The daily gazette., 1881-04-05
SECOND EDITION
PLAIN WORDS TO CoNKL1Ne. !.

on THE TREASURY AND THE COI,-
LEcToRsHIP.
The New York Tribune to-day SAYS
editorially
The Secretary of the Treasury is
above all persons entitled to exercise
commanding influence in the an =
pointment Of Collector of Customs
At the Port of New York. 1t is there
fore the manifest duty of the Pres +
dent to pay the most respectful heed
to the judgment and the wishes Of
the Secretary.
There is no place in the world un-
der any government where 80 i'm =
mense revenue is paid as at the
Custom House in this city. A mil
lion of dollars in geld coin 10 not un-
frequently received in a single day,
and The average for two-thirds of tie
secular days of the year exceeds
$500, 600. These enormous duties are
paid on imported articles that are
consumed by so, 900, 900 of American
people. New York is as much the
Custom House for Minnesota
retary WINDOWS own State-as it is
for the great Empire State on whose
sol the building rests. 1t is also the
Custom House for Iowa and Kansas,
for Kentucky and Tennessee, and In
a very direct sense for every State and
Territory Of the Union. Ii is pIe-em-
inently national Office. The peo-
pie of New York pay but fraction Of
the du les collected.
To deprive The Secretary of the
Treasury of his free choice (under the
President)of the officer who collects
three-fourths of the customs revenue
of the country is fatal stab at the in.
dependence and all the proper respop.
sibility of his great Office. Mr.. Conk-
ling was able, by certain com mbinations
in the Senate, to force upon MIR.
Sherman for more than a year Collec-
tor whom he did not want. That in
stance Was, we believe, the only one
in our history where similar inter
ference was attempted with the un-
doubIed right of the Secretary.
We 90 not lose sight of the fact that
the Senate is wisely clothed with the
right to examine closely into The charac
ter OF any nominee whom the President
may send to their chamber for confirma
tion. But that is The Senate as whole,
as an independent, coordinate, constilu-
Iional body. Ii, however, before the
Senate shall consider the nomination,
one single member of their body is to
dictate to the President whose name
shall be sent or whose name shall be
withheld, then not only is the constitu-
u0nal power Of the President DESTROYED,
but the Senate itself experiences ths
confusion of embodying within its Swn
membership both the power to appoint
and power TO confirm.
The nomination Of Judge Robertson
brings all these questions " the front.
Fbe Judge is an eminent citizen of New
Yrok. He is nominated by the President
for an Uffice which is broadly national
de is the choice and desire of the Seere
Lary of the Treasury. The Senate is
asked to consent to his appointment, or,
If they tind him unworthy and Incoulpe
tent, to reject him. That is the whole
case. One eminent Senator, however,
says:-"No. The New York Custom
House is part Of may local patronage,
aid Judge Robertson 10 not PERSONAL,
agreeable TO ME, aud demand that the
Senate reject him." We submit that to
the great American people whose ONCE
the Collector OF Customs must be, the
personal likes and dislikes of any mai
are OF small moment. Perhaps Senator
Conkling is hot agreeable to Judge
Robertson, but that is no reason why
The Senator should resign the seat be has
so long aud so ably filed. 1t is just al
much reason, however, as it would be
10 reject Robertson because Mr.. COnk.
ling does not personally affect him.