New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-25
PLAIN WoRDS TO TIE PRESIDENT
GENERAL APPRAISER CoMBs's CASE.
WHY WAS HE so sUMMARILY REMOVED AND WHY
SUCH HASTE IN APPOINTING A SUCCESSOR
1901 BROADWAY, n. Y, Dec. Is, 1886.



any suspension from public office especially upon the
the converting Congress- without the cause there
for being assigned naturally creates in the public mind
the impression that the suspended officer incompe
tent or recreant to his public trust
Having earnestly endeavored during my two and
hall years public United States General APP
praser discharge the duties of my Office with diligence
and fidelity TO the Government and fairness and unpar
TALLY importers feel that in justice to myself and
friends the circumstances connected with my suspension
by you Goth ultimo should be brought directly to
your attention in the hope that yOu will give an ex
PLANTATION OF and therefor which will
exoneae me before the public from the reflection on my
character and fitness for public trust which such sum-
mary suspension Ny previously formedid idea
of your fairness and high character leads me to the
conclusion tina. you woud not thus have injured me-
hess you had been misnformed msed with respect to
my services.
may be pardoned think the following illusions
to my public services which not made with view to
sepi but solely for the purpose Of acquantng you
with all the facts in the
appointed General Appraiser in July, 1884, by
the late President Arthur with the advice and consent Of
the Senate, I'LL the vacancy caused by the death Of
the late John Meredith who had filed the Office for
twenty years continuously. 1 refer you to the rec
ords of the Treasury Department for the proof Of my
efficiency and faithfulness. The many special assign
important and delicate duties outside of the dis
rict which under immediate supervision attest
the confidence of the Secretary of the Treasury in my
competency and fidelity.
The district above referred to comprised all the ports
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers from Wheeling W. Va to
New-Oreans. La, the Mexican border. Gulf Of Mex
leo the Atlantic from Florida to Baltimore and all
interior ports within these boundaries. Besides re"iew
the classification OF all imported merchandise entered
within this distrct reported to monthly from the
several ports, the 27h OF June, 1888, desig-
mated by Secretary Manning chairman of n special COM
mis- sion investigate the entry and appraisement OF
imported merchandise at the ports OF NewYork Boston,
Philadelphia and Baltimore, and was so engaged until
October 80 1885 The results of this service pub
ished the report Of the Secretary OF the Treasury to
Congress in 1885 on the collection OF duties
While not desiring to refer to this ser
vice in detail, l may, however, be permit
ted TO state that result OF our
recommendations annual saving of expenses to the
Government of some $4,000 was effected at the port OF
Boston alone.
the Ohio River for the purpose OF nsructing newly
app onied officers in the proper discharge of their
In April 1886, Tered to Denver, COL for the
pun pose OF hearing re-ppraisement OF great i'm
poIan the Government and of vital interest to the
honest importers OF cigars IN the United states That my
action in this matter satisfactory the reports TO the
Treasury Department OF other officers engaged In the
and the commentator OF such reputable firms In
the trade as Park IilfOrl, Acker. Merra COndit
Purdy Nicholas. and many others abundantly attest
On May 80 1886 shortly after my return from Denver
ordered here to cooperate with General Appraiser
Brewer in hearing reappraisements this port.
engaged until the date OF my suspension, or rather
until | the notice of it in the newspapers two days
after the date it bears.
Il had been guilty of the grossest misconduct the
manner OF this suspension could not have been more
summary and discOuTteous / was about to commence |
the hearing of reapprasement at early hour on
the morning OF the first instant when an importer called
my attention 10 notice III ne World OF the appointment
terest of the Government at heart and not
wishing to involve 1t in legal complications by |
Of WHICH might then have the legal right to
exercise, Immediately telesraphed to Secretary Man
The Of General pr LAS %
suspension taken enecti Answer by wire
The public business Of the already oyererowded Gen,
enspended for several hours until the arrival OF General
Appraiser Brewer then waited until after Office hours
concluded Washington to make inquiry whether
any charges had been MED ashI Sd ana 1aeD
failed Mr.. Manning, Who | told, was engaged
sse Assistant a seeey Fagd who Informed %e
there charges against me and that my removal
matter Of regret TO him and had resulted IRON some
called aean a Secretary Mannings Office to inquire
whether my telegram had been received and was Informed
by Mr. Brennan private secretary, that the secretary
had signed a telegram in reply mine which had been
prepared in the Appointment Division and returned there
to be sent TO me Upon inquiry at that ONCE was IN
might complicate the appointment" Thus telegram.
oicialy signed by the Secretary of the Treasury upon
Mr. Eugene Higgins appointment Clerk
1em oye rho no e 10 NV or but found
upon my arrival there, which was about p m, that he
had already taken the oath of Office although the Official
notice of my suspension had not been delivered to me-
This courtesy his part may he excused, how
Monday time could he lost in the usual courtesles OF
occasions. called upon him. however at his hotel
Rotary had told him that he was succeeding one OF her
most efficient officers refer to this only 10 show that
Was 1t because was accredited as Mary
Federal officers in Maryland under what looks like the old
spos system given on saturday the AN Instant by
the Of the local appraisers OF the Port OF Ba
more one of whom. Mr. Ijnthicum. engaged at this
port in conference with the appraisers from the pl1ni
pal ports, convened on the "a instant 10y order OF me
Secretary of the Treasury upon the important subject OF
took the oath OF ONCE at p m on SATURDAY
and yet Mr.. Lnthicnm, unconscious OF bis suspension
continued in earnest discussion OF the suect on Mohday
am now and always have been, heartily in favor OF
reform in the public service and was earnest
Sa sab Tt he Tae xvi
the OF poc oieS r4 s Of rs
atons, well as the other states OF the Union.
TO the public good and never at the dication po
zeal leaders Appointments under any other system even
sad msgyngs the many earnest and sincere advocates
OF advanced reform In the public service, VINO nave
looked upon you as pioneer and champion In that
During my public service I felt 1t to be my duty
in politics, and although am Republican,
inquiry among the many business with whom have
been thrown in contact in the performance OF my official
glad think that OF the aids upon whom the
believe to be earnest aud sncereto reform the Customs
Service and give to the country pure and Dusnessnke
section I76s Revised Statutes which confers upon the
Executive the extraordinary power OF summar1y sus
Pented By and with its advice consent certainly
Intended by Congress TO be exercised only III cases OF
urgent necessity, when the public good demanded the
speedy displacement Of officer doing or disposed to
do wrong The exercise of II against me. within few
DAYS the meeting Congress- strong presump
ton against the Of the public especially when
II remembered that there only four General APP
prasers in the United States has been removed
heretofore except upon alleged cause
Conscious Of having done duty at all times, Think
Mr. President have a right to seek from you "a
planation Very respectfully your obeient servant,
H. WHEELER COMBS.
BIG WEST SIDE SCHEME.
few days Simon Stevens negotiated the purchase
from Otis H. Russell for the Steam Company Of all the