The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-17
The New Appointments and the United
StRtes Senate.

The Senate at Washington having patiently
awaited the organization of the other branch of
the national legislature, for two weeks, and no
Speaker having been elected, have determined it
appears to 90 TO work and transact such business
as they leglslate upon without the action of
the House. Accordingly, they appointed a com
mitee on Saturday, to wait upon President Taylor,
and inform him that their bedy had organized,
and was ready to receive any executive commun-
cation that he might have to transmit. THIS pro-
ceedlng having taken pace, 1t is expected that the
President will send IN batch of nominations to
the Senate, this morning, for their action. A great
many of the nominees OF the present administra-
ton, who have been shivering their shoes for
months past, Will, therefore, soon know their fate,
and either be allowed to hold to their Offices,
receive a coup de grace that will be more summary
than agreeable 10 their sensibillties.
There is good deal Of scuriosity in this region
10 know the fate Of the appointments that have
been conferred on Col. Webb, the Minister to Aus
tina, and Mr.. Maxwell, the Collector Of the port.
Some say that neither one nor the other has the
east chance Of being confirmed, while others ex-
press an opinion that both will be confirmed. Our
own opinion, founded on reliable information, is
that Col. Webb will be certainly rejected, and that
4 Mr.. Maxwell escapes, II will be by the - skin OF
his teeth"
great many complaints have been made against
the manner in which Mr.. Maxwell has managed
the administration Of the Custom House since his
appointment as well as against the way in which
he has distributed the Offices OF that famous estab-
hebment. The merchants are very loud in their
complaints, and say that there never was a time
when they encountered so many difficulties and
annoy in tTansactng their business, as they
do at present. arising from the appointment OF iaef
fcien and incapable persons in the subordinate de-
rarimenis, and new arrangements that have been
introduced, Of narrewmnded and lawyer-hke
character The last species Of complaint that has
been made against Mr.. Maxwell's management, is
tina, all the luggage Of pas sengers arriving at this
port, is transferred, by his order, to the public
Stores and then examined before it is delivered up
TO the owners. IL is then examined minute.y and
any article which, in the opinion ofhe Collector or
ms assistants, is not, properly speaking, luggage,
is taken possession Of, and the owner lie compelled
TO make an entry Of It in the Custom House, aud
pay cuty on it; an undertaking, az ali mercantile
men well know, accompanied with a greal deal
Of trouble, annoyance yexahon and expense, esP--
cally TO strangers. This certainly looks very
law er likes and to such an extent is this vexltious
proc, eding carried by Mr. Mexwell's officials
that in one Gaze, we are informed, lady plssen-
gei's baggage, even 10 her dirty clo;hes bag, was
o,tih.uled and miButely examnsd-a course
which, We venture TO cay, l. not followed in the
most despoto country in Europe This is looking
TO the interests Of the revenue with a vengeance
but We con hardly suppose that Unce sam is so
soid Of galanuy as 10 insist upon his subordinies
oveihaulng ladies' petIcoats and linen, for Goa
irebaEd etcles, and discovering, as they do ia al
most all cases, nothing but a mares nest.
But, as we have already said, all the new sp-
p'inimenis will soon know their fate, Mr.. Max
well and Colonel Webb isoluded The nomina-
tors will be submitted to the Senate, from day to
day, in bt'ches, commencing, in all probability,
this morning. A few days wall dsyelope the extent
of tie operations Of the gptiiotiHs in the Sena-
torsl chamber