The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-02
BY GEORGE III. MANNING.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-The put
ting into effect of the plan for the
reorganization of the customs ser
vice today. which will effect an an
nual saving of approximately $780,
600. and take 1o3 collectors off the
government payroll. Is the result OF
one piece OF legislation which was
enacted ION the quiet" and devoid
of the usual debate. discussion and
newspaper publicity which usually
accompanies every marked reform OF
this kind.
For years there has been an effort
to reorganize the customs house ser
vice on the part of congressman and
senator's who knew that great saw
ings could be effected II 1t was put
on a real business basis, but time
after time the bin to accomplish this
reorganization which was annually
reported out OF the house committee
on appropriations was defeated by
"the powers that be" in the house and
senate.
Oficeholderr Affected.
The members Of the appropriation
committee knew that II the service
could be reorganized a saving Of half
a million dollars would be made, but
every year the committee found that
If this saving was made 1t would turn
out a lot of ofYicehoIders and affect
a lot Of communities in coastwise
States For the reason that every
time the bill came UP. the congress
men and senator's having customs
houses in their communities all band
ed together and agreed with iegisla-
tors in interior States to exchange
their vote on a measure OF interest
to the interior communities. 1t was
found impossible to pass the bill.
Similar opposition was encountered
when an effort was made to pass
bill abolishing several of the United
States minis. but this subject was
agitated and agitated year after
year until the opposition steadily de-
creased. and the bill was passed cut
ting a large number Of officeholders
from the payroll of Uncle Sam and
effecting an annual saving OF about
$250,000.
How It Was Done.
| Congressman Saunders. OF Virginia.
for many years member Of the APP
preparation committee. in speaking
today Of the method by which the re-
| organization was brought about. said:
I'VE knew that the only way to
| put the scheme into operation was
to tie II up with an appropriation bill
and so a clause instructing the pres
ident to reorganize the customs SER
vice was inserted In one OF the APP
preparation bills. As the reading OF
the bill proceeded from day to day
the innocent looking clause was n
nally read over and passed in the
| bill After a section has been read
and passed 1t IL impossible to again
call 1t up. Few Interested In its de-
! feat knew the reorganization provi-
sion was in the bill until few days
afterward. and 1t was then dmpossi-
BILE to recommit 1t.
Then the interested congressman,
being helpless in the house, went
over to the senate and made night
to eliminate the Objectionable clause.
and succeeded in having the senate
strike Ii cut When thu hial went to
conference between the house and
senate to agree on the differences
between the two bills. the house con-
/ ferees stood pat and the provision
was retained The bin went to the
president and President Taft signed
4 1t. That was one instance where
a great reform was enacted without
any flare OF trumpets."
Pressure Brought to Bear.
4 Although President Taft and Assist
/ ant Secretary Of tho Treasury Curtis
1 had been insisting on reorganization
for some time, SO much pressure was
/ brought 10 bear on them by repre-
sentative OF communities effected that
President Taft did not sign the bill
until the day before the end OF his
4 term.
The forces opposing the bin kept
up their fisht right up to today. and
1 the end Is not yet, although the
plan has now been put into opera
\ ton.
1 As soon AZ the new administration
went into once efforts were made
to have Secretary OF the Treasury
McAdoo, who has the enforcement OF
the provisions. and President Wilson
rescind the order. Failing In this Il
was decided to pass bill suspend
/ ing the order.
A little over q month ago Senator
4 Fletcher. OF Florida, introduced q
i bill to suspend the operation of the
REORGANIZATION order for two years.
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