The New York herald., 1871-12-03
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
Tbs New Collector Besieged by 0ficsho,dsrs-
How He Disp ,s,s o, Them-rhe General Pro-
gramms Of ths New Admins ration.

On the lst Of December General Arthur assumed
the duties OF the most lucrative once In the United
States. and he has already, III the briel space Of
f0rtv-eishi hours bagun 10 find that the sweets OF
place are not wholly iree from an accompanying
bitter Even in TINS land OF iree insti uuons where
we all start win an equal chance In the race for
pubic honors. 1t il not given to every cirizen
to know OF his own knowledge what
IL Is to dispense the patronage depending
upon great one. But II we do not
know from experience, we have at least learael
from observation and from the pIteous plants OF
almost every lucky politician who mas been ap-
pointed to the heaslship OF an important depart
ment tnat oaice-seekers and onice-seeking are the
bale and the curse Of power. IL - an instructive
siant toiounge about the corridors OF the Custom
House Just at present ana watch the gathering
swarms OF Office. seekers who nope for o change,
though 1t is generally known that General
Arthur has succeeded Mr.. Murphy by
tile lattcr's own consent and recommends
ton, and that, therefore, no sweeping removals
may be expected. Tne patriot who hopes to serve
hts county catches o. the merest straw. who
Knows" said one to the writer, ''what may hsp.
penn IL Is all very well TO say that Arthur and
Murphy But there heaps OF men that
Murphy does not like, though he has not deemed it
poltic TO get tper III will by removing them. Now
he can have them 'urned out through General Ar.
thur, without apparently eng responsible Tor The
change. And just you believe that he going to do
II. bird IN the air has tod me s0."
Further inquiry, however. revealed the fact that
these hope nj patriots. VINO are thus "working the
Custom House route" +" are not meeting with very
great success. General Arthur comes into Office
gifted with the diplomatic skill OF polished man Of
the world ana long exper eaee as q lawyer has
trained him 10 detect mems motives ana "take their
.l,,y
throngng applicants who besieye the doors of HIS
outer Office with rrOmpiness and despatch" that
are "truly wonderful Tnls somewhat IKE "how
lie does i.'':-
Enter Office seeker his face wrearhed In scrvile
smes his eyes gltterlng with hope, his lips Iwltcl-
lag with nervous eagerness.
.Good morning, SIR; delighted to see you'
politely says the General. "Mr. SO-and So see, re.
commends you for post In the Cus:om House,
eyes, SIR" responds tile applicant, gaming hope
and conf ielce at the promising haracter of MS
ccptlon; "And trust thas my services to the parry
and'-
breaks IN the Collector. "rnere are no vacancies to
be filed and the law prascrlbes rgillv the numDer
oi emplo,es. Now oi course. under these circunn-
stances could Only md place lor you Dv d1pac-
on;s' aI sSne 0Ae eS'' "n0m 10 you propose 70 'u'n
Whom indeed For Mr. Oriceseeker generally
a0our the work wn.cn hc hopes 10 be
appointed to perform, ln his eyes the % sas
or asylunp, IN Wmcn good republicans VINO
have ial.cd In business. or VINO have never mad anv
Daine yo @ M ay hsd reaturs anu
CATION ol lhe So,lector mes upon nm with ali the
force ol a surprise. he stanlmers and nesitales,
AID. OF cOur e. ally 'ieaves lnaS entirely " your
discretion Geuera!."
..WtIl, we are making no removals' is the nnal
sentence, "bu still we 90 iatend to sternly weed out
all incompetent men, Thea, again, we have many
appncants. VIII, however, pat you On tue list s.r,
aIl may, perhaps, lie able ut some iulure lime, &c.,
Gc., Ach Thus ends the interview, AMI the would
be servant Of nis country departs, sadder but
ii General Artnur's avowed principles In regard
to office. holding carried CUT t.e Custom House
Will indeed become model department. Inc col
ectOr say Lnal all he VIII prefer l0r promo.
toI men who have aire .dy gasned experience IN
the Sc, wee 10 outsiders, no matter wnat their po.
GIN ON The lowest rung Of .he Ladder ami wll nave
to snow clearly their capacity for the place Tor wncn
they Candidates. NO sineCureS eAi al present,
and It ada that VIII be created.
Favoritlsm OF every kEid VIII ne abolished ana a
vice as ei1ceDC and as ec0IUin.cu as IS tnat VI
bank or railroad. COnsre VIII very like a. the
may be his successors rOuno about witE rigorous
regulations In resari to appointments, but most or
their rules are to be carried out b. autlcfpa Ion.
Mr. Murphy still luts in an appearance in The
halls when go lately owned MN master. he seems
very cheerful Tor dec Aplta.eJ place holder out he
was doubtless consuilcL apOut Ms own removal,
and Is said to have himself recommended II. lie IS
upon his record Us contractor and Willingly tells
ever, body the "wnole ruth" about the scandals
that now being revived. Z" But l suppose
they will boon Degln on the General now." said
he to the wr,er alter narrat ny the Dlanket stOry
in exhaustive dIta and showing that his action
throughout Was absolutely pure and blameess.
one great reOrn aud mucn needed one. has
already been enforced. The CoiectOr's room Is not
IN future to be the special lOa ng ground Vi the
polit Tney will only he able to see the Col
lectOr wuen they have some rca business Tor an
excuse : and that business once TRANSACTED, they
.r
Arthur thinks IL possible for q Collector to be over
ROol nalurel and most people Will agree with hun.