The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-05
Exigenoies Of Party to Give Way
to Public Business.
THE EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS
Wade Hanpton's Reply to Cham
berlain's Letter.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, April 4, 1877
CIVIL SERVICE REroRM--A QUESTION OF IN
sTRUMENTALITIEs.
The great question Of civil service reform appears
before the administration In the shape OF General
Sharpe, Of tho New York Custom house. whose term
is about to expire. The question nrises whether ne
and other heads OF the Custom House shall DO reap
pointed or whether clean sweep shall be made. II Is
pretty we'll understood that the Now York Custom
House has been huge political machine, and that
mako II useful business establishment and nothing
else, to exclude politics from It and mako
the Collector really . collector OF customs
dutes and all his assistants and subor-
dinate helpers in that business and mako them
leave politics alone is of tho first. most necessary
and most difficult steps in relp Of tho civil service
1t means . thorough reorganization OF tho whole
establishment, and the question they bordering
here Is whether the men who have worked tho ma
chino undcr the old systcm are the best DO
pected to work 1t under tho and better plan.
The President said In hts inaugural message that no
meant to make reform in the civil thorough,
radical and complete, and ~ dvorce the public bust.
entirely from partisan politics. he thoroughly
earnest in the matter and there Is be-
eve that he that he begin anywhere better
than 10 tho Now York Custom House. While the cam
paIgn there Is not yet completely planned It is pretty
certain that no means to mske complete sweep
OF those who mixed up with the old system as
10 make it doubtful whether they would DO efficient
leaders In reform.
It Is good time just for the importers and
chants OF New York TO give the President their sup
port toward such attempt at reform by making
known tho detects Of the present service He would
probably DO grateful for OF this kind which
would enable him to remedy abuses aud establish
new and better order OF things
HE EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS AND THE
BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED.
II Ii not that the President has decided 10 call
Congress together in May. Hc said to gentleman
day that he saw no reason to call the extra session
earlier than the time originally xed tho 4th Of June
Tho meeting will probably be very brief The demo-
Gratis Will undoubtedly organize the House, and they
have no disposition to proong the session. Mr.. RAN
dali seems ut this time to DO tho strongest candidate
for tho Speakershp. Committees rules and
elections and probably on expenditures in
the Navy Department will DO appointed, but no
Others and there Is no disposition to do any other
business than passing the Army Appropriation bill and
probably small dctency bill for tho pay of tho navy
until July AS the two southern States will by
time be restored to local seli-government and under
Governors energetic enough TO keep the peace, It is
not likely that there will DO any dispute about the
clause torbiddng the Of tho army in the Southern
StateA The navy deficiency arises from the alleged
use OF the navy pay by Mr. Robson In meeting other
obligations OF the Navy Department.