Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-06-27
OLDEST PORT
WILL SOON GO
Collector Francis Says He
Will Cease to be in Charge
Here July |.
SIMPLY LEGISLATED OUT
Deputy Collector Eggert Ex-
pectsd to be Head of Office
New York Rule.
SIMPLY LEGlSLATED OUT

Under the action that has been
taken by the legislature, Perth Am
boy the Oldest port of entry In the
country, will cease to exist as such on
and after next Tuesday, July 1. Col
lector of Customs @. Asa Francis Is
preparing to vacate by that time
While he is not in position to say
what way matters may turn with the
consolidation of this port under New
York, he expects that Deputy Collec-
tor George w. Eggert and the same
staff Of customs employees now in the
local custom house will remain here
to do the work. Mr.. Francis says he
has made no plans for the future, but
will simply do what he has often
done before, which was to look for a
new position at the expiration of his
career In another.
Mr.. Francis expressed regret that
this the oldest port in the United
States should be abolished at this
time, when seen in his office today.
He said the city had grown In popula-
tion and in wealth to q certain ex-
tent more than any other community
in the state he knew of. More than
a hundred years back the port of
Perth Amboy was looked upon as the
prospective main port of entry in the
country, he said. New York grew
more rapidly and lead, but the
amount of imports here has rivalled
those OF most other ports in the
country,
Under the Taft reorganization
plan, the ports Of this city and New
ark are to become merged under the
port of New York and will come di-
rectly under the jurisdiction of the
collector Of customs of that port on
and after July 1. Thus, workers in
the local and Newark offices will be
governed by the New York collector
Deputy collectors will be in charge
of the respective offices. The change
at this time was brought about by
former President Taft's orders and
the refusal Of Chairman Oscar Under
wood, OF the ways and means COM
mittee, to report the Fletcher bill for
action. That was drafted to post
pone effectiveness OF the order until
January /, next. The bill was re-
Gently pasted by the senate. Strong
efforts to get 1t out Of committee and
ton on Wednesday failed.
AS yet Mr.. Francis has received no
notification of the abolishment of his
office, except by pamphlet copies of
the laws. He claims that had local
people had great interest in reten-
tion OF the port Of entry here, they
would have stirred up some action and
given Congressman Scully good
sound backing. In his opinion, petit
tions should have been given wide
and then presented to the
congressman, that he might show his
colleagues the sort Of sentiment here.
Because of his position. Mr.. Francis
says he could and would not do 1t.
He praised the concerted effort made
in Newark for the retention of It's
port. While there might not have
been any result, there was a good op-
portunity II both communities united
in the fight, he stated.
Nj. Francis succeeded r. Carson
of New Brunswick as collector of GUS
toms here. His commission was
signed July 27, 1911 and he was
sworn IN August 7. He began holding
the Office September 1, 1911. The
term Of office was for four years.
His conclusion is that with the ar
rival of July /, he will step out of
the office and cease to hold office as
collector of customs of the Port Of
Perth Amboy beause there will be no
such position on and after that date.