New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-17

dicia Circuit one or two foreign ministers perhaps,
and great number of minor nominations to Ill va
cancies which have occurred during the recess
The New-Y0rk Custom House appointments still
hang fire in the Cabinet. There was no difference of
opinion at the White House to-day the appoint
ent Of Mr. Theodore Roosevelt TO be Collector of the
Port; nor is there any doubt that General +. A MeT
rift will be app Iinted to one of the two remaining
important positions, although which place he Will
fill still remains undetermined. The nomination OF
General Robinson TO any position in the Custom
House, if il has been seriously contemplated is
no longer probable. The mention of his name IN
this connection seems TO have been Occasloned by
some conversation which the President has held at
different times and with different persons in which
he has inquired concerning General Robnsons
qualifications. Secretary Evarts suggested the ap-
pOintment of Mr.. James J.. Benedict. Auditor and
Special Deputy Surveyor, IN the place Of General
Sharpe whose term of Office expired several months
ago This recommendation is understood to have been
IN harmony with the wishes of George william
Curtis who urged Mr.. Benedict's appointment at
the time that General Grant nominated General
Sharpe Secretary Sherman, who has personally
had 10 candidates for the important places in the
New-York Custom House. bnt mas been willing to
agree to the appointment of any persons who were
competent to ill he positions, and who at the same
time enjoyed tine confidence and respect of the mer-
camille community of NewYOrk, has opposed the
promotion of Mr.. Benedict. He has done so on the
ground that if General Arthur is to be removed, not
account of dishonesty or neilicency. but because
be is identified with system OF administration III
the Custom House which the President desires to
abolish, there is reason for the retention and pro-
motion of Mr. Benedict, who the testimony shows
not only did nothing to change or reform that sys-
TEN, but to nave approved OF II, and To have
been one of the principal officers responsible for
it. This difference OF opinion between Sec
rotary Evarts and Secretary Sherman explains
the delay in reaching a conclusion IN regard TO the
Custom House appointments If Mr.. Benedict had
been promoted TO the SurveyOrshp, then General +.
A. Merritt would have been Naval Officer. This
seems to have been the programme yesterday, i'll
spite Of Secretary Shermau's opposition.
At the Cabinet meeting to-day, the situation "as
somewhat ngcd Secretary Sherman was. if
anything, convinced than ever of the impolicy
retaining ther of the responsible officers Of the
NewYork Custom House. if others are TO be removed
OF tn reasons assigned; and before the Cabinet
adjourned it was decided that some gentleman not
now connected with the customs service OF New
York City must be selected tor the third vacancy,
which Is about to occur. The two names which
were mentioned and discussed to some extent to-
dav, were those OF Charles X. Graham AID State
Senator l.. Bradford Prince. No decision WAS
reached, but it may 10 considered as settled that
The name Of one or the other of these two gentle
men will he sent 10 the S nate within a week, with
those Of Mr.. Roosevelt and General Merritt The
Cabinet does not hold another meeting untIl FRI
day. and it believed that the election will then be
ma lee.
Much anxiety is manifested, especially among the
Repubi au politicians of Ncw-York, to ascertain If
d. dat
opposition TO The confirmation of any OF the new ap-
polntees to positions in the Custom House. he
senator seems carefully to have avoided saying any
thing in public this subject, and opinion to ms
purpose is about evenly divided Ii is not believed
by those who ought to know what his intentions
are, that he has any personal or political objection
q the appoint nen either of Mr. Roosevelt or Gen
eral Merritcertainly none in respect to the latter
and that If their nominations should he sent TO
the Senate, in such a way as TO involve no
other question except the wisdom Of their
appointment, he would not only make
opposition bu, would heartily support the conir-
nation of both At the same time, II is believed by
some that he will consider it necessary, ut least to
enter his protest against the operation of the Civil
Service order of the President in Mr. CornelPs case
II is thought he viii earnestly oppose the removal
Of an Officer from so important position without AS
signing more substantial reasons therefor than nave
yet been riven.
II has been decided not to appoint General c. A.
Arthur 10 foreign mission, but to of r hIm instead
the Consul-f;eueraishp at Paris. Third Assistant
Secretary Of State JOln A. Campbell Will go to
BaSle Switzerland, as Consul, IN place Of Henry
FTui. This Will m Ike a V caucy IN the state De
pirfinent, to be filled by Secretary Evarjs. IL rs
understood that Mr.. f. W. StoughtOn. of New-I York.
will accept the Russian mlssion recently offered 10
ann. II, indeed he has not already done so.
The strongest recommendations for the vacancy
on the Supreme Bench are those filed at the Exccu-
tive Office by the friends of Judge Woods, OF ALI
btlna. They comprise the endorsements OF every
imDlrtaut law firm IN the SIX States included III
Judge WOOdSs en- cult, Rcpu, licans and Democrats
are equal V earnest in commencing his ability and
fitness, and ~ asking for Lis appointment as rep
reseutItivc Southern juilst familiar with the laws
ami business uteres sOl the Southern people. judge
Woods is an ONO man by birth, and once
speaker of the House Of that State He settled in
Alabama AT tie close of the war, and WAS made
chancellor after the reconstruction laws took eilecl.
When the law creating United states Circuit judrc-
ships passed Congress he was appointed TO the CIR
CUT composed OF Alabama and 1--WE other Southern
States
Although consistent Republican, his high CHAR
acer and judicial ability and fairness have won the
esteem Oh The people among whom he lives His III
tcrests wholly identified with his adopted State
and nobody there thinks OF chasing blm with the
carpet-bag element. On the contrary the fact that
ne formerly lived in OHIO is IL ed as a bar to his ap-
ponmeut, is said to have created good deal Of feel
ing in Alabama where toe people look upon HIM as
one OF themselves.
LAT r: 1t now seems most probable that the
New York Custom House appointments will be as
follows:
Tor ollcctor-1heodore Roosevelt.
Tor NuCcyOr-General +. 4. Merritt.
tor AaUGL OticG-L. Bradford Prince.
1t j. possible that the President may not wait for
a formal meeting of the Cabinet before sending
these names to the Senate. He has been urged by
very influential kcpubEcans 10 avoid all unnecessary
delay and to submit the rOmInatiOns 10 tine Senate
Immediately after having n,-ie up his mind i'll re-
gard To them.