New-York tribune., 1913-10-15
WOULD SAVE S50O,OOO
A YEAR AT THIS PORT
Collector Mitchell Suggests Re-
organization of All Bureaus
of Customs Here.
IL MONTHS FOR CHANGE
Report to Secretary of Treasury
Based on Results of Inquiry
Made by Experts Under
DR.. F. A. Cleveland.

Half million dollars a year that IS
now charged against the collection Of
customs in the Port OF New York may be
saved, according TO John Purroy Mitchell,
Collector Of the Port and the fusion cam
didate for Mayor. This saving may be
effected, he says, without the discharge
OF any one Of the $500 employees or the
reduction Of a single salary. Just how
this may be done is worked out In re-
port Of DR.. +. A. Cleveland, in charge
Of special corps Of experts. which has
been at work on the reorganization plans
for some time.
This report has been transmitted TO
Secretary McAdoo Of the Treasury De-
partment, with an analysis by the Col
lector, and his recommendation that the
suggestions outlined in the report be put
in operation.
Put Service on New Basis.
Plans for a reorganization Of the vari-
Gus bureaus that havo TO do with the COL
lection Of customs at this port will bring
an aggregate saving Of S2740oO. Explain
ing how this saving can be brought about
NllHOul NibppIHS hiiy OiiV VI 'NN'
any salaries, Collector Mitchell says. In
his letter to Secretary McAdoo:
This we can do by assignment TO tenn
porary detail OF surplus men In any
class. such surplus to be gradually alb
sorbed by appointment to vacancies that
may naturally occur from time 10 time
within the service. AS the mortality OF
the service at this port. due to death.
resignation or removal. IS from per cent
to 10 per cent, It will require only year
to put the service wholly upon the new
basis This also has the advantage OF
effect,ng the changes gradually. without
sudden wrench or jar TO the system"
According to the Collector. there are at
present many charges made against the
customs appropriation that have nothing
TO do with the collection OF revenue. II
is suggested that these charges, which.
as already reported. amount TO sG2c1.
be made against other appropriations.
lie also says that other recommendations
that are to be made in the future should
bring about the saving OF some $4,000
more II they are adopted.
Dr. Cleveland says that II similar
changes are made in administration and
in charges I'm other ports in the United
States there ought TO be a net saying TO
the appropriation for the collection OF
customs OF as much as 10000 n year.
The reports OF the experts are not all
completed. but Collector Mitchell says to
Secretary McAdoo he believes he should
send on the reports already in hand, as
he has forwarded his resignation 10 Presl-
dent Wilson. He recommends that the
efficiency STAFF be permitted to go ahead
with the immediate installation OF such
changes and improvements as are con-
tained In the recommendation that may
meet with the approval OF tho depart
ment
I'm rendering my resignation. following
the acceptance OF the nomination for
Mayor of the City OF New York. writes
Collector Mitchell. my chief regret IS that
have not been able to continue the
constructive work which was So well be-
gun under Collector Loeb. and which
gives so much promise Of immediate re-
turn on further effort here at the Custom
House.