Collector of the Port of New York explained

Collector of the Port of New York
Type:U.S. federal government appointment
Seal:Seal of the U.S. Customs Service.svg
Seal Size:120px
Formed:1789
Dissolved:1966
Agency Type:Collector of import duties on foreign goods
Jurisdiction:Port of New York
Headquarters:United States Custom House, New York City
Parent Department:United States Department of the Treasury

The Collector of Customs at the Port of New York, most often referred to as Collector of the Port of New York, was a federal officer who was in charge of the collection of import duties on foreign goods that entered the United States by ship at the Port of New York.

The best-known individual to hold the position was Chester A. Arthur, who served as collector from 1871 to 1878 and who later served as the 21st president of the United States.

History

The first Collector, John Lamb, was appointed by George Washington in 1789. He had previously served as Collector of Customs for the State of New York from 1784.

The office was described as "the prize plum of Federal patronage not only in this State but perhaps in the country, outside of positions in the Cabinet."[1] Customs collections at US ports were overseen by three political appointees—the Collector, Surveyor, and Naval Officer.[2] Because they were originally paid based on a percentage system that factored in both customs collected and fines levied for those who attempted to evade payment, these appointments were very lucrative, especially those at the Port of New York, by far America's busiest port.[3] New York's Collector was the highest paid official of the federal government; as Collector from 1871 to 1878, Chester A. Arthur's compensation exceeded the modern equivalent of $1 million annually. The custom house staffs, especially at New York's Custom House were also political appointees, and were expected to contribute a portion of their salaries to the party to which they owed their appointments.[3]

Disputes over patronage at the Port of New York led to an ongoing feud from the 1860s to the 1880s between the party faction led by Roscoe Conkling and reformers who counted Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield among their number.[3] The attempts at reform that began in the 1870s led to the political appointees at each port being placed on salaries rather than the percentage system. The annual salary in 1920 was $12,000 (about $153,000 in 2019) plus about $8,000 in fees (about $102,000 in 2019).[4]

The position was abolished in 1966 when the structure of the United States Customs Service was changed. The last Collector, Joseph P. Kelly, was kept on temporarily as a consultant.[5]

List of collectors

PortraitCollectorNominated byStart dateEnd dateComments
1 1789 1797 [6]
2 1797 1801 Confirmed May 19, 1797
3 1801 1820
4 1820 1829
5 1829 1838 Confirmed March 29, 1830.
6 1838 1841
7 1841 1841
8 1841 1844
N/A - - Rejected by the U.S. Senate
9 1844 1845
10 1845 1849
11 1849 1853
N/A - - Declined nomination
12 1853 1853
13 1853 1857 Resigned July 1, 1857
14 1857 1861
15 1861 1864 Resigned
16 1864 1865
17 1865 1865 Committed suicide
N/A N/A 1865 1866 Acting
18 1866 1869
19 1869 1870
20 1870 1871
21 1871 1878
N/A - - Rejected by U.S. Senate
22 1878 1881
23 1881 1885 Nominated March 24, 1881
24 1885 1886
25 1886 1889
26 1889 1891
27 1891 1891
28 1891 1893 [7] [8]
29 1893 1897 Died in office[9]
30 1897 1902 [10]
31 1902 1907 Resigned due to ill health
N/A N/A 1907 1907 Acting
32 1907 1909
33 1909 1913
34 1913 1913 Elected Mayor of New York City[11] [12]
35 1913 1917 [13]
36 1917 1921 [14]
37 1921 1922 Died in office
N/A N/A 1922 1923 Acting[15]
38 1923 1933 [16]
39 1933 1953
40 1953 1961
41 1961 1966 [17]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: George W. Aldridge Dies As He Golfs At Westchester Club – Collector of Port, 65, and Seemingly Hale, Stricken With Apoplexy – Sinks Without a Word – Charles D. Hilles and George Sweeny Near Rochester Leader as Death Comes – Ends Picturesque Career – Last Survivor of Big Three, Including Platt and Hendricks – Body to Be Taken Home Today. August 20, 2016. The New York Times. June 14, 1922.
  2. Book: US Congress . 1875 . Revised Statutes of the United States Passed at the First Session of the Forty-Third Congress . Washington, DC . US Government Printing Office . 523.
  3. Book: Campbell, Ballard C. . 2008 . Disasters, Accidents, and Crises in American History . registration . New York, NY . Facts on File . 152–153 . 978-1-4381-3012-5.
  4. News: Open Season Now For Job Hunters – Local Republican Leaders Preparing to Fill Offices Under New Administration – Many Fine Federal Plums – Scores of Places Under State Rule Will Also Fall to Faithful Party Workers. August 20, 2016. The New York Times. November 9, 1920.
  5. News: New Chief Cites Customs Aim Here – Stramiello Declares He Will Strive to Improve Service. The New York Times. Werner. Bamberger. June 19, 1966.
  6. News: New-York's Customs Officers: The Collectors, Naval Officers, and Surveyors Since the Foundation of the Government . February 23, 2018. The New York Times. July 20, 1878. en . TimesMachine.
  7. News: Collector Hendricks Now; Mr. Fassett's Successor Sworn In And In Charge. He Looks Through The Departments Intent On "Learning The Business" - Rumors Of Changes - Other Custom House Matters. The New York Times. September 29, 1891.
  8. News: Francis Hendricks, Politician, Dies At 86 - Former Republican Leader of Central New York and ex-State Senator. August 20, 2016. The New York Times. June 10, 1920.
  9. News: New-York Offices Filled - James T. Kilbreth Collector, Walter H. Bunn Appraiser. August 20, 2016. The New York Times. July 29, 1893. 1.
  10. News: Appointments By Bidwell – New Collector of the Port Begins Work – Joseph J. Couch Is Special Deputy. The New York Times . July 15, 1897.
  11. Good Government. Monthly Bulletin – The Federal Service. November 1913. 30. 11. 99. May 1, 2011.
  12. News: Mitchel In Office As Port Collector Loeb, Retiring, Wishes Him Well – McAneny and Steers There as He Is Sworn In – Still in Mayoralty Fight – Politicians Say His Federal Appointment Can't Keep Him Out and Will Help Him. August 20, 2016. The New York Times. June 8, 1913. C4.
  13. News: Malone Nominated As Port Collector – O'Gorman's Son-in-Law to Succeed Mitchel – Senator, Avoiding Comment, Tells a Story – Wilson's Personal Choice – Appointment Thought to Show Satisfaction at Tammany's Defeat – Splendid Selection, Says Mitchel. The New York Times . November 11, 1913.
  14. News: Growth Of New York Port; Collector Newton Says This Is World's Greatest Commerce Centre. The New York Times. June 28, 1918.
  15. News: Henry C. Stuart, Customs Aide – Assistant Collector of Port of New York for 15 Years Is Dead Here at 73 – In U.S. Service 47 Years – Considered Authority on Laws of His Department – Honored on Retirement in '37. August 20, 2016. The New York Times. May 14, 1938. 15.
  16. News: Philip Elting, Once Collector of Port – Chairman of Ulster County Republicans Since 1904 Held Post Here, 1923 to 1933 – Dies in Kingston at 77 – Descendant of 9 Generations of Ulster County Residents – Leader at Conventions. August 20, 2016. The New York Times. July 21, 1941. 15.
  17. https://www.nytimes.com/1961/07/06/archives/transport-news-new-impost-chief-kelly-sworn-as-ports-41st-collector.html NEW IMPOST CHIEF; Kelly Sworn as Port's 41st Collector of Customs

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