The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-01
Message From President Hayes ON New
York Custom House.

governments assets and liabilities.
Message From President Hayes ON New
York Custom House.
WASHINGTON, January Sl.-The follow
ing Is the Presidents message sent to the
Senate to-day in relation to the suspen
sions of Collector Arthur and Naval Office
Cornell:
To The Senate:
l transmit herewith a letter Of the Sec
retary of-the Treasury in regard to the
suspension OF the late collector and naval
officer OF the port OF New York, with ac
companying documents. In addition
thereto respectfully submit the following
observations: The Custom House in New
York collects more than two-thirds of all
the customs revenues OF the Govern.
ment. It's administration is o matter not
OF local interest merely, but Is OF
great importance to the whole country.
For long period of time it has been used
to manage and control political affairs.
The officers suspended by me ares for sew
eral years have been engaged in active
personal management OF the party politics
OF the city and State OF New York. The
duties OF the offices held by them have
been regarded as OF subordinate impor-
tance to their partisan work. Their offices
have been conducted as part OF the pO-
litical machinery under their control.
They have made the Custom House the
centre OF partisan political management.
The Custom House should be business
NEHnas II oInnlI In nnoI,ntnI n.1
principles.
Col. James, Postmaster Of the city New
York, writing on this subject says: The
postotIice is business institution and
should be run Us such. 1t is my judg-
ment that and my suborlinates can do
more for the party OF our choice by giving
the people Of this city good and efficient
postal service than by controlling primaries
or debating nominations. The New York
custom house should be placed on
the same footing with the New York
Postoiiice, but under the suspended
officers the Custom House would be one
Of the principal political agencies ia the
State OF New York. To change this, they
profess to believe, would be. in the Ian
guage OF Cornell's response, ITO surrender
their personal and political right" l am
convinced that the people-of New York
and OF the country generally, wish the
New York Custom House to be admins
tered solely with view to public interest.
1t is my purpose to do all in
my power to introduce into this
great office reforms. which the
country desires. With my information OF
the facts in the case, and with q deep
sense OF the responsible obligation i'm
posed on me by the constitution, tos"take
care that the laws be faithfully executed" !"
/ regarded my plain duty to suspend the
officers in question, and to make the nom
nations now before the Senate, in order
that this important Office may be honestly
and efficiently administered. LII
TSigned,] ....., 4. 3. HAYES,
EtecutrS Mansion, january 81, 1870.
SECRETARY SHERMAN or TIE NRw YORK Gus.
TON HOUSE REMOVALS.
Secretary Sherman's letter to the Presi.
dent, in reply TO Mr., Arthur, is very long.
He repeats that all the allegations stated
in the Department letter OF the 10th inst
are susceptible OF the dearest proof and
says the Department is prepared to verify
them II It Is the pleasure OF the Senate to
give an opportunity. ii says the Secre-
tary, to secure the removal OF an officer it
is necessary TO establishfthe actual com.
mission Of crime by the proofs demanded
in q Court OF Justice, then it Is clear
thata case against Arthur that is not made
out, especially II his answer is held to
To be conclusive, without reference to the
proofs on the public records and rendered
10 the committee and Senate. But II it Is
held that to procure the removal Of Arthur
1t Is sufficient to reasonably establish that
gross abuses OF administration have con-
tinued and inprpasel during his inculnbcn:
cy; that many have been regularly paid
on his rolls who rendered little or no ser
vice; that the expenses Of his office in
creased while collectioits Ciaye been less.
ening; that hribos, or gratuttiCs in
the nature Of brihGs, have been
received by his suborlinates in several
branches of the Custom House that the
efforts to correct these abuses have not
met his support and he has not given to
the duties of office tho requisite diligence
and attention, then 2it.is Submitted that
Tho pase Is made out. This form OF proc
the department Is prepared 70 submit,
The Secretary refers at length Ia thC
numerous reports OF special agents, and
notably to the evidence taken before thu
jaw Commission, to show that the condt
tion OF affairs above mentioned really ex
isted under Arthur's administration.
With reference TO tho olker TO- Arthlll
OF foreign Qppoiptnen /, Sherman says
| Arthur statcs that the first notice Of hi
,tna,lnJ rn,n ntJnI ttltna acrhfli t1aniA1 will