The daily gazette., 1879-02-01
FOURTH EDITION
A MESSAGE from the President
Too Much Politics In the Custom
House.

w yam A0fS'
The proceedings in the execu tive ses-
sion Of the Senate to-day were commenc- |
ed by the reading from the Clerks desk
Of the Message of President Hayes and
the accompanying long letter of Secretary
Sherman, which had been received by
Vice President a few minutes previous ly.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To THE SENATE -
transmit herewith letter OF the Sec
retary of the Treasury in regard to the
suspension of the late Collector and Ma
val Officer of the port of New York, with
accompanying documents. In addition
hereto | respectfully submit the follow
ing observations -
The Custom House in New York col
lects more than two-thirds of all the Gus
toms revenues of the government. Its
administration is a matter not of local in
terest merely, but it is OF great impor-
tance to the people of the whole country.
For a long period of time it has been
used to manage and control political al
fairs.
j hS W nv o'''
| for several years have been engaged in
the active personal management of the
party politics of the city and State OF
New York. The duties OF the offices
held by them have been regarded as OF
subordinate importance to their partisan
wdfk. Their offices have been conduct
ed as part of the political machinery un-
der their control. They have made the
Custom House centre of partisan politi-
cal management. The Custom House
should be business office. 1t should be
controlled on business principles. Gen
eral James, the Postmaster of New ! ork
city, writing on this subject, says -
The Post Once is business institution
| and should be run as such. 1t is my de
liberate Judgment that | and my subor.
dinate can do more for the party Of our
choice by giving the people of this city a
good and efficient postal service than 10y
| controlling primaries and dictating nomi
| nations.
The New York Custom House should
be placed on the same footing with the
| New York Post Office. But under the sus.
pended officers the custom house would be
Que of the principal political agencies in
| the State of New York. To change this
| they profess to believe, would be, in the
language of Mr.. Cornell in his response,
"to surrender their personal and political
rights"
| Convinced that the people of New
York, and of the country generally, wish
| the New York Custom House to be ad
ministered solely with view to the pub
| lie interest, IL is my purpose to do all IN
| my power TO introduce into this great of
flee the reforms which the country de
sires. With my information of the fact.
in the case, and with deep sense of tn.
responsible obligation imposed upon me
by the constitute on to "take care that the
laws be faithfully executed" | regard
| it as my plain duty to suspend the ofiicers
in question and to make the nomi nations
now before the Senate, in order that this
important Office may be honestly and cf
ficiently administered.
| Il. Il. HAYES
| Executive Mansion, Jan. 81, 1879.
SECRETARY sHERMAN's LATTER.
| Secretary Sherman in his letter to tn,
President which also bears date Janu
ary 81, SAYS that on the 23d instant, ant
before Mr.. Arihur's letter to Senate
Conkling had been acted upon by tn,
committee, he sent to the chairman
request for copy of 1t to enable the
department to verify any statement II
its letter of the 10Th Instant which nigh
be disputed by Mr.Arthur. No answs
was made to this request, and the com
mittee acted on the nominations befor
an opportunity had been given to the de
partment to establish its reasons for til
suspension of Arthur.
BRIBBs AND GRATUITIEs.
The secretary concludes by recitn,
; some of the evidence taken by the Ja
commission, showing that bribes an'
gratuitIes had been taken by CLERKS an
. other employees of the New York custom
house.