New-York tribune., 1881-10-04
PRESIDENT AND CABINET.
DEMANDS OF SIMPLE JUSTICE.
WHY THERE SHOULD BE NO CHANCE UNTIL THE
CLOSE OF THE YEAR-IMPoRTAS 1T WORK IN
EACH DEPARTMENT WHICH SHOULD BE conf


WHY THERE SHOULD BE NO CHANCE UNTIL THE
CLOSE OF THE YEAR-IMPoRrAST WORK IN
EACH DEPARTMENT WHICH SHOULD BE conf
PLETED BY THE MEN WHO BEGAN 1T.
Br TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUsg.i
WASHINGTON Oct 3.-Much of the current com.
ment in regard to changes In the Cabinet
proceeds in apparent forgetfulness Of the
fact that President Arthur has in his poss~s.
sion the written resignation of every
member Of the Garfield Cabinet, to accept on any
day or at any hour he may choose to designate So
far therefore, as the action of the Cabinet officers
is involved, it is plain that they have done every
thing in their power to disembarrass the Presi-
dem, and leave his action free and untrammelled
by any desire purpose of their own.
On tho other hand it is quito
manifest that President Arthur will find q
prompt acceptance of the designations, and the ap-
pnintnent of new officers, so embarrassing TO tho
public service that he will probably be compelled to
postpone all consideration of changes until the regu-
lar session of Co gress in December. This was
originally announced as his intention, and rumors
of a change in his design probably have their origin
in the over-zealous desires of onicious friends of
whom President Arthur enjoys plentiful supply.
1t seems scarcely neces. .ary to indicate the
barrassment to the public service of change in the
heads of departments at this lime. Any one can
sec that the volume Of diplomatic correspondence.
which is filed with Secretary Blaine's dispatches
should be prepared for publication by himself
When Lincoln died Secretary Seward prepared q
memorial volume, known as the Tribute of tho
Nations to Abraham Lincoln 1t is said that
work of the same kind on still grander scale Is
designed for Garields memory, and the preliminary
work Is already being done. To take this out Of
Secretary Blaines hands, and entrust it to not
numbered among Garfelds personal and devoted
| friends would be most ungracious and unwelcome
step
| In the Treasury Department Secretary Windomis
certainly entitled TO make report TO Congress on
the most successful funding scheme ever devised.
! During no year since the war closed has the inter
est on the public debt been, reduced by
so large an amount as during the single
half year of the Garfield A ministration.
| Ass than on the day Garfield was inaugnrated.
This great result was brought about by an Admin
istration measure, executed under the direction OF
Garfields Secretary of the Treasury Congress vii,
desire to have that same Secretary make formal and
| official report on this great work: To deny hlm
that right would be most extraordinary infraction
| of common proprlety. ,
OF the Post Office Department it is equally true
that the great work done by PostmasterIUeneTiaI ter;
James should be laid before Congress IN full official
! report by Its author Our postal system has been
rapidly sifted, reformed and uuriied under Mr.
lanes. and TO deprive him of the opportunity 10
report upon it would be almost tantamount TO ar
raging the new Administration against the relorms
themselves.
Attorney General MacVeagh acting in conjunction
| with Mr. James, has been preparing with care Tor
the prosecution of the Star Route swlnders: Every
! instinct of prOpriety suggests that he should oe
! allowed to finish the work which he has
SO well begun. 1t is undenable that the agents
of the Star Route swndlers working day and
night to get tie Garfield Cabinet out anu 10 get In
their places o class of men who will be easy OH the
| "boys" The public will watch for Developments
in that quarter with an interest which Is KIN 10
! keen curiosity.
The same rules of proprety apply TO Secretary
Kirkwood in hi great and complicated work IN the
Interior Department and to Secretary Lincoln ana
Secretary Hunt in their excel ent ADMINISTRATORS
of the War and Navy Departments All OF these
gentlemen are entitled by tine rules of commonest
courtesy to make their reports-shOwing what they
have done and thus have an opportunity 10 clear
their dochets and leave everything square when
they are bowed out.
while therefore, reports and rumOrs of all kinds
respecting changes i'll the Cabinet VIII continue
the wiser and juster opinion is that Presldent
Arthur will make no changes until alter Congress
meets in December. VIVA, shall take place then is
not known to any of the many spectators IN
current gossip and guessing-possbly 1t Is not
known to President Arthur himself.
liz ia to be presumed that the Presi-
dent is as ready to be influenced by tue wishes
of the people as any other reasonable aud eonscen-
tlous man and 1t may to-day lie impossible to esa-
mate the force or direction OF public opinion nifty
days hence. The public can De patent and walt