The New York herald., 1879-02-14
CUSTOM HOUSE REFORM.

FULL TEXT OF THE PRESIDENTS LETTER TO
COLLECTOR MERRITT-coNFIDENcE RESTORED
TO TREMBLING OFFICIALS.
The extract from President Hayes letter to Col
lector Merritt published in yesterdays HERALD
astonished all who connected with the customs
service by whom 1t had been thought that the gull
lotine would at once be set in motion to decapitate
every who had the slightest sympathy with ex-
Collector Arthur or Senator Conkling The concil-
iatory tone of the President acted
these parties that long they faithful to their
trust they would not be disturbed in their positions
1t stated in the above named article that
would again be held between the Collector Naval
officer and Surveyor to form plan of action and
General Merritt informed the representative Of the
press last evening that such consultation had been
held in the morning. but without any definite line
procedure being adopted He said further. "While
mistakes may sometimes occur. the purposes of the
present administration of the Custom House will be
fully carried out according to the Presidents letter
1t will take some time to arrange such rules as
necessary to successfully carry out the new policy
but as soon ready the public Will be informed.
He (the Collector) did not propose to make any
changes at present. and the applications file would
receive due consideration in their turn.
LETTER IN FULL.
He proposed to carry out as nearly as possible the
views OF the President as expressed in the following
letter.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. A. 1879.
MY DEAR GENERAL:-I congratulate you your
confirmation. 1t is great qualification to me- very
honorable to you. and will prove, believe. OF signal
be conducted on strictly business principles and ac-
cording to the rules for the civil service which were
recommended by the Civil Service Commssion in
the administration Of General Grant. want you to
be perfectly independent of mere personal influence
from any quarter Neither my recommendation.
that of Secretary Sherman, nor of any member
of Congress other influential person must be spe
cially regarded. Let appointments and removals be
made on business prineipies anu accorang 70 % RUE.
filled by those whom you personally know to be
Trustworthy but restrict the of patronage to the
narrQwest limits. Let man be put out merely be-
cause he is friend to Mr.. Arthur and no man
put in merely because he is our friend The good of
the service should be the sole end in view. The
best yet presented, it to the rules
recommended by the Civil Service Commission.
shall issue no new order on the subject at present
wish you to that all that Is expressed or implied
in it is faithfully carried out
Again congratulatng you and assuring you OF my
b. B. HAYES.
To General E. A. MERRITT.
NAVAL OFFICER AND SURVEYOR.
The letter to Colonel Silas w. Burt Naval Officer is
of the tenor. and. after congratulating him
his confirmation the President refers specially to the
fact that. as he Colonel Burt of the Civil
Service Commissioners in 1872, he must be fully
with the operations Of the rules and he
hopes that he will fully cooperate with Collector
Merritt.
Colonel Burt, on being questioned in relation to
the new Board OF Civil Service Commissioners said
that the new appointees would be more independent
OF the appointing power than the old Board as it
will doubtless be mixed commission, representing
the different departments in the customs service.
The greatest difficulty to be surmounted will be the
getting rid of inefficient officials in the service
whose chief recommendation to appointment was
local political influence. TO remove them will,
Colonel Burt thought lay the present administration
open to charges Of political persecution. Usually
the most inefficient men are backed by the strong
est political recommendations. No doubt, he
said. the new system must engender considerable
prejudice and be much opposed ut the beginning;
hut when the public becomes convinced that the re-
form is genuine that removals are only made to
benefit the service. and that competitive examina-
tions will not be used as cover for the old methods
of appointments. then opposition will fall to the
ground. Hwas stated incidentally that some promi
nent citiEenn would be invited to act board of
inspectors, not to participate in the examination.
but merely watch the methods adopted by the Com
mission.
General Graham's letter from the President
very friendly short and pointed. and requested him
to Cooperate with the Collector and Naval Officer.