New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-24

cation aside battle inquiry, and mlSleau tho
Commission, enough has been shown 10 more
than warrant the charges, which have been
freely bruitcd so long, of reckless
ness extravaganza, and corruption III
tho conduct of the office. The results
fins far attained have not only Justified Sec
reta1y sherman in the appointment oil 'he
investigating Commission, but nave Iurnisho"
grounds for further and thorough overnailiiiiH
of tbc whole system of customs collections now
in vogue. and reorganization ana reform III III
branches of the service. That the Custom
bousr has long been political asylum Whele
marty services are rewarded mt the pubic COST
and that its management is unbuSlness-
like and its methods loose and eXiiay-
opant and often dishonest and corrupt
are facts of public notoricty. 1t has been III
greater or less degree under all administrations
and all parties source of scandal. The OBJ
icct of the Commission, and The ann 0i the
Secretary in constituting it, is TO uncover the
abuses that have grown up fOr the purpose OF
cxtirpating them, and not merely, as has too
often been the case, to make party capital by
the exhibition.
Collector Arthur has had the credit of being
an honest and able, and in the main an eiii-
cient officer Strictly speaking, he is response
hIe for the existence of abuses which, II they
have not originated under his administration,
he has mt least allowed to continue, and not
cxcred himself to reform. They grew up un-
doubtedy to a great extent under his prede-
cessors, aud his responsibility is for letting
the business run along in the old ruts.
II he has introduced any changes for
the better or made any improvements III
the old and established methods and
usageS-and we are disposed to credit HIM
with some excellent work in this dlrecton-it
is only further proof of the great need there
has been heretofore and still is Of a radical
change somewhere The great evil iii the
whole business is evident enough to the most
ordinary comprehension. 1t lies in Il nut
shell: the use Of ths Custom house and its
patronage as a political machine. Divorce
your Custom-houSe from partisan poll
ties and you have taken very long
step toward It's publication. Keep 1t
separate from local politics even and you are
in faIr way for its ultimate renovation
When this is done, an inducement to cover up
and conceal for partisan purposes corrupt prac-
ices. idlencsS, extravaganza, and waste Il re-
moved. and great gang of slothful hangers
on and useless slnecurists can be stricken
from the pay-roils, to the credit of the office
and the profit of the Government. The
olice has been under Gen. Arthur polltl-
cal one used whenever occasion required for
political purposes. This, we presume, Will not
bee denied. He has the excuse for it that
If has ALWAYS been 50, and that he only followed
established prcccdent,. His party expected it
Of Him, and public sentiment, if 1t did not en-
courage, mt least acquie,ced IN it. We believe
ho is wise enough to see that change has
occurred IN public sentiment; that Il reform Is
demanded Of the party in power and that the
party, through the Administration 1t has
chosen. has promised to respond. We scarcely
need to point ont either to him or the ca,cf
oC.r.rs in the several bureaus the policy o.
,ane.s cooperation with the Commission
la ierreting cut abuses and setting on foot
reforms, or the Impoljcy of even seeming t.
desire to obstruct Investigation or eyIde in
q1irv AND yet the course pursued by these
officers has not been such as to awaken cod-
Gl,uce I'm this regard. If the chiefs OF the
Cu.t0m-bousc could once get thoroughly i'm
bucd with the idea that their best chance for
rubIic ana for party favor is not IL vndicat-
ing ;hoir past management but in giving tine
strongest possible assurance for the future,
il would he a good ding for them and for
the public. -