamers Will be dlscoh htIllu5u,
as we'll the granting OF courleslss VI 81
mort" Both of these privileges have been mis-
understood and misconstrued by the pupHc' anu
have frequently caused complaint from persons
who have not secured them ana are detrimental
10 the interests OF the revenue Inc Coiiector
states that American. residents returning from
abroad can greatly facilitate the examination
of their baggage and avoid much oeIay they
will declare their purchases. Blank forms of dec
larations can be obtained from the pursers OF
the ships of the principal steamship lines. ana
;F will
ward voyage and ill in the proper spaces with
the correct description of what they have pur-
chased and sign and swear 70 thelr StateIiien NJ
before the customs officers when they board the
ship. il will not only save them time and an
noyance, but will greatly aid the officers in the
proper discharge of their duties. II Is under
stood that a change in the manner OF marking
baggage which is 10 leave the dock and other
matters of detail tending TO improve the present
methods will also be put into effect In all OF
these matters the Collector states that he Will
have the hearty cooperation Of Surveyor Croft
and Naval Officer Sharkey, who have concurred
in the Collectors recommendations 10 the lIeds-
ury Department. The Collector further adds
that the foregoing recommendations having been
approved by the Secretary of the Treasury. the
plan outlined will go into effect at once.
The pay OF customs inspectors is ~ day
The salary of the deputy surveyors is S2,'OO d
year. Just how the Collector intends to fill the
places of the clerks he assigns to the eXamina-
ton Of baggage has not been stated. He hopes.
however, il is understood, to effect a marked
saving in the payroll.
The discontinuance of the practice Of issuing
permits TO go revenue cutters to meet in
coming steamers and Of granting the courtesies
Of the port''-under which certain passengers are
'Dut at the head Of the list" In the matter of
examination of baggage on the pier-has been
decided upon. il is said, with view 10 making
more difficult attempts at smuggling duuable
articles into this port.
In April, 1899 twenty-five customs inspectors
stationed on the piers of various steamship com
panies were suspended charges of neglect of
duty. passing baggage improperly and accepting
Cratuites from passengers arriving on ocean