The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-05
CUSTOM-IIOUSE NOTES.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY MCCORMICK REPRE-
AENTED IN THE CUSTOM
HOUSE HERE.


kENTED IN THE CUSTOM
HOUSE HERE.
what Packara's Friends say Of National
Administrations Being Intini dated
by Louisiana Returning
boards.
Special Deputy with full power) Tomsnderson
had calls yesterday from not much less than
two hundred
HUNGRY OFFICE SEEKERS,
one delegation coming all the way from Point
Clear, Ala, where they have been summering,
to ''see what the show wss," as one OF them said,
''for 8 soft position" most striking feature in
connection with these calls now is that they are
made directly upon the special deputy, the place
hunters, with but rare exceptions, ignoring the
collector altog ether, which would indicate that,
the deputy was the head Of the institution, SO to
speak.
He received them all and made promises to all
that they should be provided for Tor fxed) in
time, but did not say in how short time, and
sent some away happy with the idea that
THEY HAD COT 1T SURE.
Quite number Of well known and prominent
Republican politicians also called upon the ex-
special deputy with power) during the day, Civ
ing that official all he wanted to do popping
around the room from one chair to another, in
terviewing each conner and giving each all the
comfort he could.
It was rumored about tho building during the
afternoon that Chas. 8. Abel, ex-seoretary of
the Returning board, would, before the end of
the present month, be appointed as
THE CORRESPONDING. CLERK
in the Collectors office, vice Tomlinson, one of
chard OF sewing machine affidavit notoriety,
who managed with alphabetical Jewett the State
House sky parlor sewing machine affidavit manu-
factory. would be appointed to one OF the 1890
ClerkBhipa, in place OF one OF the ms" 1t was
said also. and is fact, that Major Robinson, late
city editor Of the now defupct New Orleans Re
publican, has been appointed and confirmed as
an inspector, and that charges have bee made
against Il. a. Johnson, another inspector, re.
Gently appointed, and that he has, or will,
HAND In HIS REs1aNATIoN
at once. and his place will be filed without any
great difficulty by the Returning Beard.
Some one in the building said yesterday that
Kellogg's entire list OF twenty-Dine would be
appointed TO positions in the building, but this
was not confirmed, except as might be inferred
from the remark made by the Collector day or
two since that there
WILL BE FURTHER CHANGES
made, but they are to be made gradually.
In this connection and as an example OF WASH
ipgton influence in the New Orleans Custom
House, it is stated upon good authority that one
OF the $500 per anDum clerks appointed o week
or more since was placed in position upon the
personal recommendation and request OF Assist
| ant Secretary Mccormick,
or THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
and that appointment not being made in strict
accordance with the civil service reform pronun-
n.n h. a.
vantage, by q large majority, OF both Mccormick
and Sherman. Not only did Mccormick write
one, but he wrote two, and perhaps more, letters
relative to the appointment, and he may have
had an opportunity even to approve an application
for an increase in salary for
THE GENTLEMAN APPOINTED.
As 30 much was said early in the raid made
upon Collector King by Elder CAN'T, Tomander-
son and Wells, it is proper to refer again TO the
statement published in the DEMOCRAT at the
time that CAN'T forced Tomanderson to the front
in the raid, and that ne had considerable ''in-
f1uence" over him in the way Of mortgages on
property, etc. The Collector made square
fight at the time, not caring even for Gantts
threats that he would Withdraw from his bond,
and after laying the whole matter before the
Secretary Of the Treasury, giving details, ETC.. he
was sustained by that official
AND PRESIDENT HAYES,
az the following letter, published at the time will
show:
TREASURY DgPARrMEN r.
Washington, d. o., August 7, 1877.
John e. King, Esq, Collector of Customs, New
Orleans, La:
eiy-Your letter of the 81 inst. was duly re-
ceived; | read it with interest and submitted it
to the President, who also read it, and requested
me to write you that the letter did you great
credit, and that you ought to be left to your indie
pendent Judgment in executing reforms in the
Custom-h House at New Orleans. add my hearty
assent TO this proposition. have no doubt that
you are doing your utmost to secure efficiency
and reform. The selection Of persons to hold
Office Ia always difficult and delieste task. Your
motives are likely to be misunderstood and your
conduct criticised. and, at best, TO turn out any
one is painful and irksome business. You may,
therefore, consider yourself instructed, without
fear OF criticism here, to
FOLLOW YOUR own INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT
in recommending persons to be retained or re-
moved, subject, It is true, to the action of this
department, which will only refuse your request
upon satisfactory showing. The true rule IS to
select from your force the very best men for the
special duties OF their positions, giving to expo
rience, personal character and political ainities
due considt ration.
Very respectfully,
JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary.
Now the tables seem to have been turned, and
not only did the three raiders, CAN'T, Wells and
Tomanderson,
INTIMIDATE AND BULtDozE
the Collector, but they even did the same with
Hayes and Sherman, compelling both to rrcede
from the position taken in the letter above
quoted.
Some of the thinking Republicans about the
Custom House seem to think that these facts
will not be forgotten when Congress meets. and
that the policy pursued will not only aid the
Blaine, or the anti Hayes faction but the fact
that by bis action he has recognized his indebt-
edness to the Returning Board Will not gain for
him
ANY SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT
when Blaine opens the war on him.
PackarC's friends seem to eDj ~ the predica. |
ment Hayes and Sherman have got themselves |
into, and one OF them in commenting upon it yes
terday, hoped that they would be given all the at-
tude possible before October 18Th and in timated at
the same time, that the New York Cornell matter |
would |
BOTHER THE ADMINISTRATION
as much as would it's late action relative TO New |
Orleans Custom House matters.
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