The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-27
EXPECT MER GER
PLAN THIS WEEK
Treasury Department to An
nounce Scheme of CONSOLIDATE
ing Virginia Ports.
TWO DISTRICTS PROBABLE
Seems Most Likely Solution,
but SUPPORT for Richmond
Appears Possible.

According TO reports from Washing
ton. the basis of the much discussed
merger of Virginia customs dis
tricts will be announced by the Treasury
Department this week. The nation
wide scheme of consolidation is re
ported TO be practically complete
only the case of the Virginia ports
awaiting the final touch.
From the best information obtain
able it appears to be practically Ger
tain that Virginia will emerge from
the pruning with two customs dis
tricts in place of the four dis
tricts into which the State is now
divided The one-district plan. it
appears, has been abandoned.
In semi-offcial statement last
week. Congressman Holland of the
Second Virginia District who has
been active IN Norfolks behalf. said
that Assistant Secretary Curtis. of
the Treasury Department. will recon-
mend TO the Customs Bureau the
merger of the Newport News and
Norfolk customs districts into a union
Newport News y orfolk district. With
this plan. IL was reported. will go the
recommendation that the collector of
the hybrid port be given his choice of
residence. with the reservation only
that he spend part of each business
day in Norfolk and part in Newport
News
Commission Has No Effect.
Under the consolidation plan that
seems most likely TO be followed, two
important coilectorships VIII be Va
Gated. the one at Petersburg and one
of the two offices now located in Nor
folk and Newport News. The plan for
the proposed union of the Newport
News orfolk districts carried with it
no intimation as 10 which of the two
collectors would be removed.
IN this connection Il is worth MOTTO
ing that whatever may be the order of
the Treasury Department this week in
disposing of the Virginia customs
problem. IL will take precedence over
presidential commissions now held by
the several collectors. Most of these
do not expire until the end of this year
Such changes as may be called for by
the order readJusting the customs
districts will probably go into effect
all over the United States on July |.
the day following the official end of
the fiscal year The Treasury Depart
ment order effecting these changes
fiat and Will. it Is expected. automatic
ally revoke all unexpired com missions
given under the President seal.
One Port In Each State.
Roughly stated. the plan of the Gus
ms Bureau is to make each State d
customs collection district. and one
city in each State the official port.
In the case Of State that have more
than one natural port. these are to be
taken care of ~ deputy collectors
under the direction of the collector
of the principal - IT.
The scheme follows the retrenchment
program laid down by last summers
Democr tic Con ress. portion of
which calls for red elton of $3.50 900
in the annual expenses of the customs
divisions Of the Treasury Department
1t Is estimated that the number of
customs colleCtorships in the United
States will be reduced by this plan from
al ut $50 u nifty.
Virgin Texas. and one or two other
ties with rival cities claiming the
right 10 be designated the official
ports. have given the department the
greatest concern. - l. announced
ow that ali cl-ims We been adjusted.
and that the cor solicitation scheme viii
be given out by Sccrctar, of he Treas
ury NIacNeaeh Is We K.
Richmond May Lose.
While II II the belief of Collector
3 r. Arnold that Richmond will not
he reduced to the position of n SUPPORT
there l. bare probability that this
Viii h. pDen- mike Norfolk and Nov
port News. both of which have cXCrtod
their utmost to secure an advantageous
consolidation. this city until recently
made no effort TO put forth its claims
II IN" Treasury Department viii act
entirely m accordanr" with the economy
program which u has mapped ont for
itself. Il j. pointed out. n will hardly
escape the temptation to consolidate
all Of Virginia into one customs district
This will mean merely IN" substitution
in several ports of a deputy collector
FOR the full collector. with no shTinkage
IN revenue and no obstruction 10 the
service.
With this idea IN mind and In Wow Of
the fact that the Customs Bureau APP
pears 20 have committed itself IN favor
Of Il combin Norfolk Newport News
port ~ seems a fair inference that both
Richmond and Petersburg Will be re-
duced 20 tho position Of supports. Such
a change viii O. course have only
paper significance since Richmond
pre. criircure in the matter Of customs
trsif7r D. assured
RirtmouGcrs however. incline 20 tho
belief that Virginia Will bc given two
Official ports and that his city VIII bc
ono Of them. In This belief they are
supported nv the collection fgureS Tor
fni- prrt which show that Richmond
collects more annually than all other
Virginia ports com bincd and -
fraction - me per dollar collection
co-t 81 Norfolk.