New-York tribune., 1879-01-16
THE LABORS OF CONGRESS.

In an executive session of the Senate yes
4ordav = letter was read from Secretary Sher-
man explaining why General Arthur ana MI
Cornell had been removed. Senator Coahlng
ronlied 70 If warmly. The letter was re1erleu
n the Commerce Committee and an lhNes'I-
cation is to he made. The Senate ue-
lated the subject of the Patent laws
YESTERDAY, and the House discussed several
financial bills. The Democrats held caucus
~ plan some way of defeating the Edmunds
movement for protecting political rights IN
the South. 1t is said that the vacancy in the
Berlin Mission may possibly be filed by
promotion.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE NOMINATIONS.
TIE SUBJECT UNEXPECTEDLY BROUGHT Up IN TIE
sExArE-A LITTER IRON SECRETARY SHERMAN
SENATOR CoNKLlNG REPIIEs-THE LETTER RI
FERRED
10y TELEGEAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE.l
WA-HINGrON, Jan. 15.-Ihe Senate was very m
expectedly brought face to face with the New-lork
Custom House appointments in the executive ses-
sou to-day.
Before tie holiday recess It was voted by the
Commerce Committee that its chairman, senator
Conllling should call upon the President and
Secretary Of the Treasury for statement
of the reasons for the removal # General arthur
and Nh Cornell before the expiration Of Their terms
Of office and il was generally known that although
Secretary sherman dccued to assign reasons for
similar action, except by sending copies
Of the report Of the Jay Commission, when
Messrs Roosevelt and Prince were non;-
mated. he would reply at some length and
specifically If a similar communication was sent or
referred to him this Winter. Mr. Conkhng did no!
write the letter authorized by his committee at
once and hence tie delay in the reception Of the
Te at last how .4v
and was read to the Senate in secret session today
some pretty plain talk having FIST 1cen indGgca in
oucbing the revelation Of executive session secrets,
and general understanding being reached that
every one present should exercise more than crdl-
nary care in speaking Of to-days proceedings.
The Sccretarys letter contained very little that
was really uew 1t seems to have been written IN
such way a to avoid as much a. possible person.
altes. and TO criticise the management of
the New-York Custom House under the old
regime rather than to attack the Off
Ger, who were then responsible for It's adj
1niuistration The letter did not contain even
asucgest;on that General Arthur and Mr. Cornell
were corrupt men. Ii could not do that, for in al
thelryestigat that have been made since the
present Administration came into power, Not par
tclc of testimony ha7 been gwen lnpeachIng the
integrity of either Of them. 1t did sum
ma1ze the findings Of the JAY ard subsequent
investigating commissions, OI Tue purpose VI
ing that the administration of the Custom House
was not as efficient or economical e. 1t ought to
have been and tins position of the secretary was
stiu further fortif d by some additional >3.citca-
tous taken from the files of the Department, but
which have not found their way into the public
prints.
The main point Of Secretary Sherman's letter was
that the administration Of tie Custom House under
General Arthur and Mr.. Cornell was not at all IN
accord with his ideas of efficiency and economy,
and that hls experience and official intercourse
with those gentlemen did not lead him
TO hope for any great Improvement.
One complaint against General Arthur contained IN
tb. letter is based on his alleged uatcntion To The
buslurss of his Office and comparison is Instituted
between the time he spent az hs desk and that
which General Merritt gives to the public business.
General Arthur is accused Of having left the man
agement Of the affairs Of the Custom House almost
entirely to suboIdinates. while General Merritt, 1t
is asserted Is Collector of the Port ii tact a. well as
in name. and knows wnat is done himself. The case
against General Arthur and Mr. Cornell was made
a. strong in the Secretarys letter as II his Judgment
the facts would warrant without beng TOO personal.
It is not understood that Ar. Cornele d>obcdience
Of the Civil Service order, nearly forgotten,
was assigned ls one Of the reasons for his removal
The reading Of tlIs commrn cation was listened
p very atteutvcly by the nators present, for al
though mauy of them care very little whether the
present officers are confirmed or not all are utter
ested in a controversy that has been SO exciting n
the past and promises to be equally 20 III tie
future.
Senator ConkImg spoke with great earnest
ness IN regard to the Secretary's letter,
and defended General Arthur and Mr. Cor
nell from the accusation it contained. The
line of bi. defence may be inferred from his speech
ou the sane subject IN executive seSsl year ago,
although very little can he learned tom ght con
c-rnuE what he sad this afternoon On the former
occasion he shovel N%' nC'rly carry, ID" H,I!c Ic
recommended bY the Jan Commission mad been
prrvlousiy recommended TO the Secretary Of tn"
Treasury by General Arthur, a. was shown by hIs
letters on file in the Department, and that those
which ne had not suggested were clther IN
yracucabieioT II they were. were not reforms al az
/ ls understood that he followed the same line Of
argument today. Speaking WIN great warmth,
and expressing his disseu rom the positions taken
by the Secretary III Yeiy p.aln idngua2e
senator Thurman moved thai tie l'luucflOu OF
secrecy be removed from Secretary Shcruan letter.
lDon this there was considerable discussion.
winch continued until senator EdMuads moved
that the letter be referred 10 the Comm ttec on
Commerce. and that cones cf II b" tlrnSucd Z"
General Arthur and Mr. Cornell, with the under
standing that when their replies are received the
question Of Publishing the correspondence snail Dc
considered by the committee.
The result of the discussion to-day WAS, there
fore mat the letter OF the secretary OF the
Treasury was referred TO the Committee on
commerce, OF whiclI M C'Ltl.nE i '...t.l@u'I @
and ~ understood that that colmitir" VIII MAX"
a thorough investigation INTO all the aCcuSat ions
contained in II against the administration ~
General Arthur and MI Cornell. One Of the hI-j
moves of the committee viii be 10 scnd 10 OcL,lh
Arthur aud Mr.. Cornell IN 2ccOr!aEce WITH thp
resolution of Mr. Edmunds, copies oi secretary
Sherman's letter. with an invitation L" MAKE
such answers is they may desire. Inns
VIII OF course CONSUME time, ana no
vote on the nominations OF 'rerals Merritt aud
Graham viii be taken by the committee !htI an
answer l. received, and probably not uutn ttcr