Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-08-21
MAY LOSE THE
CUSTOM HOUSE
Perth Amboy and Newark
May be Combined Which
Would be Abolished?
THIS PORT is GREATER
Should the Plan be Carried
Out Conditions Seem to
Favor Perth Amboy.

If the scheme proposed by Assist
ant Secretary Curtis, of the treasury
department, has the approval Of
Congress, the prestige, which goes
with a port Of entry and custom
house, will be lost, presumably, by
the city Of Newark or the city of
Perth Amboy, with the possibilities
that Newark will be the loser. In
the event of change of this sort
being carried out the principal loser
would be Alfred N. Dalrymple, the
recently appointed collector of this
port.
Ever since Charles D Norton, the
former secretary to the President,
was one of the assistant secretaries
In the treasury department, various
plans for the consolidation of the
different customs districts in the
United States have been considered.
Schemes for the consolidation Of
many of the districts were proposed
but for some reason, politics, per-
haps, the plans never went beyond
the confines of the big treasury de-
partment building
To Simplify Accounting.
Assistant Secretary Curtis, is in
charge Of the customs department
of the Treasury. In an effort to
simplify the accounting system of
that department and to improve the
customs districts so far as possible
Mr.. Curtis has evolved a plaI which
has in view the reduction the
customs district In the &, tied
States from 124 to 73. To accom-
plish this 1t will be necessary to re-
district the entire country, and in
doing this 1t is expected that the six
districts in New Jersey will be
changed to one district
If the consolidation of districts is
carried out in New Jersey it is ex-
pected that the smaller districts,
such as Little Egg Harbor, Great
Egg Harbor, Bridgeton and Burling-
ton, Will be wiped off, the customs
map without much protest True,
the Congressman in whose districts
these ports of entry are located will
make some objection. 1t is also true
that the United States Senators from
all of the States may seek to defeat
the passage OF any bill Of this sort
Yet ultimately 1t is expected that the
changes recommended will have the
Hndl approval OIL congress.
Perth Amboy surpasses Newark.
AS to whether Newark or Perth Am
boy would be abolished as q Customs
district, opinions would differ great
ly. In the matter of customs bust
ness, there Is more transacted
through the custom house at Perth
Amboy than there is at the custom
house at Newark This Is due largely
to the fact that the immense plants
Of the Guggenheim Smelling Works,
the Raritan Copper Works, and va
rious other large industrial plants
which make large importations from
foreign countries, particularly from
Mexico In the case of the Guggen-
helm Smelling Works, and as a re-
suit these corporations make big
payments annually to the treasury
department through the collector of
the port of Perth Amboy.
Much Of the crude materials that
finally reaches Newark comes
through the New York Custom
House, and 1t is probably true that
Newark fails to get credit, to some
that Is used here. Occasionlly there
Is a shipment of lumber from some
foreign port on which the duty has
to be paid, but the aggregate annual
receipts of the office are far below
those of Perth Amboy. AS a result
Perth Amboy has a better standing
in the Treasury Department.
Alfred N Dalrymple, the Collector
OF Customs at Newark, has hardly
had time to get initiated into his new
duties. 1t is only about three
months ago that his appointment
was recommended by United States
Senator Briggs. Mr.. Dalrymple had
the Endorsement of the Republican
organization and Of such prominent
Republicans as Franklin Murphy,
former Gocernor. 1t was considered
generous reward for his services
as county chairman, and If he should
be obliged to relinquish the position
his friends would naturally expect
that some provision would be made
for him otherwise.
@. Asa Francis, of Long Branch,
owes his appointment as collector Of
Perth Amboy to factional fight in
the Republican ranks in, Middlesex
county. Robert Carson, the retiring
collector, wanted another term. The
odore Strong, former State assessor,
and the Republican leader in Middle
sex county, objected to Mr.. Carson
being named again. When the two
factions would not agree upon
man from Middlesex county Senator
Briggs recommended former State
Senator Francis, of Monmouth, and
Is about to take charge of the Of
fee.
The friends of the two collectors,
Dalrymple. of Newark, and Francis,
of Perth Amboy, VIII make a great
fight for the retention of their man
and the saving of the port of entry
for thier respective city and county,
IL 1t happens that the plan for the
consolidation is taken up before the
adjournment Of Congress. The fact
that adjournment seems to be in
sight may postpone the entire matter
until the regular session in Decem-
Der, and in that event the two col
lectors and their host of friends will
all busy themselves in a campaign
for the preservation of the custom
house at each respective city.
Another Veto by Taft.