The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1879.
THE NEW YORK APPOINTMENTS SECRETARY SHEER
MAN IN EXPLANATION OF REMOVALS MADE
FIERCE REPLY OF SENATOR coNKLING-PooR
PROSPECT FOR CONFIRMATION.
communication was laid before the Senate in
Executive Session to-day from Secretary Sherman.
the subject Of the New York Custom House appoint
mcnts designed to show that the removals OF Colec
tor Arthur and Naval Officer Cornell made
for sufficient cause, and that therefore the
confirmation Of the present nominees should
not be resisted on the ground that injustice
was done to their predecessors The communication
embodies sundry reports made to the Secretary and
other extracts from the confidential records of the
Treasury Department asserting or indicating that
Mcssrs Arthur and Cornell failed to administer their
offices with the degree of efficiency considered requisite
by the department. Their failure to take action in
regard the extensive smuggling of silk goods and
the differentiation Of kid gloves. &c. is commented
on and placed in contrast with the inaugu-
rated and pushed to issue satisfactory to the gov
eminent by their successors in Office.
Among tho charges made by Secretary sher-
against Collector Arthur it is stated that he did
not acquiesce in the departments suggestions as to
the extent to which the force in the Custom House
could be properly reduced. but when the reductions
were carried into effect the result showed that the
department was thoroughly right. and that tho Col
lcctor had endcavored to retain much larger num-
Der of employees than was actually needed.
Secretary sherman also informs the Senate that
the New York Custom House employees numbered
about one thousand two hundred, and many Of them
were appointed by Messrs Arthur and Cornell to oc-
cupy positions. merely rewards for politi
cal services
The Secretary in support Of these various charges.
quotes extensively from the report of the Jay Com
mission and from reports made to him Assistant
Secretary French and Assistant Solicitor Robinson
Secretary Sherman states at the outset Of his
municaton that no sends il the senate by direction
OF President Hayes.
At the conclusion Of the reading Of Secretary sher
mans communication Senator Conkling took the
door and made an earnest speech defending Messrs
Arthur and Cornell from the charge Of ineficiency,
and denouncng the charges prctcnces and after
thoughts put forth by the administration in an effort
to justify action which wholly unwsrrsnted on
civil service grounds and prompted merely by per-
sonal or partisan considerations.
Senator Conkling. in tho course Of his speech,
tnentcd with great severity upon the
action last winter in rendering another appointment
t6 Mr.. Arthur, saying. in substance. that after all
theSe pretended damaging facts known to Prcs
dentHayes and Secretary Sherman, they solicited and
urged\M Mr. Arthur to take foreign position of great
Importance such the Consul Gcneralship at Paris
or London.
Senator Thurman made semi-jocular re-
marks. evidently calculated to widen the breach
between the President aud the majority Of the repub
lican members OF the Senate. and Senator Eimunds
also spoke briefly. without. however. definitely in
dicating his position the subject of the contro
yersy.
The communication ard accompanying papers
were then ON motion of Mr.. Conkiin-. referred to
the Committee Commerce. and just before nd
journment the senate gave tho committee authority
to notify the persons accused and to send for per-
sons aud papers, with view to determining the
truth OF the charges.
There has been request made TO the President or
to tho Treasury Department b. the Senate by the
Committee Commerce for any information con-
corning the causes Of the removal OF Messrs Arthur
and Cornell, and to-dsys communication is. there
fore. volunteered.
II Ia the general Impression tonight that tho pend
ing nominations will he rejected. the democrats
apparently manifest disposition to rally to their
support, and very large majority Of tho repub
iicsns are known to DO fully committed against
them.
GOVERNMENT MONEY IN THE NATIONAL DASKs--
SECRETARY SHERMAN IN REPLY TO A RHsoLU-
TON OF THE HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before tho House this morning in
response TO resolution of that body. communica-
ton Of tho Secretary OF the Treasury transmitting
supplemental statement OF the balances in the loan
account in coin standing the credit OF tho Treas
urer Of tho United States in the national bank de-
pcsitorics on the LIST of January. 1879. The sggc-
gate amount of the balances sac OF. The
larger amounts as follows:-
First National Bank of New York io.lo7 ,9ss
National Bank OF the state of New York. 7.15J.0b
| Bank of New York National Banking Assoc
citation ........................... 555I. al
Maverick National Bank OF Boston ...... 4.si2. $40
National Bank Of Commerce OF New York. 2.2J. gls
second National Bank of New York. l.5i2.525
Monument National Bank of Boson...... 1.Uss.52i
| National Exchange Bank of Abany........ g35.3Gi
wachusetts National BANK. Fitchburg,
sVx,Sv
North National Bank. Boston. ........... 5O3.OI9
Chase National Bank. New Iork............ 4E.11j
National security Bank, Boston. 40V.0ss
First National Bank, Newburyport. Mass. ~, $50
Manuiacturers' National Bank, Boston... 327 $50
National Bank Of Commonwealth. Boston. 3ui .sps
Natick National Bank, Natick Mass. ~. 2Ol6