New-York tribune., 1879-02-01
LETTER OF SECRETARY SHERMAN.
iHE ALLEGATIONS OF TIE FORMER LETTER CLAIMED
10 BE sUsCEPnBLE OF rROOF.

iHE ALLEGATIONS OF IHE FORMER LETTER CLAIMED
TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE OF PROOF.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-The following is the let
Ter Of Secretary Sherman sent to the Senate to-day:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 81, 1879.
To The President
The letter Of Mr.. c. A. Arthur. late Collector Of Gus
toms at YORK of the date Of the 2lst inst 10 the
Hon. Roscoe Conklinr. chairman of the Committee on
Commerce of the Senate, first seen by me in THE
ELw-YORK TRIBUNE Of the 2sth inst.
on rhe 23i inst, and before Mr.. Arthur's let
ter was acted upon by the committee
raused to he delivered TO the chairman request
for copy of it TO enable the Department to verify
statement in letter of the 1Jth inst which might be
Disputed by Arthur and to present such answer TO
his allegations would place the whole case before the
committee To this request no answer was made, and
fam not advised whether it was communicated TO the
committee It's to be presumed that this was not done,
or IL appears by the public journals that The committee
acted upon the nominations before an opportunity had
been gwen TO the Department TO establish the
ltated by it for the suspension of Mr.. Arthur.
now repeat that all the allegations stated in the De
partment letter Of the 10Th ms are susceptible OF the
rearest proof and the Department is prepared to verify
them the pleasure Of the Senate TO give the op-
portunty.
THE QUESTION OF FAIR TREATMENT
Mr. Arthur thinks that II the Department letter Of the
10Th contains all that be said against his admins
raon of the Office of Collector h suspension is directly
contrary all the professions of our Administration
and violation Of every principle Of justice. This is
matter opinion TO what constitutes just cause Of
removal II 10 the removal OF an officer 1t Is
necessary 10 establish the actual commission Of crime
10y proofs demanded court of justice then II Is clear
that the case against Mr.. Arthur is not made out,
especially If his is held 10 be conclusive without
reference the proofs the public records and ten
dered TO the committee and the Senate. But II
fit Is TO be held that to procure the removal of
Mr.. Arthur It is sufficient to reasonably establish
that gross abuses OF administration have continued
and increased during his iacumbency that many per
sons have regularly pad on his rolls who rendered
little or no service; that the expenses OF his Office Lave
increased while collections have been diminishing ;
that lsibes gratutics in the nature Of brides have
been received by his subOrdsaes in several branches o
the Custom House, that efforts correct these abuses
nave not his support and that he has not given 10
the duties OF office the requisite diligence and atteD
ton then it Submitted tnat the IL made ont TINS
form Of proof tie Department Is prepared 10 submit
His carefully prepared put III issue some OF
the allegations OF the department.; but II So the I'M
mort auce the well the demands OF the pup
lie service require that the actual truth oi these actd
tons be ascertslned by ini investigation OF the facts
That the mode Oi conducting public business IN the
- wr ArLnr as ColecioT was subject TO grave
criticism Is hardly matter of dispute. The develop,
mepis made by the Committee Of the senate IN le72 Of
winch the Hon. Nr Buckingham Was chairman, excited
Inc attention Of the country The abuses which sprung
the mOety system fully disclosed by the eX
the Qnt-moety act IN l971. Numerous reports Of
specal agents called the attention o1 the Department TO
r1stng Irregularities The increase Of expenses which
followed the repeal Of large aud productive taxes
and the dmiLution OF the revenue from other
rauses though cOntrOyertci 10 some extent, are
matters OF public history, ana are shown by the
public records the possession or the senate.
Mr. Arthur himself cuims credit OF attempts 10 bring
sbOut refOis and admits That at the beginning OF this
Administration there necessity Tor very large
feCuctOu Of expenses. Kindred abuses winch I was
relieved had crrp into The public service IN an parts ut
he country led 10 general examination OF Tue
methods of conducting the customs DuslDcrs OF inc
cities OF the United States The Jay Commission was
Digamzcd ~ conduct such examination at the pOIt OI
Ncw-YUTk.
Mr. Arthur complains OF the personnel Of this commits
zion and the manner Of pursuing Its Inquiries IL aI
pears from tie correspondence with Mr. Arthur TINT he
wa both personally and by letter consulted as 10 the
persons composing This commission lie came 10 Wash
Ington on the "a Of April le17 and Was fully advised
~ tue object Of tIe nVestigdon lie was authorized
TO and dld confer with eaCh member OF TINS cOlnnls
zion and selected Nj IuInure as one OF them II was
The desire the Treasury Department that tie Hon John
A DIX formerly Naval Officer should De the chairman
Of the commission and through Mr. Arthur lie Was IN
Ncd to accept that position but the dangerous illness
Of his son prevented him nom accepting MI. Althui
Then rendered the position 10 Mr. Royal Phelps OF New
Uf Mr. Arthur, Mr. Jay named by the Department as
ferye in that position Mr. Robinson, the third member
Of the commission IS al officer OF the Department OF
Justice holding the position Of Assistant Solicitor OF the
5reasufy No specal oicer Of this Department
served on the commission, and never heard