The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-14
HAYES 10 MERRITT.
CcngratuiGtory Letters also TO Other Aedent
Ctvu Service Hegorner-.

At n o'clock yesterday afternoon Gen.
Merritt, Collector Of this port. came out OF his
private onico into tho reception room adjoining
II. where several reporters wcTo awaiting mn
interview. lio said that thcro had bocn 50
much talk about tho letter that Mr.. Hayes had
wrilton to him concentrating him upon his
conilrmQtion that lie had decided to mako it
public. " II is my purposo." lac said to carry
out tho purposes Of the present Administration
respecting civil service. and want il distinctly
understood that busincss is meant in this
mnttcr There will bo no backward stops
taken. ] may not accomplish the intention Of
the Administration at once but will commence
Immediately. and will eventually carry II out
have no personal reasons for < wing this letter
and II II not done fer effect. 1t means busi-
ness" The letter reads as follows.
Ws.nrNsfuS. Feb. 4 1919.
MY DEAR GtNHrAt' Fcongrstuate you upon your con
hrnHuon agfcat grat nsston to- lnc very houora-
be 20 you. and will prove believe of signal service to
the country My desire that tile Office be coniucted ON
strictly business principles AMI orng the rules for
the civil service which were recommended by the civil
Service Commission IN tie Administration of Gen Grant
want you to be perfectly independent mere nnu.
ence from any quarter Neither my rccommend auon
nor that OF secretary sherman or oi any member Of
Congress, or other Influential person. be- specially
regarded. Let appointment, anl removals be made on
business principles and according 10 rules There must
assume be few confidential places nl,i by those you
y
OF patronage TO the narrowcst limits Let no man be put
out merely because he is friend to Mr. Arhur and no
man put In merely because he Is friend The good
the service shall he the sole end view The bcs means
yet presented II seems t. the rules recommended
by the civil Service Commission | shall issue no new
order on the subject NJ present ain Glad you approve
OF the message. and wish you to that all thatseN
pressed or Implied In It should BE- carried out
Again consolidating you ani assuring You of my
tire confidence. Iremain sincerely. K b iIArfs
To GrN. A. MfaRirr
a mi .lap ~ L., 1.tt -
thc letter is the one Mr.. Hayes snut to the senate
just prior 10 the confirmation Of Merritt and the
other aprointees % the Custom House.
COngratulutury letters from MIR. HAYES have
also been received hy Naval Olicor Burt and
surveyor Graham. In the one IN Mr.. Burt that
gentleman Is reminded that he was member
o. the ClNli Service Comtniss ion. and In conso-
qurnco his aid In the proposed changes Is
counted upon as being Of great value.
Nhlle the reporters were copying the letter
Gen. Merritt returned from his private room
and said that he desired to say In addition 10
ms previous remarks that while the work will
be undertaken Ht once the efI'ct may not be an
parent for ten days or two weeks Many details
have 10 be decided UPON before the exam matte Ons
can be begun.
II il understood that the difficulty will be In
getting incumbcnts out OF their positions.
rather than IN getting now Dlace holders into
those positions. Collector Merritt Surveyor
holding conferences daily since the receipt of
the letter. ard VIII continue 10 do SO until tho
changes are 'ffC ntol.
The plan is understood to embrace the ap-
pointnrut ~ a B0nrd NJ Examiners, In which
each department - tho Custom House shall be
canis for positions as well is those now in the
service.