New-York tribune., 1877-09-05

EITHER GEN. z. a. MERRITT OR j. I. BENEDICT
FOR SURVEYOR.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON. Sept. 4.-The long looked for
changes in the administration of the NewYork Gus
tom House have been postponed again, this time nm
til Thursday next when special meeting of the
Cabinet win be held and the subject will undoubt-
edly be disposed of. The neglect of Naval Officer
Cornell TO resign either his position in the Custom
House. or his membership in the National and State
Republican Committees makes it necessary at once
for the President to either withdraw his Civil Ser
vice order or to fearcssly enforce it, The delay in
taking official notice Of Mr. Coruclrs dsobcdiencc Of
the order has already furnished tho occasion for
much discussion, and has placed the Adj
ministration IN such n position that it is
forced TO adopt one of the two courses indicated.
Mr. Cornell would undoubtedly Lave been suspended
by order Of the Cabinet to-day had II not been that
some Of his friends in Ncw-York telegraphed to
Washington that hc wasabsent from the city, having
gone to Port Henry TO attend 20 some private busl-
ness and begged that decision he made in his case
until his return. Although the President and the
Cabinet, probably. do not think that Mr.. Cornell
would have any reasonable ground for COMPETENT
bad action been taken to-day. since he has had full
notice of what tie Presidents wishes are, and has
had ample time to comply with them, yet il order
the least ground for asserting that the Cabinet
acted hastily, the subject was postponed for two
days One thing may be considered as settled be-
vond all question: If Mr.. Comeus resignation of
the Chei.mguslip of the state Committee and Of
ms membership in the National Committee are not
rendered before noon on Thursday. ho will be sus-
pended from bis position Naval Officer.
II he should dissolve his correction with
the political committees the President aud
the Cabinet will undoubtedly postpone taking
any action in his case for the present since
il is their desire to avoid even the appearance of
doing injustice 10 any Government official, and such
might possibly be the Interpretation put upon their
action, should they remove Mr Cornell from hi-
place in the Custom House after having required
him to leave the political committees.
Mr. Cornell will have to choose between the
Government service and that of the party, before
noon Of Thursday next.
Another subject which was discussed at the Cabi-
net meeting to-day. was the appointment of a new
Surveyor in place Of Gen. Geo. H. Sharpe There
are dozen or more candidates for this position, who
have either made application themselves Or whose
friends have presented their names, with letters
of recommendation. Besides these, Gen. +. a. Mer-
rift, Of St. Lawrence County, has been strongly rec
commended, although he has made TO formal app-
cation for the place. and James J.. Benedict, Auditor
and Special Deputy in the Surveyors Office, has been
selected by great number of merchants in New
York CITY as their candidate. The choice Of the
Cabinet it is reported on good authority, lies be-
tween the two gentlemen named. Tho only obiec
ton made to the appointment OF Gen. Merritt is,
that he is not Of New-York City, and many mer-
chants who d. business in the Custom House desire
the selection of some one identified with tie inter-
ests of the metropolis. If it not for this obec
tion. Gen. Merritt would undoubtedly be selected.
As il is the chances of his appointment certainly
as good as those of Mr. Benedict. The latter's
strength lies in the fact that he is already officer
of the Custom House, thoroughly familiar with the
business of the Surveyors Department. and has a
personal acquaintance with great number of peo
ple who do business with that institution. His
political backing, it is understood, is not
particularly strong but as it is the desire
Of the President and Secretary Sherman to consult
the wishes and interests of the mercantile commu-
nitv of Nev-York in the organization of the Custom
House. wherever it can be done consistently with
the interests of the Government. Political influence
may not count for much, while the petitions of New
York merchants will have great weight.
1t is not at all certain but that clean sweep of all
three of the highest officers in the NewYOrk Custom
House will be made should Naval Officer Cornell
neglect to resign before Thursday, and that a
collector may be appointed in the place Of Gen. Ar
thur az well as a new surveyor and naval officer.
On this point the Administration has evidently not
made M its mind. On the other points It's course
ha, been fully determined on, as has been explained
abn