New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-30
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
REFORM IN TIE CusTOM.HOUsE. .

REFORM IN THE CUSTOM-HOUSE.
IMPos,muITY THAT PRESENT HEADS OF DEPART
MENTs SHOULD SECURE tT--NEw AND STRONG
MEN NEEDFD-TnE PRESIDENTS DUTY.
TO the Edftor Of The Trf6Hne.
SIR: The late letter of President Hayes to
Secretary Sherman points out very sharply the
abuses in our civil service which have deep
ened and developed into actual institutions
and which consequently have a tenacious, pen
etratng, and aggressive vitality against which no
mere temporary fencing in heading of VIII
avail Reform which amounsI ~ anything must DC rad
Zeal in its tearing up OF old and vicious usages aud sem
inal in furnishing and benenceDt principles that
Will terminate and grow into controlling forces NO
such reform will set itself agOng and no letters OF Pres
idents SECRETARIES and reports OF commissions
will furnish adequate and persistent motive power
or the President cannot supervise the details OF
any plans he may choose prosecute, and therefore the
need more pressing he should select officers who
are In full and sympathetic accord with his ideas and OF
tried efficiency carry them into execution. This being
So il Ia difficult 10 understand why the President has
selected Messrs Arthur, Sharpe, Cornell aud butcher to
work out the salvation Of the New-YOrk CustOm-house
In that somewhat purid institution there is good deal
politics every cubic inch OF its solid contents
than there is honest work. and the Jbem is to rid
Of the politics and I'LL up the with well directed
and legitimate business energy Now 1t suggests Itself
to plain people that the proper to be nusted with
the supervision OF this transformation should be men
Interested In and cOnversant with the business wants OF
the port OF character and efficiency, whose single
aim would be to conduct successfully aud economically
the legitimate business of the concern; who know
little practically and less about politics of that pre-
daory kind which has its nest and very foul nest it Is
III the Government offices.
But matter Of fact the President has chosen the
very who have proved themselves ambideXtrous in
all the practices which he undertakes to eXtrpate and
sgnaly careless and inefficient perform the only
vice required at their hands; VINO always
be found at the committee rooms during a campaign
and never at their Offices; who originally ap-
pointed because of their supple subseryiency to faction
within party, and who. while drawing pay for services
hatuay turn over the legitimate du lies OF tneir Offices TO
deputies; men who seGd their subOrdnaes to sc0dr the
country on political erIands While these subodhates
following the example Of their chiefs, leave the actual
penSye and knavsh way as best it If Brigham
Young proper to head crusade against po-
sundy supcrintendcnt then MIR Arthur aud lis
compatrots the men to reform the Custon-house.
There are however, many respondent citizens VINO do
not look any regeneration OF the civil service under
the guidance OF who virtually chosen by that
reformer, the Hon. Thomas Murphy succeed
him rs Collector They would prefer Collector who
could be- trusted down and weed according
his own Judgment, without being definitely instructed
by a commission whether tine reduction should
amount exactly per 81 per his force
The decapitation of 246 victims well enough IN It's
way, bus II is not satisfactory civil service reform 1t Is
beginning nj the wrong cad. The President bids the
heads of departments Ia the CuOin-nouSe TO be uid d
IN their appointment and removals OF subOrdinates
solely by their etciency and 10 disregard every political
consideration and all political recommendations. TINS,
too is we'll Bun II II too much 20 request him 10 impose
the rigorous rule upon nnsellt II II is impracti-
cable TO u,,ugur,fe 1T once some systematic plan OF
promotion until such plan is matnred, ought he not TO
perform duty, wit, the selection OF heads OF de
partments with the same scupulous care and upon the
same principles which he elUOins upon thenlf 5.
JERSEY Ctiy, June u, 1877.