New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-24
p0LITIcIL REFoRMM rHECrSTOM HORSE.

POLITICAL REFORMIN THECC5TOM HOrSE.
The air of Washington is full of rumors oil
change in the New-lork Custom House, the
making of new states, the reorganization oil
the Administration Republicans, the manipu-
Iations of confidential agents, and the ar
rangcmcut of formidable combinations. News
paper correspondents fill their dispatches with
coniccturcd details of the new movement, and
politicians discuss the situation with unusual
eaIncstness. When there is so much talk III
the Washington offices Of the Newly York press,
If i, clear that there must be an expectation
in political circles that something is going to
baupcn. IL does not follow by any means
that such expectations are well founded; but
the corrcspondCnt5 do not invent these pre-
dictions they reflect as faithfully rs they can
thc talk of the Hobbies and cOmmlttec-rOOnls.
II appcars to us that Republicans who en-
terrain the hope, or the apprehension, or the
Observation-Disclosures they choose to call it
of a reorganization of the Custom House
marty in the interest of Mr.. Hayes, entirely
misunderstood the Presidents policy, and d.
Injustice to his motives. There can be no
such thing as a Custom House party under
this Administration. If party is to be consld-
cred in the Custom House at all, 1t can only be
the Republican party. The old plan of opera
tions was condemned by the Cincinnati Con-
yention, and Mr.. Hayes has deliberately and
finally abandoned it. lie has prohibited Gus
tom House officers from taking any part In
the management of politics. Only tew days
AGO he explained to a Republican Congress
man what this order meant Oilicc-holdcrs,
he said, would not be allowed to promote
the personal interests of certain lndl-
viduals through the manipulation of the
patronage and the management OF the party
machinery to pack conventions with the sup
porters of a dominant clique; or to override
the wishes of the people and obige them
either to vote for obnoxious candidates or
submit To party defeat. This catalogue OF
things forbidden gives a complete programme
of what is known as the Custom House system
of politics. Mr.. Hayes says he will have none
of it. He is a sincere man, and he means
what he says. He is equally opposed to the
machine, whether it is run in opposition to
him or run for his benefit. a reorganization
of the Custom House, therefore, IN the in
terest of Mr.. Hayes, or against the interest of
Mr.. COnkling, is alike impossible. If there is
to be a reorganization, and if 1t Is to have 4
political influence, il can only be in the drec-
ton of uniting factions, not Of creating them,
and of helping the Republican party, not of
distractng it.
If the Custom House is improperly managed,
if its chief officers are incompetent or I'M
faithful, the necessity of a change will doubt
less be made apparent in the course of the
search for abuses which seems to be now
going Oh in most of the public departments,
and then there will be no difficulty in carry
ing out a business-like reform by the appoint
ment of new men. Such transaction, how
ever, will have no political significance it
will not be directed either TO the injury or
the promotion of "the personal interests of
certain Individuals and it will have no
reference to the fortunes of any clique or
faction. If appointments are not to be made
IN the interests of clique, removals are not
to be made IN the interests of a clique either.
The President cannot use the patronage to
break down his opponents in the party, or to
strengthen his policy. That sort of political
management is thing of the past.
Naturally, the officers of the customs are
too well pleased with the new arrangement
to fail in a hearty discharge of the duties
which it lays upon them. They are only re-
quired now to collect the revenue and per-
form the various clerical and other functions
belonging to their posts to the best Of their
ability, exactly as if they were in the employ
of private business firms. They need not
bother themselves with the ambitions of Sem