New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-09-08

a few scapegoats to popular Indignation. The
result has justified both his wisdom and iair-
ness.
Mr.. Bailey has spent several months Of indera'-
igahle labor in the examination OF every Depart
ment Of the Custom-IIousc and he finds abuses
enough which need reformation. But oil these
abuses are of long standing, were originated ana
used by the Democratic party when in power TO
strengthen aud perpetuate it. 1t has been q
common thing with that party to put upon the
pay.rols. list before election, hundreds OF men
whose work was in return, to vote the regular
ticket. A large number of offices had been Gre
ated, for tho most part more slnecurcs, the du-
ties of which were discharged sometimes by one
hours labor day. sometimes one hour week
sometimes by no other labor than the holders
attending once q month to receive their salaries.
Watchmen enough were found to be nomlnally
stationed around a single building to guard q
whole square, who of course. were never out OF
their beds, for Custom House business. force
of measurers were under pay, whose salaries
we're expanded by extra charges from S2,oOo TO
$4,000 O year, but whose Light occa-
siona and. as it seems, entirely unnec-
essary, lsbors were discharged by or
binary day-laborers. 1t was only by
a careful examination of the working
of the whole system that it was ascertained that
these abuses had existed, or did still exist, aud
by looking into the actual duties necessary to be
performed, the number of men required. and
the number appointed to perform them, and
how much each man had to do and did do, that
the real abuses of system which Democratic
Administrations had created and LETT behind
them, were discovered. But no sooner are they
discovered than they are Immediately abolished
Over one hundred and sixty supcrnunerar'cs are
to-day discharged; about one hundred men are
made TO change places, so that round pegs I'd
square holes and square pegs in round holes are
no longer left To emharrass and hinder the le-
Ultimate business of tho Office. The actual
expeuses are reduced not less than one hundred
thousand dollars in the Custom House itsel,
while minor details are so arranged that the
cost 10 the merchant of Custom House bust
ness Il very luch lcNSthop' .ii'''i'' N''"~ '-''
Fessenden. the one for inaugurating the other
for completing, ~ far az il mas gone, this work
of reform in which he has acted with great
promptitude and decis on, deserve tho thanks
of the commercial community, while due praise
will be awarded tn their agent, Mr. Bailey Tor
the Intelligence and industry with which he mas
performed the most oncrous part OF tho WORK III
ferrcting out tho abuses and applying the
remedy.
This long examination has proved, as We have
a.reaiy said. that these wrongs wore not only
of Democratic creation. but that they USED
them H. a potent instrument to pcrpetnate then
power in tho purchase OF supporters. 1t was
ius, before election that such an influence was
the most serviceable, and when the most I'M
scrupulous use was made OF IT, We also are
on the eve Of an election, the most important
the country has ever known. Need we make
the application A reform Is inaugurated ut
the very moment when the temptation is
greatest to let abuses alone that N GIT bc made
to tell in our favor What the Democrats
created and used for their own purposes, we
throw away as corrupt and Illegal from 4 sense
OF duty to the country. Which party best de-
serves the confidence and respect of the think
ing men of this city-of those whose stake is
greatest in the purity aud stability Of tie Gov
ernmcut