The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-14
MANY OFFICERS
WILL LOSE JOBS
Great Saving Contemplated by
Reorganization of Gus
toms Service.
HISTORIC PLACES TO GO
Naval Offices, Relics OF Col
onial Days, Will Be
Abolished.

Washington, January l3.--The Treas
ury Department tentative plan for
the reorganization of the customs SER
vice, it was learned to-day. contem-
plates the abolition of all customs naval
officers and surveyors of customs, con-
aning the port administration to col
lectors and deputy collectors
II also is the departments intention
70 deprive the collectors at ports along
the Great Lakes and the Canadian
border of their present perquisites for
tho sale OF manifest blanks and 70 turn
this revenue into the treasury Az
some of the smallest ports where the
sale of the collector Is only $50, fees
from the sale of manifests are oeieved
bv officials to raise the compensation
70 a large amount, even $l5-UJ OF s-OVov
IN some instances At New York and at
All actual seaports the collector, years
AGO lost the returns from the sale of
when former President Chester A.
Arthur was collector at New YORK, ne,
like others. was paid on commission
and fee basis and his compensation Is
aid TO have reached over 10000 a
yea. This situation drew the attention
of Congress and all ''seaports+ were
placed on strictly salary basis They.
boUever. have never been extended 10
some Lake and Canadian border ports
Passing of Historic Offices.
The abolition of the naval offices VIII
mark the passing of one of the most
historic characters IN the service OF tne
United States He is a relic OF the
colonial days. When America was part
of the British Empire a local man was
Amounted as a collector of customs al
the various ports and the King OF Eng
land sent over a naval OFFICER as MS
personal representative 20 cneck up the
or,eratiops of the collector The posi-
ton thus had its beginning ana INC
duties Of the naval officers has grown
mill treasury officials claim that ne
amounts to q second collector 1hese
seen pcrts have naval Officers; New
YORK Boston. Philadelphia, baltim orc
chicago. New Orleans and San iran
cisco. The salary a. New YORK Is -
900 and at the Others $500
In reducing the existing ieS customs
districts 10 less than hfty. the Troes-
-, Depsrtperf's plan provides for
Dta.tns each district IN charge OF
collector aud each port IN charge OF
dor,.@x- collector No existing port
III, 10 abolished and many SUPPORTS
will be made ports There y heen
rivaIrv for the headquarters 81 eacn
Ttasrfrt. which VIII De tnf ptittN " t"D
collector. The Treasury officiais man
tain THIS location means httie OF
nothing. . -
In New York state ths existing ten
districts will hc reduced 20 Tour. WITH
bcadouar.crs - <ew YORK CITY, But
f.lo Rochester and Ogdcnsburg. The
sac OF ohio and Erie County. Pa.
--,If constitute ono district with cleve-
land a. headquarters. Cincinnati -
strongly cIamoring for the location Of
the collector
Newport News Favored.
Nofhine ~ known about the details
81 other ports. r. VI. Hsistead. chief
~ the customs division. returned TO
washington to-dsy from Norfolk and
<erporf News where he investigated
.bo slaircs Of thee cities 70 the head
ouarfe-- % the Virginia. customs dis
800 Both cities will submit briefs
nefore Nr. Halstcsd makes MS report
10 Secretary MacVcseh. The Treas
urv Depart men. had intended msking
~s,rport News the Office OF The col
ie~tor- because more merchandise y
suporsed shere than - Norfolk