The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-06-30
srw YORK cusroM HOUSE.

NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE,
si.ase.Hammer Comments on clsvsland's
work Of ReoFganlkatien- Gross Blusder.
Ssy Ysrt Ttaa lkuej
The President has made Mr.. Hedden
Collector Of the Port Of New York. This
puts upon Mr.. Hedden the task Of justify
Ing the appointment. 1tisnot one which
iustities itself 1t is an appointment
which will be criticized more severely
than any other the President has made,
for II "a not naturally and conspicuogSly
fst. but one requiring explanation, elucida-
tiou. AID even excuses and pAlllation:
inio the most important Office, outside OF
lie Cabinet, which the President has
been called upon to ill he has put man
not only almost unknown 70 the business
community Of this city, and absolutely IN.
heard Of outside New York, bat, 80 lar as
he is known, man who represents Mr..
Hubert o. Thompson and nothing more.
Who Is Mr.. Hedden? A gentleman who
for forty years has applied such talents aS
he possesses to the business OF buying ana
selling In New York without thereby nay
inc made himself known outside Of ms
immediate circle OF friends and neighbors,
He has been reputable member Of an
entirely reputable fsm-which went out
NJ existence some time ago. And II
il uFged In bis behalf that while connect
ed with that trm he made himself lAinll-
lar with the business aud methods OF the
Custom House by attending 70 the eatty
OF and payments otdutles upon such goods
az his firm imported-a highly important
and difficult junction usually discharged,
for houses which dispense with the con-
yenient in.srmediation OF Custom
House broker, bya clerk receiving from
81 900 TO 81 500 year. This gives us our
| first measure Of Mr, Hedden's abilities.
But Mr.. Hedden was recommended foF
the ColIectorahip by many business hrms
OF high standing in this community. Our
old friends the reputable merchants, who
were such willing and enthusiastic back.
srs Of Mr.. FRANKLIN Rdson for the office oil
Mayor, have signed Mr.. Hedden's papers
| In considerable numbers, and they emu
merate his virtues in Ia most impressive
way. He is honest. He Is straightforward
he has had extensiye business expefi'
ence. He Ia familiar With Custom House
Operations. he Ia Director IN certain
banks and insurance companies; In short,
| he has those attributes and distinctions
which pertain to every third elderly gen.
tlenaa whom. one meets on Boroadway
on any day when it Is not too hot Or too
wet.
why Mr.. Hedden was appointed Collector
of the Por+The first and most potent
cause OF Mr.. Heddsn's appointment Is the
personal influence and efforts Of Mr.. HUI
6eTt 6. Thompgon--though we haYe nc
doubt that the President has not been
fully conscious Of this influence and VIII
be little inclined to acknowledge its po'
tency. Mr.. Thompson Is not an a!tlesS
boy. He did not'go TO the President and
In a gnsh Of generous enthusiasm beg MIN
10 make his friend Mr. Hedden Collector
| merely because he was his friend. De
idrst took pains to build up for AE
iHedden backing entirely respects
bic, and even strong, Independent
Of all political influences, he then
Iskillfully added to this the support Of Mr
Tilden, through his friend and agent Nj
Edward Cooper-fot We trust that nobody
has been deceived by the ostentstious pub
llication OF Mr.. Tilden's interest IN the Tor
times OF Sir. J. Edward Simmons. TheE
Mr.. Secretary Manning and Mr.. Secretary
Whitney added their voices, very tnH1en
| tial, and justly so, TO the Hedden chorus
until 1t sWelled and resounded 80 immeas
ureably above the pleas made in behalf o.
any other candidate, or all others, that the
President was convinced that Mr.. aeddeu
was the one man best equipped and quail
fed for the place.
II is not unnatural that President Cieye'
land should have accepted as sound the
Judgment OF so many New York gentle,
men OF known prominence and seeming
disinterestedness Some other men In bis
place would have done much worse, and
OF their own deliberate intent. Mr.. Cleye.
land, we have no doubt, has been actuated
by a SINCERE purpose 10 make good ap'
poiutment aud to put the vast and com
ptcated customs machinery OF this port IN
charge OF a man fitted by character and BY
training to manage II wisely and well.
The letters written by some OF the respect
able merchants Of this city, added TO the
warm encomiulns Of Mr. Hedden's more
active hackers, have probably created
upon the Executive mind the impress
sion that the newly appointed Col
lector is man of. this kind. IN
our opinion the President has been impos'
ed upon. II it is his purpose 10 recognize
the customs service in this city and to put
| it upon a reformed basis, We cannot con
csive how a person Of Mr.. Heddeh's
calibre, antecedentt, and alliances eau
materially assist him in the execution o.
that purpose. 1t is TO be feared rather
that the President win have occasion be
fore the fall campaign Is over to put o re-
strasning hand upon the politiea! zeal o.
some OF the customs servants in this city,
and TO cudgeI away from the public
trough, under the respectable Mr.. Hen
den's very eyes, some unworthy and most
offensive partisans.