The Washington times., 1902-12-11
Secretary SRa00 Has Be
he0ed the Fault 10 Be One
Of The SpSfen and Has
Permitted LRe Mane1 10
WaH.
Friends of Thigd ASSISTANT
Secretary Determined He
Shall Be GiUen Equally
Satisfactory Position.

President Roosevelt has determined,
according TO trustworthy authority, to
take early action toward providing for
a reorganization of the customs service.
and to this end now has the matter
1nder consideration.
The President has secured not only
all the data at the disposal OF Secretary
Shaw. but has called into conference
q number Of his closest political ad-
visers outside the Cabinet From these
men. summoned because Of their in
innate knowledge Of this or that part
OF the service, the President has OBJ
tanned the details which be believed
essential to a fair and consistent judg-
ment in a case Of such Importance
Complaints Numerous.
For a long time past. the administra-
tion of the customs service has caused
complaint TO Secretary Shaw and in
some cases. direct to the President The
Secretary. new in Office. was not de-
sirious Of attempting any radical meas
ures until he had Afforded certain high
officials in his department an oppor-
tunity TO show what ground there was
for Just complaint, and what they could
do 10 remedy the matters complained
OF. In the Secretarys words. be be-
lieVes -it is fault OF the system. and
rot Of the men" with financial prob
lens o, intricate nature to attend to.
the customs problem has therefore been
permitted TO await a more favorable
moment
Among he advisers summoned by the
President in the past few days have
been three gentlemen who have had
special facilities FOR forming an accur-
ate and practically unbiased Judgment
on the most successful method OF con-
Quoting the customs service of the
country especially at the port Of New
York.
Looking Out for Spaulding.
President Roosevelt has not been will
ing 10 dispense hurriedly with the SER
vices Of officials who have given many
years 10 the service Of the Government.
and has insisted upon knowing all the
reasons for a proposed change before
giving Il his approval.
This has been true especially Of the
position Of Third Assistant Secretary.
filled by General spsulding. The latter
has had many strong friends In Con
gress, who have been determined to see
that he shall be given a satisfactory pO-
sition ia some other branch OF the Gov
erEment before asked 10 relinquish the
office 10 which he has given many Of
the best years Of his life. 1t is under
stood that his transfer 10 the Board OF
General Appraisers At New York or some
other post OF similar importance will
meet with his acquiesceence and that Of
HIS political friends. prominent among
whom is Senator Platt OF New York.
Mr.. Shaw's Comment.
When asked whether a change Of ad-
ministration in the customs service was
not under immediate consideration and
whether the present conduct or affairs
was not recognized as being unsatisfac-
tory. Secretary Shaw said.
Nothing is ever satisfactory IN the
full sense OF the word. Try as you viii
10 make things perfect. you will still find
some things imperfect. Whenever we
find better ways Of doing things than we
knew before. we put them into opera
tion. but l can't say hat the customs
service has come particularly under that
head lately"