The New York herald., 1870-11-01
Political Assessments On Govern.
ment Clerks.
Secretary Ocxs Opposition to the system-ais
Rafusal to Permit II in tho Department
Of the Interior correspondence
on the Subject.

we published yesterday the letter Of resignation
sent to the President by the late exsecrery Of the
Interior and the answer OF the President accepting
tho same. In order that the circumstances which
induced Mr. Cox to resign his position may be fully
understood we publish the subj0ined communicar
aons from him to various republican oopmittees
saas undertook to make organized raids on the en-
Dleyd OF the Interior Department. The first b 70
NJ. Clendenning, chairman OF the National Repub-
hcan Committee n IS. ...,,.,s ...t.. .t.fs
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
ic .l1saAEe.i WASHINGTON, d. O., July %, is70.i
DaAn SIR In accordance with your request for.
I /. Pat 1 ~ ,siS;as sSI
tal that It should be understood BY the clerks and
subscriptions 20 Political funds or show OF political
seal WI secure their istenton capacity W indus
~ M. Pistt assured me. ana Il understood Won to
ssdsS 70 give Your oomittee Tie opperunisy opp s " 70
snxt: such g ielt entirely fres 70 ao 50 to cotr
taking. and NOT to impose any tax upon any one.
Knowing 9s ! DO that many q our clerks have al
salaries, should be entirely unwilling to have AZ s tSe
application put on any other basis, even If did not
q salnh, e e 90 % that any any compnlsosy assessment
3 m1uitely more mischief than benefit. -" e.1
a.. We can do more real service 10 the republican
AMONG civii employees and putting each clerk upon
his merit alone for appointment or promotion than
money they could possibly afford TO contribute.
Very respectfully. your obedisnI ser0Snt rUM .,.-
HIS next communication Is directed to the chair.
man Of the Ohio Republican Committee, who applied
to the Secretary for list OF the clerks IN his depart
ment appointed from the State Of Ohio. In the let
ter he Says @ ea5 IS E3eag8 $685. !
After careful consideration Of the matter, With
Il 81 . x e
which We ~ lave ~ sg 20 grsat common On interest am
pss@sss @ ~ sss ssssfSS'sSs y sSsssuns tss
The consIdelatlons which lead me to this con.
SGs.on has may yS SS summed up IN wS namely;
n{stic 70 the civil service REFORM which believe
70 be 80 imperative necessity that the repub-
asan party as ns sry Or true
platform; and second, because the specific assess.
Inent you now propose to make, on behalf OF the
state Central Committee, Is an Innovation IN bad
On the latter point permit me to say that, after
somewhat careful examination OF the subject, can
not learn that Anything similar an assessment FOR
party purposes upon the clerks and employees Of the
on Of Mr. Bucnanan, % ana then EMO only " by By committee
of the clerks themselves. waiting upon their follows
70 person and requesting subscriptions tor Presi-
This year, for the first time, the clerks have re-
Ceiyed circular from the Congressional onmittee
liking the amount each is assessed lone per cent on
their lnc0mes) and Ind eating the expectation OF
response IN an auihoritatiyo way. From TWO or
threo Of the states snlllar assessments have been
received IN one instance one and o kalf per cent,
thus making an income tax OF two and q half per
cent beside expecting these gentlemen to travel to
their several States at their own expense for the
purpose OF voting. have not heard OF district apd
they should not follow Il tho % ohe,s 5 are re recognized ]
Ny own relations TO tho subordinates OF This de.
Al 4 m rQnc of,at tvo
system Of competitlye examinations TO test the
capacity Of applicants for place Or promotion. I
tneir going before the boards Of examiners
and from that time their own character and
office or promotion. Under thcso circumstances
the circular Of the Congressional Committee,
maon as pa UNDERSTOOD BY T tnose receiving the
circular enough am informed the committee
snaanger their places was the NEST demorailsins MOI
Thing which could have been thrown into the de.
whether my poson had been sincerely nss ana
would no. rlS remain al 10 the dsPa,rtmsns day my
ssn o s M rs
greater pecunisry burdens In proportion to their
sxtenf Of Their ability to explorations addressed
e their zs sH the best
explicit IN their opposition to the whole system Of
As msrE of nv own confidence in your purnoses
check for hfty dollars as my personal contribution
70 your fund, and should p6 most happy II my du-
ties and my strength would permit me 10 take my
accustomed place In the canvass OF the State this
tall. rft} tNEl .ansfssf u ltErrwsx sx
Secretary C0x's letter to the chairman Of the Penn
Vlvania Republican Committee, declining to allow
the clerks appointed from that State 10 be called
upon is similar in tone to the two preceding enes
and declares the belief that the attempts made to
levy such assessments have hurt the party more
than the assessJnente, II collected could help it.
THE MIGHT 0f RIGHT. II aa.t-
4 Fashionable School NTa,am Brought 70