New-York tribune., 1879-01-28
NEW-YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.

| THE LETTERS OF SHERMAN AND ARTHUR
SENATOR CONKrING MAKES AN ADVERSE REPsRr
IN 1HE sFNAIE-THE CORRESPONDENCE GIVEN
To TWE PURTIC.
| The Committee on Commerce reported ia
the United States Senate yesterday in favor
of rejecting the nominations OF General Mer-
ritt and Mr. Burt Mr.. COnking suggested
that the injunction of secrecy be removed
from the letters of Secretary Sherman and
| General Arthur. This was agreed to. The let
ters are printed below, as also the letter OF
Mr.. Cornell. During the proceedings Mr.
| Thurman said that he was inclined to vote TO
confirm the nominations. but he thought the
| Committee should have made an Investigation.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
! SOME RESISTANCE TO ALLOWING IHE LETTERS TO
GO OUr TO TUE PCBLIC-rHE PUBLICATION
FINALLY PCRMITTED-THURMAN SIGNIFICANT
REMARK.
IBY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRrBCSEI
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Conkling is de-
srous of securing definite action by the Senate upon
the New-Yorll Custom House nominations at tho
earliest possible moment Shortly after 3 O'Clock
this afternoon he moved an executive session, and
as soon as the doors were closed reported from tho
Commerce Committee the nominations of General
Merritt and Mr.. Burt, with the recommendation
that they be not confirmed.
A letter from Secretary Sherman, addressed TO the
President of the Senate. was presented and read,
and on motion of Mr. COnkling laid aside tenn
pOrarly. After remarklng in this letter that he
learned from the newspapers that General Arthur
and Mr. Cornell had sent to the Committee replies
10 his former communication 10 the Senate, the
Secretary said that he had last Friday addressed
note to Mr. Conkling asking that he be furnished
. fi,Ts onIf
also be given an opportunity to answer them. To
this note he said he had received no reply, and
he now asked the Senate that the Committee be IN
structed TO comply with his request.
The letters of General Arthur and Mr. Cornell
were then .ald before the Senate 10y Mr.. COnkling
(the letter of Secretary Sherman having been
read ut length at former session., AMI were
read occupying nearly the whole time Of r.. ses
sion. The substance of both of these lette. rs a.
ready been published.
When the reading was completed. NJ. ''.. 'hr
moved that the injunction Of secrecy be removes
from all Of this correspondence. This gave rise %
considerable debate. Senators Edmunds ana Mer-
rmon made the most opposition toIt, on the ground
that there was no precedent for sUch aciioI AMI
that il was dangerous to establish on.. J. TIE -
was replied that all the npof p...t+' ."c
correspondence bad alread L.I pt .,'- 100 'h'
newspapers, that the r. a - '' ' i.'t
of secrecy would be more e. , .H.'. ... .'i' 'i''
would certainly do no ! '. N. '.".. - NJ
ton was carried, only out haii 90. IA senators
voting III the negative.
SIR. Conkng gayer 90 that he should ask the
Senate To take M tb ienor' of the Committee at
the earliest practicable moment and vote upon IT.
MIR. Thurman made rather a significant speech
during the session. He said that the Committee on
Commerce had made no investigation such as was
- Aft.srFf and
that the Senate had a right to ask the committee 10
do so. He was disposed, the face of the case 10
sspport the President bud if the Sccrctarys asser-
tons were not sustained, then he might vote the
other way, The Committee ought 60 make an III
oury into these matters and report the result OF 1t
10 the senate.
If this is the position 10 be taken by the Demo-
crats 1t will probably delay final action on the
nominations several days. An effort viii be made
N the next executive session 10 open tha doors "hen
the Senate comes to discuss these appointments on
their merits aud have the debate take place IN open
session.
THE LETTER OF SECRETARY SHERMAN.
An EXPLANATION OF THE REASONS WHY CHANGE
WAS THOUGHT NECEssARY-NO ARRNGNNENr
oE TIE CHARACTER or GENERAL ARTHUR.
TREASURY DEPARTMENr
Jan. -, 1879.
states senate
SIR: | have the honor, by direction of tho
President To transmit to The senate the nr.os" Official
rcports 10 tins Department relating 10 lhc abuses ana
rrccularltlcs Ia the NowYOrk Custom House. and bear
IN, upon the nominations pending in the senate of ID
win A Merritt. for Collector OF customs at tho
Port Of New YORK, in place OF Chester A.
Arthur su.peuded and OF SilIs W. Burt
IA Naval OH ,cr at thlt port place o hoGzo b. Corr
nell suspended. beg add fuller statement OF the
causes that lci to these nominations Aud SUSPENSIONS
than appears upon the public record
The management OF thc Customs Service
la, for several years been open 10 much
criticism IN Congress, in the press. and
in poruIar ani business circles founded upon alleged
arbitrary abuses by the officers and npon uudervaua-
ton and frauds When entered this office determined
70 make ril examination into these allegations. and
into the existing methods OF conducting the customs
hu.incss wiki view to economy and reform, not only at
New.York but 40 very other port Of the United states
The President took great interest in the matter and
heartily supp RED the proposed The cxamina-
tious were made mostly by committees of private citl-
z.ps and resulted in a large saving and many reforms
Naturally the Port Of NewYork, where about 20 per
cent Of the duties customs y Collected
attracted the chief interest. II appears tnat FOR
a seriesot years from 1872, the receipts from
customs 10 that port have constantly din.n'
t,hed while the expenditures have, with tic exception
Of but sin se year. steadily increased l. sAo@n by
the following statement:
Year Receipts. Expenditures
80 .....--.-....| sl4- 81 44G 500 i94J