New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-03
THE CHICAGO CUSTOM HOUSE.
THE OFFICIAL AXE AT WORK.
INSPECTORS AND CLERKS REMOVED sUMMARILY FOR
OPPOSING GRANT AND A THIRD TERM.

INSPECTORS AND CLERKS REMOVED sUMMARILf Fol
OPPOSING GRANT AND A THIRD TERN.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBuSE.l
CHICAGO, Feb. 2.-The universal topic of discus
sion tp-night in political circles is the very sudden
movement of the Custom House guilOtinc, which
lands IN the basket n varied and interesting assort
ment of heads. The loppng-off process began to-
day. No longer ago than Monday the clerks and
inspectors in the Custom House were requested by
the Collector Jesse padng, to file papers for their
reappolntmcnt. Before these could be filed many
employees removed or rather their designations
were peremptorily called for. The announce
mcnt to the doomed victims created intense excite
ment in the Government buildings.
Inquiries set afoOt astO the causes developed these
facts. The allegation is not made that the mep
have not been faithful in discharging their duties
or that they are not competent but light is shed on
the motive when it becomes known upon whom the
wrath of the new administration fell The removed
men were suspected of having been opposed to the
Grant movement for third term. Several of them
are guilty of having been born in Ohio. Notice Is
served that only natives of America or Ireland OF
Scandinavia need apply. The brogue of Ireland
is particularly popular, as is evinceI by
the appointments which followed to-day removals.
One of he clerks removed is brother-ln-law oi
Carl SchurZ and is Il worthy and capable man, but
Schurz was member of the Hayes Administration,
and has opposed Grant and President Arthur. The
purpose of the Administration is maniieStIy this
that 10 man will be recognized as Republican
here unless he is known to be Grant and Arthur
man. II is ported that only two men renal n
the Custom House who were opposed TO the Stall
warts. one is inspector whose retention has
been rcqusted by Mr. Medill of The Tribune,
and may he considered as safe for o
time. The other is Mr.. Van Clcyc,
correspondence clerk, who was secretary of the
Garfield and Arthur Campaign Committee. But
Mr. Van Cleve's tenure Is likely to be brief, as he
a Blaine man.
Some doubt has been expressed as to whether thus
movement 20 organize the machine is real y for the
future benefit of President Arthur or for that of
John A. Logan. The doubt will probably result in
keeping up the political ferment for some time or
until It appears whose hand pulls The wires.
Ii is alleged that several of the removed men were
appointed at the request of Secretary sherman.
Many of the men removed are left ip circumstances
AKIN 20 poverty. Some of them are very old IN the
service All arc skilled and against some of the
removals business men have already uttered pro-
tests. The new appolntees are not Logan men, but
are wcll-luOwn in ward politics. and would be
fiuacd to further Mr.. Spaldmgs Senatorial aSpra-
tons and To help along an Arthur boom fer second
term. The statements above made give rise to the
natural inference that majority of the employees
of the Custom House here were Stalwarts. That
Inference is correct, but il the policy of the
Hayes and Garfield Administrations no to Interfere
with the freedom Of opinion of members OF the Re
publican party. Ill-naturcd people called this re-
warning their enemies, but the policy was broad
enough to cover ali who voted the Republican