New-York tribune., 1879-02-01

| SuFCeyOr
Ia regard to The refo mentioned by me a' having
been instituted Ivy Mr.. Merritt while surveyor. Mr. Ar
should Therefore ascribcd portion at least OF the
credit for the saving the secretary ca,nS' 10y hns n
actual tare the 18th or June, 1873, Mr. Mrrritt tne
surveyor addressed letter on the subject OF tare 10 Mr.
Arthur then Collector. from which extract the io"Wing
The ars 40 asrerained and certified nv the welgher,
whether 1t or less than schedule tare aBd M
the basis OF liquidation" June 22. 1873 Mr.. Arthur
addressed the Secretary to the sine tleGt On @ lhls
letter MT. Arthur claims for limsel the crehl OF suk
ccsnc the reform which have properly attributed 10
PRACTICES OF ~, LYDECKER.
Mr. Arthur attempts TO defend his deputy against the
charges contained IN report of the Meredith Com
mission by characterizinc them az stae referring 10
the fact that the Transactions occurred ten years ago.
and that they at that time, and az subsequent
times invest and fOuud 10 be wholly uniouuded
The evidence IN relation the principal charge ana
which regarded conclusive and unans werabe'
Inst brought TO the attention OF the Department ny
said report This evidence consists OF orders issued py
MIR Lydeccr tnat appeared upon the fraudulent entries
and invoices his hand and over his own signature
and il OF such character when viewed In the ligbt OF
subsequent developments as to leave niue room lor
| doubt Us to his completely in the transactions
| Itis submitted whether the statute of limitations,
which may operate rs bar 10 criminal prosecution
! and enable guilty officer to escape me plniShmehs
OF the law, properly be urged for the purpose OF
occurring MS retention IN office .., .
As 20 Mr. Arthu''s criticism unon the retention oi
LiGuidang CCrk III Office 1t ~ only necessary 10
saw that the only direct evidence duplicating him IN
the transaction in question Is con'anth III Tue
OF an acknowledged accOmplicc. II has also beeh as
certamrd that h- acton ia h@ premises wa1 IN %De
dcncc to the positive command Oi MS "llcih tuPeIlui
Among the reports 70 this Department to which attcI,
| ton was called by Mcssrs. Meredith, Bingham ANA
lnds their report Of July IL le7s as rejecting upon
! the official conduct special Deputy Collector ~
! 1876 ~ which are described the following eases:
| FnSi-A firm of theatrical managers III New-lork IN
Iug the vain $4,000. 1bcSo were passed ltee by Mr
Lydrcker as toola OF trade IN violation OF law.
Sfc0ud-An actress, January >, $50, imported SIX ana
velvet dresses which sentas samples TO the aprhs
office and returned by ihr appraiser as Of tue value o
al al A
Mr. Iydccker, direct violation ot law, these dresses
were admitted 10 entry free of duty triplcate IN
voice ON hc III tie House, SHOWS that they were
purchased goods, ana The van" gwen Ill ii' inN"ltt
is the cquya cnt 10 500, duty upon which would
Th,rl-Iu MAY, 1874, two bills Of lading were pre-,
sened Dy importer calling respectively Tor lof ana
thirteen arcc case, uf merchandise. Mr. lydc"Bcr or
der these cases be sent to The Office of the importer
In January, 1870. when caed NOON 10 account ~" 4r'o
cases. entries made upon what was claimed to bch
DESCRIPTION and valuation Of The goods and ~ he an
scnce of IN appraiser return MI /" ueCAer oIuc'" no
Fo~rth-A drcss!nahcr imported threc cases Of mer-
chandIsc IN s75, winch were sel py "Idrl "I stl iS-
decker directly 10 her store ual>cy describing as pun
lie storc without entry sN months later SAID Lydecker
requested the appraiser on an lnN0lc9 to report ana
classify" 1t il morally certain that the apII&seFncNCr
these goods. but on his return an ehry was made
In The Inc same report were recltcd Uree other case;
with similar cGualy lagrant violation Of law. IL
has come to the hnow,dgG OF the Dep tmcht that
piles large number OF transactions extenGlng oyer
more thln two years where the same iaciuiieS l2r
|
| Lyd,cker
TIE CHARGE OF NEGLECT.
| Mr. Arthur admits that did not sometimes reach
the Office at when by law ii is open to public
business, bnt utmaes that tine time after office hours
that he spent at the Custom House was am Offset His
presence after Office hours could be Of little 10 the
public am advised by persons entirely familiar with
| ihe subject that the tine of Mr.. Arhnr when at the
! Custom House was occupied with other than
| Government matters that IL was some
! times difficult for merchant who was
dissatisfied with the ruling 0 a subordinate 10 Obtain
hearing. ItIs susceptible OF proof that he habulIy
did not arrive thec unI afternoon aud was Therefore
absent during period when his attendance was nrces-
saTy the transaction oil PuDllc Du7he's anu hs was
especially after the action OF tho senate upon the
| uoInu alton of his successor.
The watchful of a Collector at port Of such I'M
mates IN their methods OF doing business s al all times
| mperatiycly necessary for the projection OF the
In a case which las TO light since the retirement
OF Mr. Arthur 1t na- been shown that goods upon which
the dues amounted to Tl2OOOO were delivered Ia the
parties without payment OF any duties 10 the nOloth
mcn and in suli to recover these duties u rs cineu
the negligence or something worse on the part Of the
customs officers under the charge Ot MI Arthur
REMARKS IN CONCLUSION.
TO the closing portion of the letter OF Mr. Arthur in
which he states alleged conversations with me as TO his
suspension, have no desire to make any lull reIy
ANY statement by either Of us ~ to conversations on
| public bu,ln, Is or doubtful propncty.
In some respects his recollection is not entirely
muncatng to HIM your purpose to suspend him, and
said that specific charges were made against him,
but his Suspension made because he was not III
! sympathy with the Administration in the conduct
| Of the business of the Custom House. But in
| all my conversations with M. Arthur have been
entirely frank with him In stating that believed the
public service would he promoted Gy GhanIe 'Int & III
the nature of things he could not WIN hedres blnB
about reforms tnat would affect 50 many intimately CON
nTootcd hv Arm new Collector who could make the
necessary changes in methods ana employees nce from
Such the tenor Of the first conversation had with
him asking lis rcsigndtion and s entirely consistent
with the and earnest desire had TO bring about
| IL change without an uuseemly struggle. IL soon be-
apparent after January ls7s, IRON me daily bus
ness of the Department with the NcN-IOrk Custom
mGuTe Una, any f tne r mt Hf @ ~ Tcct"r conId NOT he
brought about while MI Arthur renamed in the office
and therefore, after fun trial. recommended MS suS
pension.
AS to the remarks made by Mr. Arthur in regard TO
the use Of special agents It must be remembered that
there were but twenty OF this class OF oceiS III the pun
he service. Formerly the number was nfty-three Dnl-
ins the whole time OF service two or three nave Dcn
rate with the Collector and his su6orlinates IN the de-
lection Of frauds and irreSular1tlcs They i.d rans
| acted Their ordinary business. lher zca instead
| Of being n matter OF reprooi should be conncnded
dth, wao Is saraigned by Mr. Arthur as haNnS M etrn zen
To find fault, old and experienced "hce OF thc
highest standing, having been seventeen years III the
II is or The Senate TO determine whether Tie opinion
Of Mr.. Arthur, carefully stated, with full advantage OF
access TO al The public records shall prevail. the
opinion Jay Commission supported by the reports
OF special AGENTS, by officers ot the Department and
Gy the Meredith Commission. together niy wellcon
| sIdcred opinion, based upon TIE business rs H. was
brought before officially. and your own personal cX
animation of the different reports submitted To YOU
Charged you with the execution OF the laws II
would seem that the important officers OF the Gus
| toms Service ought To be selected Dy the Executive
branch Of the Government, upon which tho response
bty rests IL VIII be expected by the public that YOU
SIC tnat ihesc officers IN harmony with your policy
in correcting all abuses that developed, and sccur
ing all possible reforms, and II they IN your opinion ia
that YOU shall exercise the power given To you by the
| Constitution TO secure officers who Will do
Ircgret that the pressure Of public duties which now
demand my constant attention Will not permit me with
funcss ana detail 10 answer the points made by