The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-28

bound to accept schedule tare My decision was sus-
tanned by the Secretary May a. ls7s On June y.
1875 caused letter to be addressed 10 the secretary
| in which said -
1t is submitted the most equitable and safest rule
Ssa be to be sn he ali there
no agreement by the Collector and 10 accept
This was in effect only suggesting the alteration Of
the regulation. so as to make obligatory practice
had in fact introduced.
To me. and not to the acting Collector. should
therefore be ascrbed portion at least OF the credit
for the saving the Secretary claims by taking actual
tare II is obvious that Mr.. Sherman was aware OF
this for he careful not to give the period during
which the gain he claims was made He says.
tell from what period and further he speaks with
studied indeiniteness OF gain in "a period
gain in the weighing of many other articles than
sugar is not justified by any facts which he gives
Giles other than sugar has not. / am informed been
changed from that which has long prevailed may
the acting Collector the Secretary conveniently re-
members to forget to specify them Every one that
lector or recommended by me.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL DISCRIMINATION.
Mr.. Sherman says that continued complaints
came from other ports. of entry that
constitutional DETERMINATIONS We're made in
favor of the port OF New York by the
method of conducting business at that ports
that allowances for damage not permitted at other
ports made. and that asystem of characterization
prevailed Tho making of such complaints hardly
proves their truth. and. il true they related to
matter with which the Collector had nothing to do.
as in respect to the particulars complained of the
law places the entire power the appraiser and the
Secretary and mot in the Collector. Indeed 1T is
proper to state specifically that the classification
apprasement and valuation of goods for duty. and
the ascertanment of the existence and extent OF
damage allowances; are at this port-nniike some
other ports-placed by the law exclusively in the
hands OF the appraiser. over whom the Collector has
no control. He only interfere in cases where.
after the appraiser has acted, the merchant dissa
isfed and demands reappraisement. The Collector
then appoints merchant to act with the general
appraiser The dec sion of tho two is ANAL IL they
agree. If they disagree-which is very rarely the
Cause.-The Collector must then decide between them
tons to adopt in full the decision the other
of them The appraiser also acts exclusively in
II will therefore be perceived that the Collector is
wholly unaffected by the complaints Us to false cas
sifcation, undervaluation. improper excessive
den OF the reports Of Mr. Meredith and his associates.
and of Assistant Secretary French both transmitted
to the Senate by Mr.. Sherman. I emphasize this
statement, which Mr.. French in his report expressly
confirms because the utterances of some Of the
chants from other places who were associated by the
Secretary with Mr.. Meredith showed that they were
wholly ignorant of this truth.
ALLEGED OBSTRUCTION OF REFORMS.
Mr. Sherman states that after the receipt of the
ports of the Jay Commission ''the President
strongly of the opinion that the public interests de-
manded change in the leading offices in the New
York Custom House," but that he (NIr. Sherman)
prelNrred to try to execute the reforms proposed
But he says, it gradually became evident that
was not in sympathy with the recon-,
and did obstruct their fair execution. 1t is
impossible to definitely general charge like
this l can only say that my views OF the reports OF
from time to time. both orally and in writing and
especially ct his request in the letter dated November
o. 1877 already referred to- From that date ut least
Mr.. sherman could have had no doubt as to my
views. How or in what way .'obstructed the exc
cution of the recommendation Of the commission"
am unable to say. So far the reduction of the
force is concerned acted in manner which the
Secretary directly approved appears by his letter.
IN Nav
with Mr. Jay in regard to matters and
will probably make the reduction by the aid Of
here that that %ode . the very pest in which
Again he wrotc:-
the % sad
this information through committees of trusted officers
And on July 3d. after had completed the work. he
wrote me that persons affected had complained to
him, but "that the matter had been fully inquired
into by committee from this department 1t is
deemed best after tins run = Sn 70
that your committee have exercised great care and
i'm partiality.''
can only say that after / had submitted my
views to the department carried out promptly and
zcaiously every recommendation Of the commission
so soon the Secretary adopted it, whether it met
my personal approval or not. Though had re-
with Mr.. Sherman with reference to them. he
intimated to that there was any dssatisfac-
ton with my course except with my refusal. tho
REORGANIZATION of the weighers' force, to reappont
two assistant weighers, refusal which based upon
good reasons of public policy
Mr. sherman states that after the rejection by tho
Senate of Mr.. Roosevelt-which took place on De-
cember IL. 1S77-"there was no further attempt or
desire send to the Senate other nominations but
every brief experience proved that any hope of
rying out any systematic reforms or changes in tho
| mode of conducting the business would be abor-
| tive while the Collector held his position"
! In q subsequent portion OF his letter. Mr.:
Sherman says that after several months triai and
consideration he became convinced that my re-
moval necessary, and some time after the close
of the session Of Congress. and after the experiment
had been fully tried, President Hayes suspended
me-.
presume it is true that there was mo attempt or
desire to send to the Senate other nominations"
though the Senate in session six months after
| the rejection of Mr.. Roosevelt.
sherman expressly informed me that from the outset
there had been wavering in the determination TO
remove me. but it had been delayed by accidental
causes which he mentioned among which he did not
state the he now implicitly enthusiastically,
desire to avoid the control OF the Senate 1t is
ground Of suspension occurring after the adj
journment, of the Senate. for was absent on my
annual leave of absence from the time OF such adj
journment until within week of my suspension.
or SUSPENSION.
In nm me an tay aiy stated tina" was mos
suspended because Of any charges. and that never
would hear of any charges from him. but that tho
suspension to be made solely because the Prcsi-
dent deemed that the Collector should be in sym
patty with the administration with reference to tho
Custom House. Mr.. Sherman offered to state this to
me in writing, but not anticipating the commun.ca-
ton just sent to the Senate was content with his
oral assurance.
From the time when the Secretary sent me o rc-
quest to resign prior To the nomination OF MIR.
Roosevelt. in September, 1877 accompanied with tho
Offer of foreign appointment for myself down 10
the time of my suspension in the following Juiv,
the Custom House constantly swarmed with COM
sions and special agents investigating every por-
ton OF the business and building, and encouraging
aud mal.nifying. IL not creating. complaints.
1t was, during all the time. obvious that .
strenuous attempt being made to find some
ground for my REMOVAL but the Secretary was: ~
have ssid at Est compelled to inform me when was
suspended that the attempt had wholly failed
trust the Senate will have difficulty in coming
To the conclusion that Mr. sherman then correct,
whatever may he his present opinion. l. an very
Respectfully YOUR 0''''''n' 9. A. ARTHUR.
MIR. coRxELr's REPLY.
The following is Mr.. Cornells reply 10 secretary
Sherman 3 letter. a, ,s-o