The Portland daily press., 1877-12-14
The New York Nominations.


After debate of six hours in executive
session, the nominations of Messrs, Roosevelt
and Prince for collector and surveyor OF
the port of New York have been rejected by
the Senate, the vote standing 81 to 25. An
analysis of the vote shows that but six Re-
publicans. Hoar, Dawes, Burnside, Conover,
Christiancy aud Matthews, sustained the
President, while eight Democrats, Eaton,
Dennis. Cockrell, White, Maxey, M'Donald,
M'Pherson, Thurman. and one Independent,
Davis of Illinois, opposed his action in re-
moving Messrs. Arthur and Cornell. No OBJ
lection was made to General Merritt's nom
ination, and he was confirmed.
The debate over the nominations was. II
we can trust the correspondents, animated
and at times bitter. 1t was opened by Sena-
tor Bayard. who argued in favor of the Presi-
dents absolute and complete control of ap-
poin:ments and removals. He was followed
by Senator Matthews in an explanation of
the general policy OF the President. The
cudgels on the other side were taken up by
Senator Edmunds who made terrific on
slaught on the Administration, denouncing
its system of civil service as sham, and a
policy to subserve personal ends. The next
speaker, Gen. Gordon of Georgia, appeared
in the role of special. champion of the Ad-
m!nistration and charged that the opposition
to the nominations arose from personal mo-
tves. Mr. Conkling rose in reply, and re-
viewed all the circumstances attending the
custom house changes, urging that
no charges against the integrity or efficiency
OF the incumbents had been sustained, and
claiming that their removal during good be-
havior and before the expiration of their
terms OF office was violation of all profess
sions of reform in the civil service. He was
supported by Mr.. Blaine, who defended
Messrs. Arthur and Cornell as among the
most honest and capable officials in the SER
vice, and said that their removal was not
civil service reform either in letter or spirit,
Other Senators participated in the debate,
among them Senator Hoar, who confined
himself to general support OF the Presi-
dents policy, but had little to say on the di-
rect issue. The debate was closed BY Mr..
Conkling, and the vote was then taken.
1t mnst be confessed that the opposition to
the nominations is not factious and unreason-
able. The confirmation of Gen. Merritt in
place of Mr.. Sharpe, whose term as naval
officer had expired, shows this. But the
Senate insisted apon holding the Adminlstra-
tion to its professions of civil service reform,
and contended that the removal of honest
and capable officers whose terms have not
expired, was in direct violation OF both the
letter and spirit of the reform. This view
was not confined to the Republican Senators,
as the action of many Democrats and of
Judge Davis shows. There seems to be no
valid reason for the removal of Messrs. Ar
thur and Cornell. The removal is certainly
in direct conflict with all the Presidents pro-
LESSONS from the time of his inaugural. The
fact that these gentlemen oppose his policy
should not, according to his own declarations.
cause their dismissal from office; for the
vital principle of the civil service reform is
that ofice-holders shall be permitted the ut
most freedom of political opinion and action.