The Portland daily press., 1881-09-21
MILITARY AssocIArIoNs

gave. and contracted, through them a love for
military manHuvres and parades bis interest
in military matters aud his known abilities as
a lawyer, secured for him the appointment IN
1858 of Judge advocate of the I'd brigade OF the
New York militia. He contributed greatly to
the reelection of Gov. Morgan in 1860, and on
June 1, 1861, was made by him chief engineer
on his staff. Two years later he was promoted
10 the office of INSPECTOR General of New York
State. AT the opening of the war, when the
difficulties of supplying the New York troops
with clothing and provisions seemed almost
insurmountable, Gen. Arthur accepted the I'M
portant trust of Q1artermaster-General, which
he held until the expiration of Morgan's term
of office. 1t may be said that the entire ma
chinery BY which New York sent 100000 men,
or one-ifth of the entire number OF soldiers III
the Union army, was created oy General Ar
thur and a large proportion of these soldiers
were sent under his direct supervision. His
friends claim that no higher encomium can be
passed upon him than the mention OF the fact
that the war account of the State of New York
was at least ten times larger than that OF any
other State, yet it was the first audited and al
lowed in Washington, and without the deduc-
tion of q dollar, while the Quartermasters ac-
counts from other States were reduced from ST.
| 600 600 to $10,000000. When Gen. Arthur be-
| came Quartermaster-Gene they say, he was
| poor; and when his term expired he was poor
| or still. He had opportunities TO make inn
| mense sums of money, unquestioned lie was
| economical himself, aud enforced the most rig
| id economy in his subordinates AT the expl-
| ration of Gov. Morgan's term, Gen. Arthur
| returned to his law practice. Business OF the
| most lucrative character poured in upon him,
| and the firm of Arthur and Gardiner prospered
| exceedingly. Much of their work consisted in
| the collection of war claims and the drafting
| of important bills for speedy legislation, and
| great deal of Gen. Arthur's time was spent in
| Albany and Washington, where his uniform
| success won for him national reputation.
| For short time he held the position OF conn-
| sci to the board of tax commissioners OF New
| York at a salary of $4,000 per annum. He
| was
| AN ACTIVE AND ENrERPRIsING POLITICIAN,
| and secured the nomination and election Of
/ Hon. Thomas Murphy as state senator de
| also took an active and friendly interest in Sc
curing the appointment OF Mr. Murphy as col
| lector of the port OF New York, and, when the
| latter resigned, on Nov. 20 1871, President
/ Grant nominated Gen Arthur TO the vacant
| position, and, four years later, when his term
expired, renominated him, an honor that had
never been shown to any previous collector IN
| the history of the port. His administration of
| the New York Custom house was marked by
| great improvements in the methods OF doing
| public business and all for the benefit OF the
| mercantile community. The expense oi colIect-
ing revenue under his administrator was aiso
| less than that incurred by any collector nee
| 1861, with one exception. In 1878, dlnerence
/ arose between Gen. Arthur and President
| Hayes. with reference to the Interpretation of
| the civil service rules adopted Dy tne govern
ment Collector Arthur believed that the
same efficiency and honesty might be secured
| by less troublesome machinery than that which
1 MIR Hayes insisted upon using, and the differ
ence OF opinion was made by both a matter OF
conscience in view of their duty to the nation.
! President Hayes removed him from office dur
ing a vacation of Congress. In announcing
| the change, President Hayes and Secretary
! Sherman bore official witness to the purity OF
his acts while in office.
| Gen Arthur is reputed to be a very hand
! some person, having an il teliigent, pleasant
face, broad shoulders, strong, full muscles, and
is in stature over 6 feet. He was married in
! 1852 to Miss Ellen Herndon, daughter of Lieut.
| Herndon, commander Of the unfortunate