Year: 1875

WHAT COLLECTOR ARTHUR SAYS ABOUT THE FIF-


TEEN PER CENT REDUCTION. COMPTROLLER


GREEN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. JoAcHIMsEN's


OPINION.


HEEALD representative yesterday obtained some
additional information about the contemplated reduc
tion Of salaries alluded TO in the HERALD on sunday
Collector Arthur IVES first visited at his Office, 10 the
Custom House The Collector explained that large
reduction made in Custom House expenses lass
spring Two special agents were sent on here BY the
Treasury Department in December 1874 for the pur-
pose OF aiding the Collector investigation he was
then conducting with view to ascertain the per-
whose services could be dispensed with in hts
department Six weeks spent in going through
the Custom House As result II was decided 10 dis
charge $50 employees, making 4 total yearly u;on
in expenses Of about $200000 After going through
the different divisions the department then put
upon the lowest working clerical force. that al
present no reduction Of the clerks be made with
out interfering with the transaction of business


The present reduction is made because Of the
receipt Of sufficient money BY the Treasury from nea
penalties and forfeitures in amount large enough to
admit Of such expenditure is needed here for tho
collection of tho revenue. The which is lacking
and which must be saved by reduction Of expenses
throughout the United States is 100000 during
the remainder of the fiscal year, which
ends on the 1st of July This reduction is unavoid
able, because the Secretary Of the Treasury is not
authorized to incur any obligations Of the ap-
preparations for the collection OF the The
fortunate part OF the business for New York is that the
Custom House here has bear largest part OF tbs
deficiency. Besides, decrease In the revenue grow
ing out Of depressed state OF business does
rant proportonate reduction or the force employed
in the collection OF the As many clerks are
required collect 100000 900 $50 100000 The
same number Of transactions are as rule necessary
be the importations light heavy. In making re-
ductons the Collector says therefore, that he
sders it preferable reduce salaries when he
sistenty do


One dfculty in this respect exists in the fact that
the salaries of about halt the employees are fixed by
law. He feels satisfied however, that those sltu-
ated will, without hesitancy accede to reduction or
their salaries II the department feels that this voun-
tary surrender be approved of the reduction VIII
commence with the Collectors own salary. II the
contemplated reduction to be made by discharg
ing clerks the Collector says he would have 10 suspend
business in some OF the departments The present ex
penses he estimates at about 81 600 yearly and the
proportion TO be saved will neeessate reduction
that amount OF fifteen per cent. The Collector says
there is no institution of kind this any other
country the coat OF running which is small In pro
portion to the amount Of business transacted.


The deficiency which is improperly charged to the
collection of the revenue belongs somewhere else. In
IL included the cost of building the public stores
at the corner of Laight and Washington Streets and





defray these expenses, amounting in all to some
$500 600, appropriation should have been obtained
from Congress instead Of compelling the Custom House,
at its lowest working basis, to still greater coz
traction of it's expenditures.


The Collector contrasted certain officials and their
salaries in the federal and municipal services showing
that the citys employees are paid twice as we'll even
allowing for the proposed reductions now under con-
sderaton those the service of the United States
This act was referred because the city salaries
were thought GOO high, but because the Collector be-
lioves that federal Compensation is at present as
lnUo ~ mot II IA


COMPTROLLER GREEN


A call was next made upon Comptroller Green; but
Mr. Green not prepared TO say much in addition to
his recommendation TO the Board of Apportionment
on Saturday. He said he had had little or no time
since then to think about the matter of lower salaries
81 am engaged" he said, ''in investigating the
salary question: the purpose of making such recon-
mendaons the facts justify for the guidance OF the
Board of Apportioument, or for such legislation AZ
may be found necessary"


JUDGE JoAcHMsEM


The next official Judge 2. j. Joachmsen, OF
the Marine Court The Judge spoke generally OF the
attendants and clerks OF the Court Of which ne has
been Judge Tor more than i've years. their salaries and


Judge Joachimssn says that while the judges should
have some control over appointments there are obcc-
to their having full power of appointment As it
is any judge can nominate and an appointment Is
made by three judges. The judges necessarily, must
pay attention to tho dictates of party leaders
The term OF office is short, and any disregard OF such
! dictates is political suicide The number OF employees
in the Marine Court might be advantageously
reduced. Al the last reorganization OF the
Court, in 1872, IL was thought there would
be four trial terms one special and one general
term making six in all and that each would rc-
quire n deputy clerk, and that as many more clerks
would be required in the Offices As the court however
mas no rooms for the accommodation of more than
four parts there Is need of the extra clerks
Assistant clerks, too, might be dispensed with by
adding little to the pay OF the stenographers and get


ting them 10 swear in witnesses, &c This they could
easily do senographers are always Obliged TO be in
attendance. Ordinary attendants, he thought,
should be sent by the Police Commissioners,
then they would be under restraint Compensation
could be settled by the Common Council
| At present there employed in the Marine Court
eighteen attendants twelve assistant clerks, three
stenographers, interpreter, deputy clerk and
one clerk Judge Shea has brother employed as as
sstant clerk at 81 500 year Judge Alker has SON
in-aw employed there clerk at 81, 500 and Judge
Gross a cousin no 81, 200.


In other parts Of the state court attendants are paid
by the day and supplied by the Sheriff; but here host
OF attendants are paid tor doing nothing during al
most the entire summer. At present half the number
or attendants and half the salary paid Judge Joachim
sen thinks would be amply sufficient for the require
ments Of the court There 1000 untried causes on
the calendar of the court, because accommodations
have been provided by the Common Council for the
holding of all the parts of the court provided by the
II lazy