New-York tribune., 1879-01-17
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
wuv sarpuAy SENT IN THAT LETTER

,up r,rrsT GOSSIP ABOUT THE NEw-YORK CUSTOM
HoUsE-THE PENSION ARREARAGEs BILL PASSED
MINOR NEWS.
II is stated that the material which Secre-
tary Sherman had sent in to the Senate III
regard to The Ncw-York Custom House remOv-
ais WAS nrcDared some time ago. and though
not asked for, was sent in because many
inGulries had been made by Senators as 10
the reasons for the removals. The Senate
passed the Pension Arrcarages bill yesterday
Ii is recalled now that General Grant once
asked that the powers OF the General
of the Amy be defined, about as
they have since been in the Burnside bill.
Fx-Sccrctary RobeSOn gave his testimony yes
tcrdav about navy contracts. Congress held
memorial services in honor of the late Pro-
fcssor Henry last night.
The EXPLANATION By Mr.. SHERMAN.
WHY IT WAS SENT IN TO TIE SENATE UNCAILED
FOR-IHE PROBABILITIES ABOUT GENERAL
MERRITT AND GENERAL GRAHAM.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNR.l
WAsHINGroN. Jan. 1G.-It turns ont that Senator
Conkliug has not. during the present session of
Congress called upon the Secretary of the Treas
urv for any explanation Of the removal Of General
Arthur and Mr. Cornell last Summer. The SecTe-
tary saws that if such communication had been
received he would have been only too glad TO have
responded TO it. In fact, lie expected such a re-
quest and had caused papers to be prepared so that
there might bc no delay in giving prompt lntorna-
tom No call for them came. Hearing that the
committee would probably act on the Ncw-York
nominations to-day, and report to tn" Senate, Mr..
Sherman concluded yesterday to inform the Senate.
through the President, of the facts upon which the
Department had acted 50 that there might be III
..liyal,t vote uDou the nominations,
Friends Of the President and Secretary Sherman
also deny that there any dlscouTtcsy in sending
the communication to to Senate rather than to the
Commerce Committee. That committee had indi
Gated no desire for information; and Senators,
some of them Republicans had privately expressed
an opinion that the Secretary ought TO give some
reasons for the action he had taken III these cases.
in order that they might vote intclhgontly. They
voted against Messrs Roosevelt and Prince year
aco they said, not because they thought the nom
nations were bad ones. but because good reason
had been assigned for the removal of Arthur and
Cornell If the Administration should leave the
case as II then stood they would be obliged to vote
agalnst Generals Merritt and Graham for the same
reason II was to satisfy this class of Senators
come of whom are Republicans and who arc anxious
10 avoid as much rs possible causes of msuuder-
standing between between the President and tie
party that the etterrof the Secretary was sent TO
the Senate. The friends OF the Administration
assert that there was nothing unusual or irregular
about #.
Whether the Senator'S who suggested that the
President should make known the grounds of bis
action in these Ncw-IOrk cases will consider his
reasons sound not remains to be seen. Yes
terday's executive scssiop has OF course
been much talked about at the Capitol to-day 1t
cannot he denied that, while many dcprecate the
yehcmonce with which Senator COnklng attacked
tLe President and Secretary Sherman, and his use
of disrcspecful language toward the heads OF De-
partmentS of the Government, Mr.. COnkhng had
The sympathy of "A majority of those who heard him
when he described the removal OF the late officers
of the Custom House as having been made for the
purpose of destroying his POLITICAL influence, and
This with the old custom by which the wishes of
the Senator interested in any nominations are
always respected by his associates, viii undoubt-
cdly insure the defeat Of the pend ing nominations.
l. NAV be said here, although it IS hardly necessary
that no: one word Is said Ivy Nr. COnkhng or any
other Senator against General Merritt or hls adj
mjnistrati0n of the Custom House; ana If vacancy
had occurred, and General Merritt had been nOm-
mated to fill il, Mr.. COnkling would probably have
been foremost in advocating his confirmation.
II is expected that when the nOmlnaliOa come
ND in the Senate for action, some RrpubIlcan
Senators who were silent year ago. VIII speak IN
defence of the Presidents honesty OF purpose III
making the changes i'll NewlOTk, but Will vote
with MIR. COukIiDg as before.