The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-09
MORTALITY or THE FORTY SIXTH CONGRESS
Gossip Concerning the New
York Appointments.
EVIDENCES OF A POSSIBLE ANTAGONIST.
Poor Prospect for the Burnside
Army Bill.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8. 1870.
THE NEW YORK APPoINTMENTs--CURRENT
RuMoRs CONCERNING THE ACTION OF THE
COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND THE ULTIMATE
SETTLEMENT OF EXISTING TROUBLES.
Senator Conkling. it is reported. will suggest to
the COMMITTEES on Commerce that it shall authorize
him to ask of the President and Secretary Of
the Treasury their reasons for making a
change in the Collectorship of New York.
on the ground that. though General Merritt
may be a good man. civil service reform would
not countenance the removal of an officer like
General Arthur without sufficient reasons even to put
in another good man. Well informed persons say
that If such inquiry is made by the committee the
President will probably that he has made the
change for satisfactory to himself and in the
exercise Of his constitutional right and his RESPONSE
bity for his subordnates, and that law requires
him to give reasons. but that the Secretary
of the Treasury will send reply to the
committee in which he will give plain and
sufficient why, in the interest of the public
service, he desired the removal of General Arthur
and the substitution of another in his place. 1t is
said also, that if the Senate should reject Messrs
Merritt and Graham the President will remove
Mcssrs Arthur and Cornell as soon as Congress ad-
journs and some republicans are little dissatisfied
at this prospect. remembering that in any Mr..
Arthur's term would expire next August, and
that the incoming Senate is democratic.
They that democratic Senate may
make trouble about confirming a republican
and that the New York Custom House is so impor-
tant factor in the State and general politics that
they would rather. for the partys sake Merritt
and Graham quietly confirmed than to a
lasting trouble and disorganization in the Custom
House political machinery.
Another rumor says that Mr.. Arthur insists on the
rejection Of Mr. Merritt but agrees privately to re-
sign soon as he reenters the Custom House, and
that thereupon whomever the President may nominate
will be confirmed and the asserts that it is
this understanding that the republicans the Senate
will be asked to now reject Mr.. Merritt.
CHANCES EXTRA SESSION.
In republican circles the question is discussed
whether the President would call extra session Of
the Senate in case the New York and some other
important nominations rejected. Tho
control OF the organization Of the Senate un-
til next December. hence they dislike the
thought of an extra session of the Senate If they
certain that the President would not in any
call such an extra session they would not hesitate TO
reject such nominations dispeasing to any Of
them. But 1t Is understood that the President is
noncommitta this point and the relations Of the
republican Senators with the White House are not Of
such cordial and confidential nature that they can
consult advise with him about it. especially as
their object is to free their hands to oppose his
nominations. It is admitted by some of them in
private that in this matter the President the whip
hand of the Senate But they say that he is devoid
OF resentment that he will scarcely his power but
will conform himself to the desires of the Senator's
even if they do reject his nominations.