New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-09

| Rod 5000 ......-...-. 6S,TtO %
| 3,Oss, 400 %
Difference In favor Of Mr. Grinnel SO7 20
have not included something over $4,000 the credit
OF saving which IL wholly due the Secretary OF the
Of Mr.. Murphys accession to the office Of Col
lector This item added would swell the difference to
TO collect the by Mr. Murphy, than for the cor
responding period by Mr. Grinne-an excess OF expen-
dire not easily explained upon theory applicable
months named i'm which Mr. Murphy was al the head OF
the Customs Department in NewYork the total amount
OF the collections were ss94 3 For the Ike period
by Mr.. Grnnel, there was collected sl5s6sSls II, diff
] ference OF <29,ii2,6SG 90.
great portion OF this excess is explained by the fact
that the act Of Congress July a. 1870 reduced the rate
Of duty upon leading articles Of importation, aud
provided that all goods imported previous to January
1871 and held in bond, would he subject only To the re-
duCed rates. In anticipation OF this law, and az cnnse
quenee OF IT, large quantities OF sugar tea coffee spices
aud other articles held which otherwise would
have withdrawn and duties paid before. This
ated to swell the collections after that it had operated
to diminish them In corresponding ratio before tlat
time-a difference nearly quite equal to the excess
which is shown to have been collected BY Mr Murphy.
should be borne il mind, too that mainly the official
labor necessary in the collection OF duties upon these
goods had been performed, leaving little more 10 90 IMAM
to receive the money and that the large additions TO the
tree list aided to diminish the labor required and ex-
pense incident to customs collections There was tnere-
| fore, no reason why more men should have
| been employed or more expenses incurred. me
| machinery was ample anu Tue "uoie matter
| became more easy aud less expensive by reason OF
the law which have referred aud the cost shOud
have been reduced rather than increased one dollar 20
again reach the conclusion that am correct in eharac-
|
most expensive and the most pernlcOus III example ana
practice OF any, and that the President has been msed
In extending TO 1t an unqualified indorsement and ap-
seetsn seven provides .,...,-.. ~,
That all officers 9th Customs appointed g ani VII" he advice ana
consent Of TIE Senate shall he appointed iof he @ "l l &
s6a ho s Ones rePse until TIER asSs,1 s tmoe
dns the Of h appointment except for cause and the moya
ulng certain civil officers approved April 1903
ton Of the paramount question before the American
people odaythat Of Civil Service Reform AZ least the
Inon Which 10 bud complete system for all the depart
ments OF the Government reform IN the civil service
is the leading question before the public no other theme
so largely discussed in the influential Journals In the
lectureroOms, indeed in social conversation No one
been confined to methods and systems II is obvious that
the people taking the matter into their own hands,
and unless reform conceded, later there will
be a movement without regard to parties factions
such recently in day revolutionized the municipal
| condition OF New-York.
| THE cUsToNHoUsE NEEDS CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
indicate the Customs service, and especially the de-
partment Of NewYork, as the proper place to lnaugu
rate new and improved method, because no service
and place need it more. Nowhere has the Cvil Ser
wee been so degraded as there At that vital point
where large portion Of the revenue Of the nation Is
collected every principle that should govern an enght-
ened civil service has been violated. OmceT3 Oh az
proyed capacity and integrity have been suddenly re-
moved without cause Others have been appointed MIN,
out reference to qualification and character iathu
and efficient clerks been abased by the appointment
over them Of incompetent men PronouoHs nav m no
depehdeu upon d am Re no neglect or nefciency
could affect fortunate incunDeut, Whlc no Icl OF
sbiitV could save Others from dismissal have beer
credly Informed that even bribery has been condoned
in other words, that the guilty parties nave never peu
nuujshed Forced assessments from all for political
uro-e have paid the expenses OF part in their par
San pi gmages through the country. In iact IL SEEM
a. thogb every possible had been adopted To de
mean t6e Civil srvice In the Customs Department at
NewYork and to divert the public oihcers from 'ne'
Unusually large importations have produced large re
cept- easy TO estimate the revenue o5t o
would bankrupt in year the weal5hies CONNER
cial house in the country-a loss whlch i1lS upon ~
tire people and contributes 10 llaAe ue VI
ton more greyous. The Civil Service Commission say
IN their recent able report that l, ,s t,.
that the United States are annually lost
one,fourth Of our entire revenue or say s9ooOoOoC a
year. And am led TO believe they DO not oye1iate iue
ity with which that Commission nave presented tht eV'
prsi.rt manifested in accepting their recommends
tons But Civil Reform is entitled to all TINS and
even more The abuses of system have been grownl
for long time strike deep into our nationa
life. To them we need not only great care an,
! any which has been adopted
= PATRONAGE THE CURSE OF THE cUsToNHoUsE.
National and individual prosperity for long tim
diverted popular attention from these abuses. They al
peared trivial to the thriving citizen, orgeu Of the ter
rbe results TO hch they tending 1t is also proba
be that the corrptons Of the local government In New
| York had a malfgn influence upon every institution
within its scope But, be the causes many few. the!
I have conspred 10 present marvellous combination o
service in thelNewYork custom-house The real evil o
present stem II deep-seated ana farreachlng
relates 10 the scramble for place to the 20 which pat
rouage is pu the uncertainty OF tenure TO the con
slant struggle Tor control and TO the demoraizaton an
currpon Which grows ont Of such condition OF pOhti
sub>ervenCy, uncertainty and strife. At the found
alton OF the curse j. patronage, Tot so much because
gives bad men, because 10 cOrrupts our politics.
should never be 50 much question OF who shall moi,
tn Offices though 1t II true they should be men OF goo,
faith and fidelity, and profitable servants 10 the people
! For every office adequate qualifications should b.
eXaced from the candidate, and there should as
he general confidence in his character an
| IT
in these respects remains unimpaired he shout
not De removed during the usual period Of his commits
sion In such reflections 1 mean unjust disparage
ment What say Il prompted not by the spirit OF hos
tile criticism; recognize the deserts OF our party IN III
administration Of public affairs with more eagernes
il grateful pleasure the latter is unpleasant ddy
But must meet this question Of reform now, OF Tia
strength and power Will be strong for
graple with and overthrow Allow the present practice
arvjsnt ~ vhatever s deradin and corrurtin, in nu
lie Affairs. Borrowing smie employed by the distin
gushed Senator from Massachusetts MIR sumner upoI
a memorable occasion, like the tabled magnetic noun
tain the face Of the deep which drew by tn,
strong iron bolts from the stately ship the nOble
qualities OF manhood which to exat and adorn ou
| politics gradually Withdrawn, until at last we be
acOnfused and helpless wreck. II Is idle expect
that high will pervade the circle OF politics wheI
members OF the party not liberty to act al
independent part TO the mode OF promoting the same
common principles and attaining the same common end
TOR WHAT Is GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE BESTOWED
IL is net 10 De successfully denied that officers have
been removed in numerous instances, by the Admins
tration nat appointed them, without any change In
their character and qualifications, not for any dereic
ton of duy nhdety to party principles but because
they wer not acceptable 10 some, whose advice was pO
tent withthe appointing power and because 1t sup
posed political results could thus be secured In
wOrCs IL generally believed that the patronage
Of the Government is used reward for partisan
service, and agency for promoting personal ends.
Whether tbs l. not IL may at least be said that
the and erceness 10 which the prerogatye OF APP
pOntBent and removal can be exposed has been severely
tcsted-a perOgativc which has been at all times with a
brief interruption, in the hands OF the Executive 10
measure control The honor and safety Of the
IL ain