New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-20

| outrages of the Grant men from driving the
masses into guerrilla war.
| CIVIL SERVICE REFORM IN MARYLAND.
Mr. W. T. Prime was delegate from Prince
Georges County, Maryland, to the Grant Re
publican State Convention. He had been an
| active Republican for many years, and he was
| no doubt satisfied that the promises of the
Administration were sincere. and the office
holders would not be allowed to control the
action of the Convention. He found, however,
| that the delegates were only expected to as
sist in packing the Philadelphia Convention,
under the direction of Mr.. Thomas Collector
of tho Port of Baltimore, and Mr.. Super
visor Fulton, brother of the editor Of The
| baltimore American. He found that not
only were Custom house and Treasury
clerks sent into the counties TO manipulate
the elections, but Offices were openly prom
ised to secure the selection of G. c. Full
ton and James A. Gary, enthusiastic Grant
men, as delegates to the Convention at Balti-
| more. The circumstances were brought to the
attention of the Secretary OF the Treasury J;
but he took no notice of this gross violation
of Mr.. George William Curtiss Civil Service
| Rules, Mr.. Prime, convinced that the outrage
was premeditated, and the administrative pro-
fession of reform all humbug has accordingly
forsaken the Grant party, and written letter,
from which we gather the following facts:
After the election of delegates to the State
| Convention at Baltimore, William Latchford,
clerk in the office of the Register of the
| Treasury at Washington, offered one OF
the delegates from Prince Georges County
place in the Custom-hOuso at Bal
timore for any friend no might name
| if he would vote for Fulton and Gary.
| He, moreover, promised another delegate,
named Parker, place in the Custom-house II
he would stay away from the Convention ana
give a proxy to LatchfOrd's father The proxy
was transferred by Latchford to one Briscoe,
who voted for Fulton and Gary, and was in
consequence, appointed an Assistant Weigher
" as a reward for his services in the Conven-
"tion.r To make q place for BriscOe, Col
| lectOr Thomas removed Mr.. Charles A. Colby,
q Young man of excellent character and quail
| fcatons, and the sole support OF mother
and sister, Mr. Colby's father, Jealous and
influential Republican, had died only month
before, and his only brother had been killed in
the Union army during the war.
Mr.. Primo and other gentlemen called upon
Secretary Boutwell, and told him this story.
He sent for Latchford, and questioned him in
their presence, when Latchford frankly avowed
the truth of all the statements we have gwen,
and added that he acted by authority of Col
| lector Thomas, and that no fault whatever
was found with MI. Colby, except that the
| Collector said "unless Mr.. Colby or his father
could come to the Convention he could not
"retan him in his place in the Custom house."
Still Mr. Boutwell, did nothing. The mother
| of young Colby saw the Secretary and repre-
sented her destitute condition, but got no re-
dress. The chief Weigher, Mr.. Henderson,
demonstrated against the removal of one of
his best subordinates, and was consequently
himself removed, and his place filled by a
friend of Mr.. Gary. Mr.. Prime called again
upon the Secretary, in company with Perkins
and Parker, the delegates before alluded to-,
and exhibited some OF Latchford's letters, one
Of which runs as follows:
JAMES T. PERKINS esg.-Dear Sir! What mentioned
you few days since is about to take place. and am
satisfied that Mr. Blrscosl will I'LL vacancy LIST Of
the month. reward for his services at Convention he
taken very active part In favor OF parties having the
power to remove and appoint He Mr. b. being the
only one from p. g. prince Georges that manifested
deep interest In behalf Of parties Consequently
his claims very strong and will be considered,
especially when he has clear field. Collector of Port
was here business yesterday in relation to contem
plated changes and learned that he ia going to do still
better for p. g. by giving heran Inspector ngh here
tofore promised
All that required of b. ecure success to get the
Endorsement OF the members OF State Central Com
mittee; mere sham not worth the paper written
/ regret that there is not friend Of mine similar
claims In the field for Ilace would most
suredy change the program; but there not /
shall not interfere as 1t would not DO just besides,
gronds to works on only your Statement which 1 pre-
sumo would be considered 10y te partes balanced
by his Is late actions In BALTIC.
Yours, very respectly, VIM. LATcHFoRD.
Ps am verF sorry for thos parties loosng their
places but they do deserve much II any sympathy
when they very well know ITO The Victor belong tho
spoils" III
Treasury Department, Registers ONCE, April 27th, 1874
Still nothing was done, ard the transaction
had Mr. Boutwelrs tacit approval.
Colby and Henderson, no doubt, If they are
active and intelligent men, are better off with
out places in the Custom-louse than with
them. We need not convulss the country on
account of their wrOngs But is it not time