The San Francisco call., 1907-02-19
FEDERAL AK HANGS
OVER HEADS OF CUSTOM
HOUSE SUBCHIEFS
Appraiser Dare Will Follow
Chauncey St. John to
Retirement
ACCOUNTS IN TANGLE
Bad Bookkeeping a Cause of
Complaint and Many
on Anxious Seat

Following closely on the announce
ment exclusively published in yester-
DAYS Call that the Treasury Depart
ment at Washington had requested the
resignation of Chauncey NJ. st. John,
Deputy Surveyor of the Port. word was
received yesterday on the floor OF the
custom house that Senator Perkins
would write to Appraiser John T. Dare
suggesting that the latter's resigna-
tion would be acceptable. Dare's Of
nee is q presidential" one paying S5675
a year The Treasury Department can
not dismiss him, but is ready TO ac-
cept his resignation. The reason as
signed for the request for the resigna-
tion is that the office is in hot water
constantly and that shippers are con-
tinually complaining.
With St Johns head already in the
Federal basket and Dare's about TO
tumble. peace has fed from the corri-
6ors Of the custom house. and the
wonder and worry now is: Who'll be
the next to go against the ax?'
In addition to the definitely stated
complaints against Appraiser Dare, it
Is certain that the affairs of the Gus
tom house have not been pleasing 10
Washington officials for some time past
Bickering is constant between vari-
Gus departments. the heads of which
are barely on speaking terms with each
other There are little circles of an
ragcnistic employees and constant fric-
tion. This has been an open secret
ever since Charles H. Spear was Sur
veyor Of the Port When he was sue
ceeded by Z. F. Woodward. former
Senator from Santa Rosa, it was hoped
the petty Quarreling would cease. but
il did not. and the growing enmity has
seriously hampered the work of Uncle
sam in collecting imposts.
Another cause Of dissatisfaction in
Washington over the operation of the
port business in san Francisco is said
10 be the methods employed in keeping
accounts.
Several months ago Assistant Secre-
tary James B. Reynolds came to this
city and it was rumored then that he
returned TO the capital with his pockets
bulging with recommendations for
changes not only in the personnel of
the customs Offices. but in the methods
OF doing business. ST. Johns probable
retirement is said TO have been due to
this fact no less than TO the fact Of
the unpleasant relations existing be-
tween his department and that of Ham
ilton. Stratton and others.
Experts about town have long ridi-
culed the system of accounts kept in
the custom house. and have declared
them incomplete, inadequate and loose
dressed by one of the most prominent
of the Pacific Coast experts in accounts.
and the rumor fioated from Washington
that radical changes would be made in
the style Of records which would be
kept. II is believed that part of the
complaint which has ended in the re-
quest for St Johns and Dare's resigna-
tions is mere matter of Bookkeeping
Appraiser Dare admitted yesterday
thar his resignation WAS DrObable He
said he had intended going into the
real estate business before the fire. but
that calamity upset his plans. Il ex-
pect, however" he said, ''at the end of
the present fiscal year to hand in my
resignation, but il Will be entirely vol
untary."
Collector Of the Port Stratton, with
whom st. John has been at loggerheads
for years, said yesterday that he had
received no formal or informal in
formation concerning St. Johns or any
others removal "All know about the
matter is what I read in The Call" he
said.
Customs Surveyor Woodward, who
appointed st. John as his personal rep
resentative, also denied having had any
word from Washington or elsewhere
regarding the official decapitation of ST
John. William B. Hamilton and Charles
A Stephens, chief boarding officer, were
apparently divided in their sentiments
regarding ST. Johns removal They
did not seem TO regret the fact, but
with others might have been perturbed
ss to how far and wide the ak was
going to be swung.
Some Of the officials are seriously
contemplating a correspondence course
IN bookkeeping and the science of ac-
counts.