Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-17

there is always the possibility that an
employee may decide to quit and
make way for a new man of Witt
penis selection.
Naval Officer Frederick ]. H.
Kracke. Republican, of Brooklyn, who
resigns this office to accept a position
at the hands of Mayor-elect John
Purroy Mitchell in the New York City
Hall, is still in charge of the office,
but he is ready to turn over the
position to Mr.. Wittpenn at mo-
ment's notice.
The new appointee will be ready to
a week or ten days.
His New Duties.
The naval officer acts concurrently,
with the collector in the estimation of
duties and the signing of all permits,
clearances, certificates, debentures
and other documents granted by the
collector.
The position of naval officer was
created by the fifth act of the first
session of the first Congress of the
! United States, approved by President
Washington on July go 1889 The title
of the office is misleading and q mis-
homer, the duties devolving upon the
naval officer being similar to those
performed by the comptroller of GUS
toms in the English service, where
that office has existed since A. ID. 1874.
There are naval officers in the GUS
toms districts of New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans,
San Francisco and Chicago. In these
districts there is collected more than
80 per cent, of the entire revenues
under the customs laws.
/ In the district of New York with
which Mr.. Wittpenn will be identified
there is collected more than 20 per
cent. of the entire customs revenue of
| the United States.
/ Mr.. Wittpenns principal duty will
! be to cooperate with the collector in
the assessment of duties upon i'm
ported goods and to establish the &C
countability of that officer for the
proper and complete collection of all
duties, taxes. fees, fines and penalties
imposed by the laws relative to the
customs or navigation and for all the
moneys discussed by him in refunds
| drawbacks and otner expenditures
authorized by law, The extent of these
transactions at New York amounted
in the aggregate to more than $204.
315,676 during the fiscal year 1918.
Richly Fitted ONCE.
j To reach Naval officer Wittpenn
when he gets down to cuisines in his
new headquarters one must pass UP
the great steps of the New York Gus
toms House with its marble interior
and onyx, columns and take the ele-
vator to the third floor. Opposite the
elevator and over the marble portals
of one of the doors a sign, in letters
of gold, reads: Naval Officer of the
Pert of New York" Upon entering
this door the visitor comes face te
face with young clerk at the desk In
the outer reception room.
From here Mr.. Wittpenn can gazt
with wistful eve across the Hudson
to the Jersey shore, where his former
possessions lie; but as to his offices
they may be described as gorgeous
In the large reception room is 9
cherry wood desk at which Wittpenr
will sit when he is on duty.
Heavy green carpet adorns the f1ool
of the spacious office, from the win
4 dows of which fine view of Hudson
county can be had.
Green velvet curtains adorn tn,
large windows and the cherry furni
ture matches we'll with the greer
rugs and carpets, the mission paneli
and the other costly decoration.
Has Valuable Assistants.
In this large room Naval Office
Wittpenn will have Special Deput,
: Thomas J. Skuse, of Brooklyn, as hi
| right-hand man,
| MIR. Skuse worked his way up from
/ | junior clerk and Is now the man mex
! | In rank to the naval officer He ha
/ the business of the department at hi
! | fingers ends, 1t is said,
Another valuable assistant to nj