New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-30
MIR. ERHARDTS RESIGNATION.
MANY REPUBLICANS NOT sURPRIsID.
THEY KNEW THAT THE CHANGE WAS COMING
THE COLLECTORS REASONS FOR
WITHDRAWING.

WITHDRAWING.
While the announcement that Colonel Joel b
Erhardt the Collector Of this port had seht MS rcss
nation to Washington may have cauScu souo"'
,prnrse vet 10 those Of the inner circle OF the he
nrhrcan marty II was taken merely matter OF
eonrse In fact the resignation was looked ior some
time ago. and 1t has boon known Tor seveiai "eehS
that Colonel Erhardt had asked 10 be reIeVeo roin
his place The main reason why his resignation was
forwarded TO Washington was that he was not In
touch either with the principles or the pohcy OF the
Administration which the President and Secretary
of the Treasury were following. The question was
preciuated when the Collector opposed plan OF the
SECRETARY 10 change the method OF doing tle worA
NJ one of the departments. When the COLLECTORS
vious were not accepted by the Treasury Department
he sent in his resignation. ,
In the Custom House the news did not create much
excitement some weeks ago the report was afoat
that the Collector either had resigned or that his
resignation had been asked for by the Presluehb Al
the time Colonel Erhardt most energetic In deny
Ing that any part of this statement was true On that
account the subject then was allowed 10 Drop
with the exception OF few brief comments winch were
nphl,sbed in some OF the papers. But there was
certain number OF men in business life and in prominent
political Offices who lave declared, with compete
appearance Of good faith, that they knew that ne "o
moi he Collector much longer. They were laughed at
BY many who did not believe that Erhardt would give
I'D lbs Office unless lie were forced TO.
The only interest developed was in relation 10 "hat
TIE new Collector would do. The major portion OF
this discussion was confined TO those men who were the
Collectors personal appointments and who fear tnt
now condition OF affairs may result disastrousH "r
them. The outgoing Republicans to the nuulOer VI
sixty-one who were dismissed according to the Col
lectors recommendations, felt little more UanquH
when they learned that he too. would accompany
Them But the twenty one Democrats who accidentally
were caught under the Collectors knife were not SO
well satisfied.
Collector Erhardt said that he was much chagrlned
when he the published stories of his resieha'Aoi
and he declared with great earnestness that ne au ho
sanction the publication lie said that besides mhiseH
only three men knew that he had resigned Ihey
according to him. are President Harrison, secretary
Foster aud Assistant Secretary spaulding.
Colonel ErhaTdt was surrounded by newspaper men
when Tribune reporter reached his once IN INC
Custom House yesterday. He said that he had resigned
and that his resignation would take effect on FRIDAY
July 81. After he had said this he was asked py Inc
Tribune reporter TO tell why he resigned
Il will not say anything further about my reslgna
tIons he In the day he rcconsidered THIS
and word was out that some time in the afternoon
he would give out statement Then he sent Ior
Elim Root who closeted with him Tor some
time, After Mr.. Root had gone the COLLECTOR sa'o
out the following
have resigned because the Collector has been reduced
to a position where he is no longer an independent OH
Ger with authority commensurate with his responsibility
Government during the twenty months last past sS22
sO7l33 49, and 1 all the time personally responsible
for enormous values in money and merchandise NY uu
ties are necessarily performed through about LOU EN-
poyes am willing to continue to be responsible ior
their conduct unless have proper authority over
them The recent policy Of the Treasury Department has
been TO control details Of the customs administration
at the Port Of NewYork from Washington at the dictate
of private individual having official responsibility The
collector practically deprived Of and control while
he Is left subject all responsibility. The oniee is no
longer independent, and am. Therefore we have seDa'
rated.
After IL had been learned positively that the once OF
Collector would become vacant tomorrow night there
WAS much specu. alton as TO who would be tie next
Collector The names OF several wellknown Repub-
lIcans were mentioned. Prominent among them was
George W. Lyon, the present surveyor OF the Port.
surveyor Lyon = a good Republican, thorough law
YER and man who would be acceptable 10 local hepnD
rcaps His name was suggested because his duties as
surveror have made him familiar with much Of the
bnsness of the Collectors Office. But the man on
vhom all Republicans united as being most likely 10 be
nnointed is state senator J. Sloat Fassett senator
Fassett Is extremely popular in the state lie Is an
able lawyer, thorough business man. an eloquent
orator and fulhedged Republican Business men
generally received the suggestion that nc nhshV Dc
snnonted with pleasure. His leadership Of the hepuD-
LEANS in the state Senate last winter proved him 10 DO
asaracious, levelheaded and skilful man.
s,las r. butcher the ex-Canal superintendent anu
Appraiser at this port also was sad 10 DC inc up
nointee A fourth man mentioned was JACOB NJ fauer'
son the chairman of the Republican County EAecn-
tive Committee Ex-Judge Patterson Is popular with
all the New-York Republicans, and ne woum DC az
ceptable To New-Yor business men, - ~
Colonel Erhardt was born IN PottSto"h, relii 4!
tfythree years ago. and he came with hls parents "
this city when he four years ola; INC , III
.nbool which he attended the Whitehead school,
Al one time a well-known institution. Ihen ne Wenl
a. q clerk with Hortsman Bros, Allen 20. lie
aftsrwsad took clerkship with an Insurance hrin
which he retained until he began 70 study law WIZ
Benedict & Benedict Of Brooklyn. From this once ne
vent 10 the University OF Vermont. Al M opemng VI
De ne went 10 the front with tie TN o
which ne transferred 10 the LIST vermont CdNai!
He returned from the with the rank ui coptsin
In 1853 he Provost Marshal In THIS city ana 10
1855 he was Assistant Distrct-Attorney in BrooKy D
MAYOR Wickhau made him Police Commissioner 10
were not proved In 1885 the Republicans nominated
him for Mayor against Hugh J. Grant, Abram 3
Hewitt and John J. Coogan. One hOundred and eignI
thoussnd votes poled for General Harrison, and
Colonel Erhafdt received $4,000. President Harrison
annointed him Collector on May 4, 1859. His bonds
men are Jacob II. sohif H. o. Armour and ex-Judgt
Horace Russell. - ,-,,, mn, ,., 81
Collector Frhardt was unexpected In the ssrse thai
n wax moi expected soon. secretary Foster did no.
n he greatly surprised. AS TO Collector Erliardt
rresumahe successor he was mum. lie suggested u
Ths Trhune CORES ponGent that IL would be hiHr io
i ~ conrse you know" said he that ~ -oa!ler.
oar,e has been mentioned" secretary Foster dld MOI
To 9th Ave. shopper ,u