, 1870-11-20
THE GRANT-COX CONTROVERSY.
The Ex-SccFotArY In u New Light
1aia Civil Service Reforms Not Ob-
ktFRcttd-No Executive Interference
with tho Manugoment OF Depart.
TnNntN.

with tho management OF pepart-
Incnts.
WlsHn9ToA, Nov. H.
The resignation Of Secretary Cox and the
publication Of tho correspondence about the
McG21FAtAn claim, continue to be the sub
1ect Of conversation and comment in political
circles The friends OF Cox ins,st that, In ths
sem'-oheial correspondence about the McGAr-
rahan business, tho President neglected to
refer to the allegation that Coz left the
Cabinet becau.e Of the intarferenoe Of the
Executive With the clerks Of thu Interior De-
rartnent- II il unteratood that this ie what
Cox msa1t IN his letter Of resignation where
he zefers to lack OF support from the presi-
dent IN carrying out CIT .iu needed reforms In
the civil service. Some Of the Presidents
friends urged bin to meet this point In tho
statement tent out With the MoGarrsaan cor
r6spordence: but he objected to it On the
ground that it "&s mot tcleThut to the main
question ut issue. He denies ever having any
controversy with Cox on the subject Of the
clerks. From Cox'a accession to the Cabinet
until tho time he retired, the President
rays he does not remember to have asked Mr..
Cox to appoint clerk or to dismiss ono. Hc
las made It rule not to Interfere with the
rointing and controlling their clerical fosca.
When the question OF assessing the clerks in
the Interior Department for election purposes
came up the President Haa 1t Long Branch.
Whatever complaints may have been made to
him By tho members Of ths National Republ-
can Congressional COMMITTEES, or BY the chair
men Of Republican Associations relative to
Cox's order Agaluat taxing tho clerks, be paid
no attention to It. He BAye he never had any
communication On this subject with Coz or
any other officer of the department. He
simply allowed III. Cox md the politicians to
eetsle this among themselves. So far Al hs
was personally concerned there Haa no issue
between himself and Cox on this matter, and
he does not think Coz could haFo intended
that his friends should set this down as among
the causss which Ie3 him to retire from the
Cabinet.
Branch. just before the October elections, he
found that MT. Cox had gone to Ststen Islaud.
The clsmor that existed about Cox'a order,
iseucd before he left the city, making it a con-
dition thst any clerk who went home to vote
should bavo tie tune Of his absence from the
department deducted from Ms salasy, waa
here. G. H. L wsa as even 4eatsr than the
TOW about the assessment business. OF
course, several psties, politicians and
clerks, called st the White House. to protest
against Cox's order. The President heard all
complaints with his usual cslmnese, but did
rot Indicate any purpose to take action over
Assistant Secretary Of the interior, VAS It
that time acting aa Secretary In tbs zbsence OF
Mr.. Coz. Ono day Judge Otto happened TO
be At the White House in connection with
eome businesa Of the Interior Department
ve1sxtipp, referred to tbs obnoxious or
der Of Coz about tho clerks, aud tho elAno1
that was being raised about it. He said be
did not wish to issue N order arcounteEmanding
it, nor had be any desire to interfere between
the Secrstary md the clerks. He thought.
however, thst every citizen hid the right to 80
hn.,,A m yofe n 1,A ~ FTha nrrrfirs nf
giving the clerks abort leave of
ssys been SLOWED. No complaints
about the matter had come from the other
Executive Departments, and he believed that
wherever clark had applieA fol. Il leave OF
sote il bad been granted By the heads Of the
other departments The President suggested
to Otto that it would pe9hape b better to hare
the practice uniform In ali the departments
subject. He said it would not be necessary
| to ree the Presidents uauae,. or to issue =
pew order, He would cause it to b. known
at the department that any clerk
who should apply for leave Of
ahsenee t. 60 hons to vote should
1iev, and this is believed to b.
correct account Of the whole story about the
clerkp. The President had no communication
with A1r. Cox on the subject. fer he WAS not
here. AID the interview between the President
and Otto took plAce on the Sd OF October.
while Coz WIS at st4ten hlaud writing his lee-
ter Of resignation. The lettez Vas dated that
verv day.
Cox'e f1iaude, On the other hand, assert that
he knew all about the interview Otto hid with
The President before he wrote his letter OF
resignation. The Presmeutis 1t ioes to know
how be could h1ve obtained the information
on that day. except It was telegraphed to
him 1t Staten Island, either BY Judge Otto
| CT: by Eome person TO whom Otto may
| have communicated it. At III events, Co1's
letter Of resignation reached the Whtte House
| the ne1t morning after the Interview betxeeu
eepted il on sight- By nistaks tho Preai-
Jentia letter Of acceptance VIA addressed to
Coz ut tho Interior Department willis he Hza
still 1t Staten 1sland. 1t waA opened by Cox
confidential clark, who, On resuing ia con-
teutt, wxs struck with anaazement. He ran
that oaicil wss .nazsd md hor1iaed. for hs
had no idea Of Cox's intention Of 1caisnIng,
| II Coz premeditAted euchs step for any leuEN
Of tins. be seems to have kept it to himsef
Judge Otto lost no time in going 70 the White
House =, to ..:e .sesrtains h. Il possible; WIZ, =
inform The President too. about Il.
letter being opened bJ Cox's clerk, 40 th.t il
the fact OF the resignation ahould get cut ht
{Otto) might not be blamed. OF course til.
Letter w1s at once mailed to Nt. Cox 1t Ststei
Island. These facts have obtained from
party who il familiar with the whole procead
ing. The President fAa no ide1 that Coz r.
tired from tho Cabinet On the iAaua Of reform
in the civil sersice, for the reasou, - he says
thar Cox had nayer KnAde that contEovefs
with him.
=, - Fire m'ToTontos
TpRoxro, NoT, 1s-Boefrpns touT mn, On III
| eoIrer ni EsplAnsde and Bay 1t1eetAs Nas burne
last night Lon shout 10 .ooo: tu1ut1nce 81, ,oot
A. Another rCantcated. .caANrcGsEuAA4
4 .NAsHEml1, Nov. NV WtttA, Democrat u
| nouncea hts intanrnn TO cnnhest Enn eicctlox {