, 1880-01-25
co,eaor Smith Appears to Have Let
j.. the Whole Matter Severely
''': Alone.
n, Exodus Investigation Panning
!. Ont Poorly for the Demo-
Gratis.
Tint Of the Emigrants from North Car
oliua Women and Children:
Facts Developed by the Inquiry into Com
s.: missioner Hayts Administration.
COLLECTOR MERRIAM.

: missioner Hayts Administration.
/. COLLECTOR MERRIAM.
p1s ATTEMPTED REMOVAL L. FAILURE.
: sotctal Dupatch to The Chicago Tribune.
. WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. A.-The attempt
n remove ], Merriam as Collector Of Internal
Reyeuue for the Eighth Collection District OF
1i]ioois. and to appoint Tom Mitchell, Of
bloomington, Of the Illinois Legislature, in
bis place, will prove unsuccessful. Collector
Merriam arrived here three days ago with
letter In his pocket from Secretary Sherman
asking for his resignation. He will return to
Illinois in a daY, or two with positive assur-
ances from President Hayes that he will not
be removed during this Administration; The
story Of this removal is long one, and the
most interesting one in the recent
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS POLITICS
Mitchell when recently here, said he had an
sbso1ute promise from Logan and others that
be should be appointed to Merriam's place,
and he left for Illinois last week with the
promise, as be understood it, from Secretary
Sherman. that Merriam should be removed
and be appointed. An effort has been made
to secure the place for Mitchell since the 18th
Of March last. The movement recently cul-
minated At meeting Of the Illinois Repub-
llcan delegation here. The Illinois Repnb-
licans have organized themselves into club
for political purposes, the object OF
which is to make the influence Of the dele
cation more powerful in the way of secur-
Ing patronage and accomplishing any OBJ
ject which the delegation or any individual
member Of, 1t may desire. The theory of
this Club Is that the delegation shall at
tempt to ::
MAKE ITSELF POTENTIAL
By acting as unit upon all questions. The
practice Of it In the future may be some
thing very different, If the restiveness e1e
hibited on the part Of some members Of the
delegation shall take defnit shape. .Atare
meeting. Of the delegation it was proposed
that the Republican members should agree
to recommend to the President the Secretary
Of the Treasury, and the Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue, theappointmento Thomas
Mitchell, Of Bloomington, to the place now
held by Merriam. OF course, the appoint
ment involved the removal Of Merriam. The
Office OF Collector OF Internal Revenue runs
indehnitly. Us tbs Administration claims to
be conducted On ciyil-seryice plans, it was
necessary, too, that there should be some
reason why
-. L VACANCY OUGHT 10 BIZ CREATED
IN that Office. Several reasons were sug-
gested at the meeting Of the Illinois Club,
ana otner reasons have been stated to the
secretary OF the Treasury and to the Presi:
aent Among the reasons given at the Club
"hg NE delegation should join with Logan
III recommending the appointment of Mitch
Ell were that Merriam lives on his farm in
taze"eu County, some distance removed
uom ms revenue office; that he is absent
uom the Office two or three DAYS in
week, leaving the work In charge
OF deputies; that he is man
OF wealth, banker, arbitrary in his TEMPER
ament, and not disposed to work har-
moniously with other members of the Marty
II was moved that apetition be drawn up
AssKEa THE APPOINTMENT OF MITCHELL
ana that the delegation should sign it, 1t
u'is meetang there was outspoken Opposition:
Wnls' and 1t seems to have been the under
Standing that the delegation you'd agree to
support Mitchell, which involved, of course.
lue deposition OF Merriam. The petition was
ala"n Up, but it happened that the names
u cannon and Marsh did not appear upon it.
dnls petition vas filed in regular order.
commissioner Raum favored the change.
a. sua recommended the removal Of Merriam
~ me PRESIDENT. Secretary Sherman, who
"as lepeatedly seen upon the subject also
eAsenteo ~ 70 the removal, and wrote a letter
11. ~ uae 1otm requesting the resignation Of
1ael11am. Meanwhile a commission of
1,e'enue 1a., Agent had been rendered to Tom
th.a Mueaell which the latter refused, saying
h.s .eI t 70 wanted nothing less than what he
aao peen promised. namely, =
hERR1AM's PLACE.
Mitchell, the latter part Of last stating
- as: ne mad received assurances from Sec
.,s Ss sherman. that he should have the
p.1e' ,aa lett Tor home. Merriam then appGared
~ a1u tae scene. He soon learned that some
~! a'e congressman had signed his applica-
.s'a ~ through misconception of the facts, and
- te*ssfy few Of them had, or at least desired
sAp1eSs, any hostility to him. Merriam,
csas.' Sssel' did not choose to bring the Con-
s,.s aslnen INTO the contest, but presented his
tx U =, persoR to the President and to Secre-
~. ~; sherman Merriam stood upon his
m u u as an efficient officer, against whom
fSo;,ne caarees could be sustained. He
re,,a" "m mat his Office, according to the
para pots OF the Special Agents Of the internal
Ra.s.oe, and by the records OF the Revenue
~ aaSKED g EQUAL n POINT OF EFFICIENCY
arn,,. e 1ay IN the country He showed sew