The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-26
A Bold Portrait.

How is it with Mr.. Arthur, the companion
of Mr.. Garfield on the republican ticket: The
world knows but little of HIM beyond the fact
that he was collector of customs at New YORK,
under President Grant, and was removed by
Mr. Hayes. But what was he removed for?
Let Mr.. Hayes and Secretary Shermen an
swer.
The tenure of Office act requires that when
the president removes an officer he shall notify
the senate of the step and give his reasons Tor
it; and, accordingly, when MIR. Hayes remoV-
ed Collector Arthur and Naval Officer Cor
nell he sent to the senate message III which
he said
"Wlth my information of the facts in the
case, and with deep sense of the responsible
obligation imposed upon me by the constltu-
ton, to take care that the laws be faithfully
executed | regard it as my plain duty to sus-
pend the officers in question, and to make the
nomination now before the senate, in order
that this important Office may be honestly and
efficiently administered"
Secretary Sherman, Also IN letter TO Mr..
Hayes recommending the removal, said:
IF to secure the removal of an officer, II is
necessary to establish the actual commission
of crime by proofs demanded in a court OF
Justice, then it is clear that the case against
Mr. Arthur is not made out, especially II his
answer Is nclu III NC CONCLUSIVE WlNilout iNlCi-
ence to the proof, on the public records and
rendered to the committee and III" senate. But
if II Is to he held that to procnr" III" removal
of Mr. Arthur II is autiiuient - reasonably
establish that gross ABUSES OF administration
have continued and increased during his in
cumbency; that many persons have been regu'
larly paid on his rolls who rendered little or
no service; that the expenses OF his Office nave
increased, while collections have been dimin
lshing that brides, or gratu!tles in the nature
of brides, have been received by his subordin-
ates in several branches of the custom house :;
that efforts to correct these abuses have not
met his support, and that he has not given to
the duties of the Office the requisite diligence
and attention, then il Is submitted that the
case Is made out This form of proof the de
parmcnt is prepared to submit"
Collector Arthur was removed then "in or
der that this important Office may be honestly
and efficiently administered because gross
abuses of administration have continued and
increased during his incumbency;" because
many persons have been regularly paid on
his rolls who rendered little or no service"
because "the expenses Of the office have in
creased while collections have been diminish
ing" because "bribes, or gratuities in the ma
ture of brides, have been received by his sub
ordnates;" because efforts TO correct these
abuses have not met his support and be
cause "he has not given to the duties of the
Office the requisite diligence and attention"
Really this IS a severe arrangement. And,
let it be remembered, it does not come from
democratic newspapers; 1t comes from the
very highest republican authority. The un,
gracious sketch of Mr. Arthur is drawn IN
official documents by Mr. Hayes and Secretary
Sherman. Nowonder it makes the cold chllls
creep over high.minded republicans to reflect
that this Mr.. Arthur may possibly become
president of the United States.-Er.