The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-05

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members were influenced by the federal officers ut
Oswego tour votes would have changed the result.
ySs we morally TnS S'se 3r csran
how the members voted, but could notsay POSI-
o. How was the Convention In rs7of A. In 1870
the light was on the question OF who should be tenn
p9rary chairman; the gentleman chosen made ub
al The G6miliitseess IN :na cJlSilg interest.
.. But how about the vote for Goyernor9 A. You
may Judge how that was by the vote OF Mr.. Conk-
then for myself and lastly for Woodfora; there Was
no Conkling Fenton fight much about the Governor
sh,p i ,sa,nE noweye MI Murphy practically de-
at FIRST the choice OF tie Custom House was, be.
.. The great question then was who should ne
temporary chairman A. Yes; that was the trial
OF strength between the Conkling and Ienton par
Ties.
q. Dd they ever square of on the question In this
way at any previous conventionY A. think there
worth contest; but do not think the Issue was de-
cided as IN 1870, by this prior fight.
then for yourself ana Woodiord; how dld Mr.. Muir.
ply votef A.. He was not there; he was outside; ne
and subsequently for General Woodford for Gov
ernor.
circles that Mr.. Conklins and Mr.. Murphy did their
4: NO. sir and II 1t were asserted 1t would not be
g DID ,Ssy ever try e have yOa ncminateas A:
NSs a. q, tnas t% ~ d% mot ns they made any
' has not felt Himself H as
WING parry i was cardinal rule That
n' fSs. S11 & as
Has sss e nn ssi
and s snS n him Ss very
In 1874; he has always been an earnest anu active
politician during i9S forty YEAR, have known MIN.
strong influence upon conventions.
Q. But what influence did he not exert while Col
when ne was not 0oliectori A. iremember gen.
orally that ne was much more active ana earnest
moi M &e W
while he held once he took part IN politics. but
That he sco9 very active part ac Gn
part IN potics-that Is, lie was less active IN the
llght between ourselves-whie he was an onice
Q. when the democrats were In power did their
prominent ofllce-holders exert any marked in1u-
the practices OF that party; know that we used TO
complain about such pracnces, however,
Albany this yearf A. About sixty; the Surveyor
ana Naval Onlcer were among them.
q, During their absence who would do their
work. A. suppose their deputies
Q. Do you know whether the public service sui:
fered by their absences A. In some cases IT would
q. Has any Custom House officer lately. been ap-
pointed to any State office9 A; Yes; Mr. James ass
Collector, has been appointed Clerk to The senate.
.. Have YOU any knowledge OF assessments being
made on Custom House salaries for political pur.
poses2 A. have Information and belief that Mr.
Murphy mas levied two per cent; there was an as
TO Mr.. Murphy. and one onlcer could not give any
New Years presents TO his wife and children be-
Q. For what purposes are these assessments
usually made9 A. That cannot say; for various
o. DO you consider the public service Of the
country = now postponed 70 me exigencles Of
ose who wish to the parry
G. when you spoke Of 100 persons being removed
w Kept n BY M N
understood that the Custom House appointments
were about equally divided, ana now !ney are all
q. Do you know OF any one holding a sinecure
position In the custom Housea a. believe Mr.
Samuel p. Maddox holds such post
men. Of the Posi- Once IL the Interest Of iactioni
%ss,srs % ssSe
but do not know that personal representations o.
the case have been made to the President.
RESERVATIONS frequently, has IT nOt7 Mr. Greeley,
| amid general aughter-Yes; believe so.
are less eflcent by being held here in the Custom
House? A. do; many men Will be deferred from
coming here by rear Of personal loss and annoy
.. Has the public service in your opinion sunered
by political removals OF experienced onicersP A.
q. In your opinion such removals are an abuse
A. IL is very great misfortune that changes are
made even for party purposes, and 1t IL a still
greater misfortune that ofice-hOlders should feel
Insecure on account OF their view OF matters inside
their party-on account OF their stripe, that is to
say.
q: How long have you been political journalists
A. Since 1s34-tnirty seven years.
Sir; have tried to be well informed.
are obliged to act upon evidence which, though
morally certain would not be good IN court of
good evidence in court Of law ave- - ""' "'''" ~
9. You have SPOKEN OF from two to four federal
"A eSa s IL ssnE s
for exampe-there have been dozen at least; such
officers work for month OF six weeks before the
@ For what qualifications were they selected-for
their value as wrepullersS A. Mr.. Murphy Is the
they were largely selected for their local influence
O. Does the general order business excite much
from business and political aspect; but 1 hear
more about 1t from political aspect.
very rotten business 4. Yes, Sir; Generals Porter
and BaDc0ck are believed to have interest in it.
that @ had Been one assessed q Tor
serenade to eX-COllectOr Muir phy-how could he DO
to Wss 70 and 6y f as
ONCE.
Q. Why should men still in ONCE be thus anxious
oash Would strengthen Suppose 'nes
U. Has the last Collector still more or less in
Guence In this Custom House2 A. believe he has.
O. You have spoken OF the prescription OF Fenton
men; referring to that generally has iu ever been
asserted that those men were prescribed on account
OF want OF fidelity to the doctrines or the republi
par,yH A. No, Sir; the prescription was, 1sup.
pose, because they belonged to one wing OF the
party.
publican Administrations A. / could not answer
that question; that had better be left to those who
prescribed them.
Q. Does this prescription arse from their per-
sonal devotion to Mr.. Fenton9 A.. IT'S now some
times stated that 1t mas reference to the renOmina.
ton Of General Grant, but 1t Is evident that that
was not the original cause.
| Q. Is this feeling now more or less intense than
! f0rmeryH A. Things are pretty quiet now; all Is
arranged.