The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-28
GEN. ARTHUR STRIKING BACK
SETTLING REPLY TO THE DE FGCTO
SECRETIKY or TTTE TREASURY.

Letter to the senntc Committee an Com.
in~rce, amt showing the Insinceriiy of
Hayes Professions ore ivii Service Reform
Mrs. Jnme. Gordon Bcnneurs Diamonds
WAsH1SGroN, Jan. 27.-Thc following Is
TIE reply Of Con. Arthur To the communication
addressed 10 the Senate by tine de facto Serre-
tlry Of the Treasury on the 18Th inst:
new YORK, Jan. 81, 1879.
~ Haa Roscoe Ontiing. Cldiiin,u.
SIR: / have the honor to acknowledge the re-
CO Ut OF your favor Of Jan. 1G. transmitting. 10y
consent OF the Senate and direction % the Com
m.ttec on Commerce. q copy OF the communca-
ton addressed to the Senate 10y the Hon. John
Sherman. Secretary Of the Treasury. under
date OF Jan. Is. and purporting to state tho rea.
sons OF my suspension from the olicc OF Col
lector Of this port. For tho opportunity 10 an-
swer tho assertions Of this paper am deeply
grateful
Icannot. without longer delay than would
be justinahle, reply as FULLY a. would like. to
all Of the statements Of Mr. sherman. but /
think shall have no difficulty In satisfying the
Senate that If. as is presumably tho case. his
communication contains all thai can be said
against my administration ~ tho office Of Col
lcctor. my suspension was not only directly con-
.rary TO all the professions Of the Administra-
:ion. but was violation Of every principle Of
Justice.
when an Administration deliberately avows
aud constantly reiterates that removal from
office is 10 take place only Tor cause it is OBJ
vious no matter what may be said 10 the con-
.rary. that n removal must. AZ least in tho csti-
nation Of that portion Of the public which has
hiih in the sincerity Of the Administration.
larry with II n stgmn upon tho character OF the
removed officer: and this stigma is not fully
removed. even II the first notice " intended re-
movai H. accompanied, rs WAS the case with me-.
with an urgent offer NJ nm important foreign
appointment under another department OF the
government
Mr. Sherman. in the opening Of HE communl-
cation, refers To- the criticisms made in Com
gress, In the press. and in private on the New
York Custom House. IL Is notorious that dur
ing the nearly seven years WAS in office there
was muen ,tss complaint against, the admins
tration O. the New York Custom House than FOR
many years before. The laws have been greatly
criticised, and TO some extent changed Ny adj
ninistraton Of them has been rarely COM
Mr. sherman relics greatly upon the report
o. the Jay Commission. aud In hiscommunica-
msuts as true. II viii be presently seen that in
some 81 his actions be throws entire dsrredt
stfuu n aud metho : Of tuis Commission. upon
which 70 much reliance - placed. should oe
sn9%n to rs o Se2s - my obS ST IF sns
these in the following terms;
n can be 10 pre,cnce TN, IN ne commi..ion a..
Tort Or wa. even unbiased 10 'lc efcc, n,e,usa.
st could be- saii asain.i The ofc". oi cn.6Hs si,ns
Gas | espanaueS ana q oar.e ,oaE a partial ana
n'a 'ig ope or 10 "a" ~ s,'erS ,I c n
s,,s. Not only by puhie Advertisement but by hun.
c,d To E T o a' so S' Ia, TT pf5Seh G
pdn,; against !he admin,s'-agon Of ne law, dgr
Ccmmis.oi manifested htr disappointment at this and
Ta SI Ros Shos o1dh. a' u ,s ca 70
any vc.hthai o complaint tdmase. lui were on tie
nonyin Of the msnnerin which the duties Of me
t. reeve testimony IN answer 10 such complaint.
Mere m iel, iP.qs Y, inyn 0Sns,oNyI ~ & & n
iooccu 70 them ihat vh.e hey we're IN effect sitting
administered n, customs service ct This por. justice re-
that hal teen introduced improvements which have
rendered the service more efcient re honest ani
ify ., he Governmsnt Even ,atas s e.nmo6v a,
those attacked without opportunity bens siyen cross.
examine ihe wircssss " TO show We .iirli winch an.
imsied them. am eonadeii mat n you WI nnd nms
amd your mani Cd occupation: 10 examine =, iou VII
&c snd sensIs alterations OF ns Somni..ion
TIE testimony may accompany them.
Mr. Sherman says that the second report Of
The Jay commission shows thnt II WAS com
clerks. liquidatng clerks. weighers. Gaugers
inspectors. aud storekeepers TO receive from
importers and brokers irregular fees, emolu
ture Of 6rl6es" While the Jay Commission
seem to Justify this sweeping assertion. hay,
no hesitation in saying Though Mr.. Sherman
hRs carefully and pruden'ly kept the eyidcnc
taken by that Commission from publication
that they obtained no evidence which bears on
this assertion. Such practices may exist Z
some extent. but IL is almost imposs ible 20 oh
tain proof OF them. The payment ~ gratutie
% entry clerks and some other officers Is. al
Mr. Sherman says. matter Of general report
but. az / pointed out in my letter Of May Il
jaw C0mmission. both the river and the re-
ceiver are exempt from testifying. ana therefor
proof Is only Oitulnnb.e By accident and thel
i is very difficult to show any wrong intent
Though my letter Just referred 10 shows dis
tnctiy that had endeRvored 10 prevent and De
T. this abuse. Mr. SHERMAN says thnt II Doe Zoe
hector 10 suppress this practice" The fact /
that no instance Of this abuse WAS ever discOy
cred or suspe,ted that was not promptly inyes
Involved were punished by me;
Mr. Sherman gives TO the Jay Commissio
the credit Of suggesting the change in the sys
tenn 81 Presenting invoices 20 the entry clerks
hy which. us be says, the taking OF gratuitie
las been stopped so far as they ure concerned
On the contrary. my letter Just referred 10 lsrc
ond report Of jay Compassion, page l5l show
that the suggestion Of ihe system was who
ieSr That tho system system would involy
annoying results - importers 10y delays,
Mr.. Sherman says WAS mistaken IN this. VI
own Information IS u the contrary But eve
y was wrong. have yet 70 learn that iea
that mer ,hantS might experience delays in IN
custom House is good cause on removal. l al
compelled however. 70 add that the facts sho'
that tuecomplnint OF the Secretary rs to m
iai.ur" 20 seek t3 prevent the payment q lees I
entry clerks and others is not only uniounde'
but lhsin'ere, and at variance with MS ow
Erly in February last. evidence was fur
nlshed % Tho Secretary 10y certain brokers tha
they had paid moneys n various times 10 Il
entry clerk who had in effect eXncied sue
moneys from them. After m Investigation b
special agent. the Secretary. on May 3. 1871
directed me a. call for tie clerks resignGtlol
but on June 10 he withdrew his direction ]
like manner. IN AIrll last, having received eV
dence that two inspectors and sturrkeepe
had taken grntuites from importers. remove
them. and on April ~. reported tho fact to III
Secretary. On May he approved my actor
Lu' on June II he revoked the dismissal OF on
oI them. uyOwediy on the ground that prom
ncnt politicians requested II. The three WEI
alike guilty or alike innocent but 90 not seeI
a. have lid equal influence with tho depnr
Iuont.
Mr. Sherman says " IL vicious practice has +
ious time prevailed Of granting Tree permit
flr imported goods without authority 81 law
lie Hdls that the value OF tho goods thl
illegally delivered tree OF duty amounted 10
large sum. In single instance the vuiue vi
$4,000" the Secretary j. right in saying m
the practice has existed ." Tor long time"
can trace il back eighty yours. AZ 10 It's belr
without authority Of law | have 20 say tn
IL has always been well known 10 IN" depar
Iuent: that the blank forms necessary H. carr
u ont are furnished 10 the Collector by Il
Treasury Department; TINT until the pIesr
Secretary came into Office no one had pr
tended % regard il rs being witho
Itsf . Ing