New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-15
THE HISTORY OF THE CASE.


cised the Presidents course proves n'is'"A''
THE HISTORY OF THE CASE
.r,,, sroRy TOLD FROM THE BEGINNING-wHAT THE
PRESIDENTS FRIENDS SAY AS TO THE REASONS
FOR REMOVAL.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE New-fork custom
House has long been a target for the attacks, not
only of Democrats. but Of Republicans. To say that
II had a bad reputation last Spring, when President
HAYES was inaugurated, would DO to utter only
truism. Every investigation of 1T during the last
SIX years whether by committees OF Congress, OF by
Special gents of the Treasury Department had as
closed abuses which certainly needed REFORM and
the prevalent ideas of administration were not %
much conducive to an honest and economical coiIec-
tion Of the revenue as to thorough organization 1or
certain political ends in the city and State Tue
octnaI reforms that had been effected and those
recommended by the present Collector were not
known TO the country at large as well as they were
"a those merchants who had daily business at the
Custom House.
II Is undoubtedly true that an early change in the
principal Offices and the infusion OF new ideas INTO
the whole Custom House machine III NeW-lork was
almost universally expected one OF the rst fruits
of the new Administration. 1t is no secret lhaU
President HAYES shared, with several members of
the New-York Custom House management; and
that. even if he had not been preudced against It's
administration and the officers who were response
bile for IT, some of those to whom he looked for advice
on the subject and who he had a right to believe
not only understood il thoroughly themselves, but
would be able to suggest the proper remedies gave
him no information which would he likely to re-
move any IN .sapprchensOns under which he might
be laboring In n word. the Administration came
into power with the conviction that the New-lork
Custom House was very efficient rs a political ma
chine run in the interest of certain prominent Re
.pubhcans of the state, and very inefficient and
costly i'm the collection of the revenue.
Under these circumstances. the first intention un-
doubtedly was to make a clean sweep in the Custom
House as one OF tho first measures Of promised
reform; to put new men into Office there whose
very names would be guarantee of honest and
efficient mana cement; TO divorce the institution
from party politics, and make it as much a model
business establishment rs the Ncw-lork Post OH, e
under the administration Of Mr. James. Some
member OF the Cabinet may have had different
ideas OF hoped to gain personal or political advan-
tagcs by the changes but the Pres lent was unques-
tionably actuated by desire to bring about genuine
reforms where he believed them most needed.
Trg DIFFICULTY OF FINDING INV MEN.
The first difficulty that arose was to select the
hest men as the Instruments of these reforms.
President Hayes was not personally acquainted
with many OF the influential men OF New-1ork'
When It came 10 the selection of Collector, sur
yevor and Naval Officer Of the port. he had to de-
mend on the advice of Others Thcn, for the hrst
time no began hear the other side OF the custom
House story. Men whose dslEteTcstedness could
not be doubted who had evceptionable facilities for
knowing Just how the Custom House was managed
and whose character and standing in New-York
were such as to give great weight to what they said
told the President that General Arthur was
GOOD Collector the best for many years. They ad-
vsed his retention. So numerous were the testlmo-
mails Of this kind that they very sensiby modified
Mr. Haves's opinions about the administration OF
the New-York Custom House and finally caused him
to question the justice Of the removal OF officers
who seemed to have done so well.
In spcallng with a gentleman from New-York
CITY about this time and before the appointment
Of the Jaw Commission was announced, President
HAYES referred to the evidence he had received OF
the honesty and efficiency Of Collector Arthur.
He cxpressed doubt of the Justice of removing such
an officer simply because he had allowed his
Office 10 be used as q political machine. Per
hans" lie said General Arthur VIII enter into
our plans Of reform with genuine zeal
when they are explained to him. He Is not respon-
sible for the use Of the Custom House in politics
That was part of a system which be did not invent
lie was obliged to provide for politicians and to
wink at if be did not participate in the use OF the
patronage of the Custom House to man
age caucuses and conventions. 1t was one
of the contingencies under which lie held the
place Now if no is disposed 10 be equally loyal to
the new IDEAS which we wish to embody in the
Civil Service, his experience may be very valuable
TO u.s. and the very principles Of Civil Service re-
form in which we believe would require his Teten-
ton"
On the same occasion the President spoke Of tho
difficulties which an officer Unidentified with the old
order of THINGS would have TO contend with and
which would be more easily overcome by man.
1t was very apparent that, having started out with
the idea that tho first step in reform would be the
removal Of all tho Custom House officers in New
York, he had reached point where he had grave
doubts of the wisdom Of this course.
THE MISTAKE OF DELAY.
These doubts and the difficulty of finding proper
to appoint if changes were made at once finally
resulted in the appointment of the Jay Commission,
and determination 10 have the subject thoroughly
investigated before any changes were made. This
would give the Administration more time TO look
about Tor the best men to be appointed If any
changes became necessary; and it was hoped to act
understandlngly and with full knowledge of all
the facts whatever course was finally determined
upon.
This delay, not the investigation was one Of the Sc
ries of mistakes into which the Administration has
fallen, in dealing with the New-York Custom House
question. The changes if they were TO be made al
OIL ought TO have tsksn place at once. General Ar
thu and Mr. Cornell, so their friends say would
b. IN theerfully resigned at hint from Wash
ingOn that the Administration desired it,