The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-12
EVARTS STRIKING ARTHUR.
sIYEs APPOINTING a NEW COLLECTOR
ron THE PORT or NEW YORK.

Naval Onlce-A surprise Tor the foftf-
.t.n.-The Heticence Of Those who Know,
and the Loquacity OF Those who Talk.
,tter dc facto Secretary Sherman con-
.,nded his conference with the Now York bank
~ soorly on Wednesday he walked from the
snh. Treasury down to the Custom House. and
90 sbown into Collector Arthurs private Office.
,Ssr ono Of his usual frigid salutatons. he snid
,ha, he was authorized 10y Mr.. Il. b. Hayes to
~i,o Gen. Arthur notice that he would be re-
,novcd from office in n few days. The Collector
t.o,rod and inquired, What nre the charges p
"There are no charges against YOU" the de
,..o Secretary said: Mr.. Hayes has deter
mined TO mike n change in the offices OF Col
ioc,or and Naval Officer. You will be succeeded
hv Gen. Merritt. Deputy Naval onicer Burt
rli mi the vacancy caused by the removal OF
Mr. Cornell from the Naval ONCE"
From the Collectors Office the dc facto Secre-
,orv went into the Surveyors office. and in
formed Gen Merritt OF his appointment to the
Colec,orship. Then he went to the Naval
Office and gave tho information to Mr..
Cornell few minutes later he and Gen.
Merritt went to Delmonicos downtown restau-
rant. where they lunched. In the evening they
went down to Brighton Beach in n revenue cut
ter Webb c. Hayes was with them. They came
back to New York Yesterday morning. The
circulation. and there was intense excitement
among the local politicians. Later in tho day
the official announcement OF the removals was
telegraphed from Washington, putting at rest
all doubts.
Beyond the informal warning from sherman.
the removed officers had no information as 10
the changes. Gen. Arthur said that he had had
no previous ntimation OF the contemplated
move. and knew nothing as TO the intentions or
plans of the Administration Hewould not know
when he was to retire until he received the in
formation from Washington.
Gen. Merritt said: Really. you know as
much about il as do. was satisfied with tho
office Of Surveyor. and neither sought nor de-
sired the Collectorship You can see that am
placed in an embarrassing position. | know
nothing as to my successor in the Surveyors
Office. have heard no name mentioned"
Mr.. A. b. Cornell. the removed Naval Onicer.
had nothing to say. He had expected to be re-
moved sooner or later and was prepared Tor IT,
Mr.. Silas W. Burt. Deputy Naval onicer ex-
pressed surprise on being informed OF his ap-
pointment 10 Mr.. Cornell's place. lie said that
he had not sought the place. and did not know
TINT n change had been contemplated.
The removals. OF course. CAUSED u great deal
pf talk. and more or less CONSERVATION. among
The under officers in the. Custom House, who
had begun to regain confidence In the stability
Of their places after the failure Of the Senate TO
.onfrm the appointments last winter. II
,hanGe wns to be made, many OF them saaid.
they preferred Gen Merritt TO any ose else. The
.ty politicians focked to the Custom House to
earn the truth. Gen. Arthurs rooms were
Sled with visitors, coming and going. Ex-
Police Commissioner Hugh Gardner gave place
10 Commissioner De Witt c. Wheeler, who re-
tired in turn to be succeeded by Gen. Dan
siaslcs. All were earnest in the expression OK
their regrets mt Gen. Arthurs removal. and the
AdaWWlnistration was bitterly dsSnounced;
aurad Of n lending Republican politician.
on. its Evarts,s old hos,ility 70 Arthur
primarily WAS the reply, " The Administra-
ion could do pothing while the Senate was in
Session. so II waited until Congress adjourned
hnd then struck Arthur and Cornell in the dark
This movement Is fair sumple Of the coward
ice that characterlzes Hayes and Evarts in
everything They hadn't sufficient nerve TO
Do you look upon this movement rs an in
drer attack on Mr.. Conkling in the Senatorial
There can be no doubt about It: all Of Mr..
Conkhng's friends so regard IT,. Hayes and
Evarts evidently think that under Collector
Arthur the Custom House is n powerful ma
chine in Mr.. Conkling's interest so they remove
Arthur and imagine r. that they have seriously
crippled Conkling. The fact Is. the potency of
the Custom House has been ludirrously over.
rated; 1t never had n tenth Of the influence i'm.
puted to it,. But, If il had. Arthur's removal
to strengthen him But Mr.. Conklines friends
are not likely to forget the mean attempt to in
lure him. even though 1t is futile. They have
ample opportunity for revenge II is well
known that the Administration is seeking sup
porters u the next Congress; II will be very
easy for Mr. Conking's friends to ses that not
an Administration Congr essmRn is elected from
this State. They can readily control the next
assembly for Mr.. Conkling by giving the Dem
ocrats n Congressman here and there Mind. |
don't say this will be done ! speak Of II to
show the folly of the Administrator in trying to
strike down senator Conkling In New lo.k."
Gen. Chester A. Arthur was appointed Col
ector Of the Port OF New York TO succeed
Thomas Murphy. in December. ls7l On the
eypratiqp OF his nmission in 1875. President
Grant reappointed him for another four years.
A the time Of his removal he had little more
than a year TO serve. An attempt was made by
Mr. Il. b. Hayes 10 get him out OF Office last
winter, but the Senate refused TO confirm the
late Theodore Roosevelt for the Office and Gen.
Arthur held over No charges We're ever made
against him while in Office. and no cause has
peen assigned for his removal. He was former
Y associated in the practice OF the law with
Benlamin X. Phelps the present District Auor-
ney; He expects to resume the practice of his
profession.
John sherman devoted his time to finance
during his stay in the city Yesterday. He
WAS WAS ma MlhaccessIbe 70 the reporters until Few
minutes before he left for Fire Island. where he
Was TO spend the night. Then he was as eau
Nous ana wary as though he suspected each re-
porter carried Photographic copy Of Lousi-
hht lelter IN MS pocket He, waving on his
ihqusitors. Joined Gen. Merit, and went
ABOARD the revenue cutter. which. at Govern
hent expense, bore him to Fire Island in tho
m9.t approved civil service style.
biHs..,,h,,g I'm lime Mr. Sherman told Gen. Arthur Of
nls suspension. he had not decided upon Il sue
IN dnr place was offered 10 another Federal
SnWnli VINO declined, and II was then
ug'luel 10 leave tn. position vacant for
d Jew days. COl II. G.. Stebbins. eX-Park Com
ni'Ssloher Was At one time rendered the place
~ may be nominated again, some Of the best
in,,oThrd politicians think.
A delegation Of Collector Arthurs friends
Mrnt 70 Washington last night to urge Mr.
tnayes 10 reconsider the order suspending him
Con, Edwin A. Merritt who is made Acting
Noie'tor, Is rom st. Lawrence county. He
Nas on n" stan Of "N-Gov. FentOn in the early
part OF the war His brother Col Merritt WAS
aso on the same stan. Gen. Merritt entered
the Government service in April lsG9 when he
was appointed by President Grant ms Naval
Onloer 10 succeed Charrs a. Franklin lie re-.
tanned the position until August. 1858. during
which time he drew about $50. 900 in moirti"s
rom tho operations OF ex-SpeciAl Treasury
Agent Jayne. He also Eot a salary OF Is 900 4
year. He WAS succeeded in the Naval Office hy
eX-Congressman Addison H. Latin. He ran
Tor Stnte Office on the State Liberal hepubi-
cth tcKei, lie was nominated as Surveyor
Ot me Port in place Of Gen. Sharpe
Hpout ten months ago. H0 has II business in
iotsdam, y. \. He was one OF the first to wear
tir new Custom House Uniform prescribed by
=, James l.. Benedict. who becomes Surveyor Of
!le Fori nd Interim, hns held office in the Gus
Iln House for II thiId of "a century. In 1871
JI'slienl Grant named him for Surveyor On a
r. 'mu"ndatlun ut George William Curtis
'hnirnan Of the Civil Service Board, hut he
Ni- fleried, lie is "A member of the Union
league Iluh lie was q JncksOniau Democrat