The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-06
PETERSBURG MAY
LOSE COLLECTOR
Treasury Department Plan Pro-
poses Merger of Office With
Richmond.
WOULD VACATE $500 JOB
Consolidation Would Abolish OF
fee of Collector Wilson, and
Limit Patronage.
WOULD VACATE $500 JOB

The days of the collector OF GUS
toms at Petersburg are numbered. &C
oording TO a report from washington
which has st that President Taft will
be asked at an early date by Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Curtis to
merge the Richmond and Petersburg
customs districts into a united single
district, under the direction of the col
lector of the port of Richmond. 1t is
stated on good authority that a recon-
mendation embodying this plan will be
submitted to the President to-day.
Collector 3. 3. Arnold. OF the local
office. admitted last night that the
Treasury Department has had gem
eral consolidation plan under advise
rnent for some time, but said that he
had received no information with re
gard to the proposed union IF the
Richmond and petersburg customs dis
tricts.
THE Treasury Department" said Mr..
Arnold. has been at work on a plan
for the consolidation Of customs dis
tricts all over the country. but has so
far made no definite announcement OF
it's stigations. L havs heard many
runors with regard TO mergers in TINS
State. but none of them are worth re-
heating. A proposal to unite the Rich
mond and Petersburg districts, how
ever. would not surprise me"
Part of Economy Program.
Thu proposed merger IS IN line with
thA Democratic economy program or
last summer. The appropriations Dill
passed by the last Congress contained
a provision requiring the reorganiza-
tion of the customs service. with the
view of reducing the appropriation Tor
This department for 1914 by s35o.OOo
| The cut was suggested by the fact that
! in a number OF the ports OF the couh-
try the expense Of maintaining col
| lector exceeds the duties that are col
/ lected
! While Petersburg is far from being
a rotten borough port, and collects
much more than the expenses OF us
collectors office. Il is generally con-
/ ceded that n large saving could be eff
fActed bv the Treasury Department II
the Richmond and Petersburg districts
! wore merged and conducted from one
| office. In tn. event Of such merger
/ the collector Of the port Of Richn ond
would maintain a deputy IN Peters
hure The business. however. would
be conducted officially from the Rich
mond Office.
The consolidation can take effect
onIv upon tn. express order OF the
| President. It would make vacant the
! ONCE of collector OF the port OF Pc
tersburg. now held by H c. wilson,
which carries salary Of about s2.5oy
a year To this extent, also, IL Wouio
limit the patronage OF the new regime
Jrban II comes into power next March
! v.
| 1luion OF the two customs districts,
while nominally increasing the receipts
| of the Richmond office by about $1I5,-
! moo annually, would not operate TO
make the collectorsh'p OF this port
moro valuable. The collections at this
nort II ia estimated. will this year be
in excess OF 100000. This amount
is considerably larger than the mini
mum fixed BY the government below
which the collectorship becomes in
mart a fee Office. The maximum salary
Of ss.53o for the collector of this port
will remain unchanged should the
merger take place.
Collector Arnold said last night that
he knew Of no argument that could De
| advanced against the proposed con
| solidation. The customs business o.
Petersburg. he thought. could be car
| r,od on from the Richmond office with
! the aid Of a deputy, without imposing
| n hardship on any interests. Peters
burg. perhaps. would view the matter
| ia another light
A parallel consolidation OF the Gus
toms districts of Norfolk. Portsmouth
and Newport NewS Is proposed and IS
meeting with particular oppositioh
I from Norfolk. Much OF Norfolk
grievance is due TO the TACT mat tne
| plan contemplates the placing OF 'he
collector at Newport News a COM
raittee representing the BOARD OF Iraoe
! and the Industrial Commission OF NOT
roll, viii appear in washington to-day
;n oppositson 70 the plan. Failing in
,beir effort TO stave off the merger
,be,- will try to secure the main col
,ertor's Office for Norfolk.