The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-06
ARNOLD named AS
PORT COLLECTOR.
Railway Clerk Appointed by
President Taft to Succeed
Stewart.
CAME AS GREAT SURPRISE
Republican Closely Identified
With Administration Wing
Gets High Honor.

Another surprise, even moro pro-
nounced than the removal of Marshal
Treat. or the reappolntment OF District
Attorney Lewis, came yesterday with
the announcement from Washington
that BENJAMIN 3. Arnold has been
named by President Taft as Collector
of Customs at Richmond. to succeed
Joseph B. Stewart. Mr.. Stewards
term of office expires next Thurs
day, and his only comment yesterday
was that he did not expect any news
until next week.
Mr. Arnold, who is cashier at the
Ninth Street station of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Company, is com
paratively young man. although he
has been a vigorous party worker for
the past fifteen years, and is known to
have been affiliated with tho so-called
Taftites, when the Presidents name
was first mentioned as candidate to
succeed Roosevelt Among Republic
cans and Federal officeholders gener-
entirely unexpected, and many would
not believe the report until official con-
frmation was made by direct communt-
cation with Washington.
The appointee is an organization
man, and is a member Of the cXccu-
tive committee of the party In Virginia,
and Is treasurer OF tho Republican Club
Of Richmond. Ho is member OF tho
Republican City Committee, and has
been delegate to several State and city
conventions. 1t is known that Mr.. Ar
nolds friends have been to Washing
ton recently In his behalf. and 1t is
said that they had the assurance sew
eral weeks ago that the change In the
office at Richmond would be made
Confirmation of the appointment will
probably be mado by the Senate In
timo for Mr. Arnold to assume his
duties on the date Of expiration of Mr..
Stewards term.
Made Excellent Record.
Mr.. stewart, who retires as Collector
of Customs at the Port OF Richmond
leaves behind him a record seldom, II
ever, eQualed. it is said, by any holder
! of :, Federal Office in Virginia. at the
time OF hts appointment by President
| Mckinley. in 1901, duty collections N
Richmond aggregated about $4,000
annually, While now the receipts cN
ceed 100000, and tho cost of collect
ing to the government Is much les
than at any of tho rival ports
Mr.. Stewart was indorscd for re
appointment by many of the LEADING
business mon and bankers of the city
some Of whom gave written testi
monals setting forth that it wa
through HIS efforts that local import
crs realized tho benefits OF securing
goods direct from producers In other
countries, In the nlne years he has
held tho office, Mr.. Stewart has not
taken a holiday, and there have been
few days that he has not been at his
desk,
oldest OMce-Holdcr.
In point OF service haTfs the Oldest
Federal official in Virginia, having
served in various capacities, except
when the Democrats We're in power,
! since his appointment to the postal
service soon after the war. He Is
| slxty-cight years old. and served In
| the Confederate navy. and afterwards
| as q member of an engineering corps
! throughout the Civil War. "The loss
| of n Job Is something to be expected
in politics." he said yesterday. ~ have
no hard feeling toward any one.
/ know Mr. Arnold. and believe he Is
4 r.