New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-02
COMMENTS IN THIS CITY.
no SURPRISE CAUsED-How THE DISPLACED OF
EICERG FEEL.

NO SURPRISE CAUsED-HOW THE DISPLACED Of
FICERs FEEL.
Although the politicians have been anticipating
changes in the Federal offices In this city, they were
not prepared FOR some of the nominations made by
the President yesterday. Such of them as were
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel and other places
last night when informed of the removal of
Naval Officer Burt and Distrct-Attomey Woodford,
expressed no surprise. 1t was common talk after
the close OF the last disastrous Republican canvass
in this State that both Mr. WOodford and Mr.. Burt
would "have to CO." John +. Smyth and other
members of tho State Committee did not
hesitate TO express their purpose OF punish
ing these two officials The grievance OF the
State Committee against Naval Officer Burt was the
failure OF the clerks in tho Naval Office to pay their
assessments. The collector of the State Committee
informed TRIBUNE reporter at the close of the
canvass that the Naval ONCE clerks were
more refractory" than those of any
other Federal Office. This John +. Smyth
afterward attributed TO the civil Service
nonsense which Mr. Burt had instilled INTO them.
Mr Burt has never taken an active part III politics,
but tho hostility of Mr.. Smyth and "Clnt"
Wheeler was due TO his failure to aid them in COL
Letting assessments.
Surveyor Graham, on the other hand was almost
n daily attendant at the State Committee
rooms during the canvass and all
of the clerks and deputies In his de-
partment paid their assessments. He has never
been accounted friend Of Civil Service reform. The
politicians said last ght that the promotion of Mr..
Graham to Naval officer Burt's place. and the nOmi-
nation OF Mr.. Burt for $4,000 office In place of the
IS 900 which ne has held, were intended as the
Presidents approval of Mr. Grahams course IN tho
late canvass and his disapproyal of Mr. Burt's too
strict adherence TO Civil Service reform principles
The removal of District-Attorney WOOdford has
been anticipated since his refusal in the lae
to take the stump for Secretary Folger, and the poll
tcianshad anticipated the appointment Of MrRoot,
VINO has long been intimate political associate of
George Bliss, Clint" Wheeler and the machine
leaders IN this city
MIR. BURT MOI TO ACCEPT His APPOINTMENT.
Naval Officer Burt was found last night at his
apartments in the Studio Building, at Sixth
avenue and Fifty-seyenth-st. He had
not heard Of his nomination for Chief Examiner,
but expressed no surprise when informed of It.
d" have OK pected," he said, that certain poll
ticiaus who were hostile to me because of my fail
ure 10 be active in their behalf, would secure my
removal from the Naval ONCE although asked
the President for a reappointment' -.
"Wlll you accept the office OF Chief Examiner"
" will nor. hat has been well understood ut
Washington for some time. When Mr. Eaton went
10 Washington the other day again sent word
that would not accept the office. have
and what knowledge have IN that way Is peculiar
to myself. What / know about Civil Service Re
fo.m a good many others also know. have tried
To do my duty In the Custom House and keep out
of politics, and 1t Is poor reward Tor my
efforts IN that behalf TO have my pay
reduced from $1,000 TO $4,000, and be given
an Office that will require to be absent from my
family the most of the time. 10 looks 10 pe like a
notice that 1t Is better TO keep in with the POLITICIANS
tn to DO your %y 2o OIL '1 iSa ONCE h[
Collector he was offered Il foreign mission. In
his letter the senate he SAID that II he was tted
Tor a foreign mission he was competent To remain
Collector of the Port. | may say that If am fitted
to be Chief Examiner | certainly am competent to
DO Naval Ohicer.'
GENERAL GRAHAM MUCH PLEASED.
General Graham, the newly appointed Naval
Officer has been confined to his house for about two
weeks He has been suffering from painful car
buncle on the right Lex, and in addition TO that |
from n touch Of rheumatism in the arms
To TRIBUNE reporter last night he expressed |
the utmost satisfaction with the Federal appoint
ments. He also said am particularly pleased
that Mr.. Benedict has been made my successor IN |
the Surveyors OGice. He has been IN the Customs |
been n faithful and efficient officer lie |
has deserved the promotion, ana am healty |
glad that he has won il. IL rounds out ana COM
plries his long and successful career am greatly |
pleased with that appointment, ana thlnk me
President could not have made wiser selection. |
Mr. Root / know very well as an aOlo |
lawyer and worthy man. He VIII make |
an efficient District-Attomey, am sure, and
he viii have this advantage over his predecessor,
that he will be- able to argue his own cases. Ills Is
an excellent selection"
In regard to his own appointment General
Graham addedi 81 made no application Tor
the office, and some time ago / wrote to
the Secretary of tho Treasury that l .was
not an applicant for any office. The only paper that
was filed at Washington In my behalf was one
signed by soldiers 1t was headed by General
Alexander s. Webb aud signed by many other
military officers. 1t was sent, believe,
directly to the President A great
many merchants and steamship men
have asked me If they might sign
petitions Tor me, but have refused, because l
wished TO stand on my own merits"
General Graham hopes to be able TO go out by the
middle Of next week.
GENERAL wooDFORD IN PHILosoPHIo MOOD.
A TRIBUNE reporter was the bearer of the news OF
the nomination of Mr.. Root TO General Stewart l..
Woodford, who was found In the parlor OF his
house. ut No. 81 Cambridge-place, Brook
Ign. General Woodford showed no sur
prise when informed Of the nomination OF his sue
cessor merely saying, "Oh, that is so, is I'll" AS
to his personal interest In the matter, he SAID when
asked If he had expected the changes All the
discussions of the matter have been 30 entirely OUT
side of me that know nothing about them. and
have taken not the slightest interest IN them" i