Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-07
FHo,I WASHINGTON,
THE NEW YORk CUSTOM HOUsE-PREsIDEST
uAYEs's MESSAGE TO THE SENATE

THE NEW YORk CUSTOM HOUsE-PREsIDEST
HAYEs's MESSAGE TO THE SENATE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3l-The Presidents
message to the Senate relative to the New
York custom house nominations, says:
The custom house in New York collects
more than two-thrds of all the customs
revenue OF the government. Its admins
tration is matter not of local interest
merely but is of great Importance to the
people of the whole country. For long
period of time it has been used to manage
and control political affairs. Tho officers
suspended by me have for several years been
engaged in the active political management
of party politics and of political affairs of
the city and state of New York. The duties
of the Office held by them has been regarded
as of subordinate Importance to their par
tisan work. The Office has been conduct
ed a. part of the political machinery un-
der their control. They have made the Gus
tom house the centre of partisan political
management. The custom house should be
business Office IL should be conducted
on business principles. tea. James, post
master of New York city, writing on this
subject, says: "fhe pOstOth,e Is a business
institution and should be run a. such. 1t is
my deliberatc Judgment, that | and my
subordinates can do more for the party of
our choice by giving the people of this city
a good and efficient postal service than by
controlling primaries or debating nominal
tions." The New York custom house should
be placed on the same footing with the New
York postcff;ee. But under the suspended
officers the custom house would be one of
the principal political agencies in the state
of New York. To change this, they profess
to believe, would be- in the language of
Cornhill in his response, TO surrender
their personal and political rights" am
convinced that the people of New York and
of the country generally wish the New
York custom house TO be administered
solely with view to the public interest.
and it is my purpose to do all IN my power
TO introduce into this great office the re-
forms which the country Gesires. With my
information of tine facts in the case and
with deep sense of the responsible obliga
tiCn imposed upon me by the constitution,
to take care that the laws be faithfully exc
cutei. | regarded it as my plain duty to
suspend the fcers IN question and to make
the nominations now before the Senate in
order that this important Office may be hon
estly and efficiently administered.
SECRETARY sHESNAN's LETTER To THE PREsI-
DENT
Secretary Sherman's letter to tie Presi-
dent in reply to ex Collector Arthur, and
which accompanied the Presidents message
to the Senate. rei,eratss that all the Gllega-
cations in the department letter of the 18th |
inst are susceptible of the clearest proof and |
the department is prepared to verify them |
if the Senate gives opportunity. The |
Secretary states that Arthur was consulted |
as to the persons composing the Jay COM
mission and s. lected one member Of COM
mission. while he concurred in the appoint
ment of Chairman Jay. The Secretary says |
he never heard any objection to any member /
of the commission made by Arthur until alter |
its reports Arthur testified before the COM
mission and every person he requested to be |
called was called and every opportunity |
was given to him to present his view
of the facts. In reply to the charge that
he kept back evidence taken by the com
mission the secretary states the evidence
was not published by the department because
of its bulk and because it, substance had |
been published in the New York daily pa
pers The evidence was accessible = Arthur
and request by him would haye secured
its publication. The Secretary herewith
transmits it to the Senate and asks
that it be published. 1t is denied that
Arthur was treated unfairly and the fact
that Il foreign appointment was rendered
him is cited in proof. The Secretary declares
that after two or three reports OF the COM
mission Arthur talked freely of resigning
and the Secretary told him that he (Ar;hur)
would be necessarily embarrassed IN execu-
ting the proposed reforms. \ foreign APP
pointment was rendered him, bat he then
refused to resign on che ground that it
would be a confession OF fault. The Sacre-
tary then hoped that Arthur would himself
carry Out the forms. The Secretary says ii
he committed any fault in this matter twas
in not cOncurring heartily and promptly in
the logic of the reports which dcmande
a change in leading Oh 'rr- Ut the
custom house Alter the Snate re-
iected the nominations and continued
Arthur in Office, every proper means was
made to secure his cooperation IN
securing the necessary reforms, bat without
success, except in an unwilling wny that
Instructed them. The Jay commission
obtained no evidence in relation to the
AMOUNT OF gratuitieS and irregular lees
10 clerks, wvigher-. inspectors and other
Ulcers ai the custom house Ths evidence
aiken shows that ml.t ct the witnesses
testified that gratuitIrs wcrG constantly re-
,ciyed In addition t. this II J. clear irOm
etteTl addrt sSCt t. the chmmISsIan by the !
collector, naval uth'gT AMI Surveyor IN re-
gard to this very question, that the prac-
nee OF taking illegal lees was well known.
The secretary say the discharged entry clerk
.lluded To 10y Arthur was rein-tAtsl because
/ was clear that all tho clerks had been
aking gratultirS and one could not be dis
harged without di-charglng all, thus crippl-
ne the service A. to the reinstatement of
tore keeper, the secretary asserts that the
nan was found Tree Of blame and denies
nat he was reinstitcd at the request of =
rominent politician. The secretary asserts
hat Arthur cyadcs the charge of granting
rec permits for imported goods. Tho depart
tent does not complain OF permits issued
ccording to law, bat that permits are
'sucd by collector and deputy collector
iithOut authority of the law Tor free entry
goods subject II duty without cxamina-
ION and without sPpraScment and rs
.yor to individuals.
THE NATTER IN TuE SENATE.
The proceedings in the executive session
,-day commenced by reading the message
f the President and the letter OF Secretary
herman and statement from a person
AIMED Farmer, who alleges he was dis
largcd hv Arthur because he testified be- /
re the Jay commission to certain Irregu-
rites in the custom house. Mr.. COnkling
zen said he did not consider it necessary
ak that opportunity he gwen Arthur
nd Cornell to reply to the above eXtraOr-
mary communications. They continued.
it'll two exceptions, nothing new. Ono of
le new matters consisted OF charges against
equity Collector Lydrleker. COuking
ad letter written by Senator. now See
tsry, Sherman, in 1867 expressing entire