The Detroit times., 1909-03-09
LOEB LOOMS UP As
] FUTURE BOSS OF
EMPIRE STATE
APPOINTMENT AS COLLECTOR
or PORT OF NEW YORK GIVES
HIM COMMAND OF 1900 FED
ERAL EMPLOYEES.

NEW YORK, March 9.--William
Loeb. Jr.. who was willing sacrifice
many times during the Roosevelt al
ministration 10 save his chief from
embarrassing complications, was put
in a fair way TO become Republican
state boss OF New York. The United
States senate confirmed his nomina-
ton as collector OF the port OF New
York, a political position of stipend
Gus Importance and power.
Chester A. Arthur worked his way
into the presidency OF the United
States from the collectorship. now In
the hands Of William Loeb. Theodore
Roosevelts father was appointed TO
collector OF the port by President
Hayes, but the senate refused TO con-
firm the appointment.
Every political leader is dependent
upon the collector He has more good
Jobs to pass out thar any other fed
eral Official in the state. The Repub-
lican leaders who writhed under
Roosevelt domination and derfsively
referred TO the presidents secretary
as "Roosevelts goat must now
humbly go To Mr.. Loeb and as pen
itents, plead for pap for their fol-
lowers.
, The collector OF the port OF New
York is commander-in-chief OF an
army OF 1900 federal employees and
entitled as the representative OF the
secretary OF the treasury. 10 order
out revenue cutters in an emergency.
He Is custodian of three OF the prtn-
cipal federal buildings OF the city.
and collects annually about $500. 000,-
700 In cash from importers.
Has judicial Powers, Too.
AS chief customs officer OF the port
he sits as Judge during the course OF
q year upon millions OF dollars worth
OF merchandise and decides the rates
OF duty that must be paid. He is the
arbiter OF all disputed questions con-
nected with the tariff and determines
the classification OF all merchandise
imports not specifically mentioned in
the Dingley law. This places tremend-
Gus power In his hands. The Dingley
act was passed In 1897 and since that
time many new articles of merchan-
disc have come into existence which
are not covered by the law. For all
OF these articles the collector prac-
ucally fixes the tariff
Though his ruling need not be final,
importers almost invariably accept II
rather than take the trouble and ex-
pense OF appealing 10 the board Of
general appraisers, or, IL they fail
there, to the United States circuit
court.
The collectors rulings In connection
with, tariff duties are second in i'm
portance only TO those of the secre-
tary OF the treasury. He collects
duties upon the greatest volume OF
imports received at any port in the
United States.
The collector OF the port occupies
the finest suite OF Offices in New York
city. They are in the new custom
house at Bowling Green. He is custo-
dian OF this new building. also OF the
United States appraisers storehouse
and OF the barge Office
Formidable Political Force.
The collector has more than 600
men In his immediate department. He
has the appointment, removal and dis
ciplining power over a small army OF
men In the surveyors and appraisers
Office. He appoints and has the pow
er to remove and discipline the 400
inspectors assigned TO the surveyors
Office, and the grea. number OF weigh
ers, gaugers, assistant gaugers, lab
orers and others employed in the ap
praiser's stores.
Members OF this big force are a
formidable political force under civil
service with the exception OF a few
OF the best places in the collectors
Office. AS political force this great
body OF federal employees Is counted
as the most formidable in the city.
Mr.. Loeb will draw a salary OF $12.-
600 a year as collector and will have
two special deputies at $4,000 and $l.-
600 a year each. These deputies at
present are II. G. Stuart, who has
served under two collectors, and ID. A.
Baker. an appointee OF Collector
Fowler. Collector Loeb may, IL he
chooses, reduce them TO acting depu.
ties at $4,000 each and pick his own
men. He will also have the selection
OF a collectors solicitor at $4,000 a
year. The present solicitor is Har-
rison Osborne, OF Buffalo. who was
chosen by Mr.. Fowler. Each collec-
tor is expected To name his own so
licitor
The new collector will have under
him eight deputy collectors at $4,000
each, all civil service men-and q
acting deputy collectors.