New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-01

th1t when the Surveyor deliberately chose W say
+, the Secretary that he would not do what the
Sccpftary had directed him to do, ne courted .he
exercise of the Secretary summary power WI
Fairchild perfectly understands THIS for al inc
close of his interview he says that II ne "c'o
the Secretary he would remove Mr. Lyon a'
once. Then. certainly, if Mr.. Lyon has Deeh
doing things he ought not to- the course ne mas
taken is of all possible courses the ea>' poi''o'
In such an event he would do his Des' 10 s,'S
where he could hide his wrongdolns' ra'her
than invite his percmptOry removal.
l. is Mt likely that Mr.. Farchlld believes
the intima,ion he has seen fit to make against
Surveyor Lyons integrity. Mr. FairchlId Is
nioucd. Having been Cabinet officer on the
United States and in charge OF It's greatest
DEPARTMENT. and having become a >" spy, Ill
former or detective" he does not like to have
his authority as such questioned. oehsloie
PEOPLE, however, will think that Mr. Lyon ha'
rendered a public service in refusing % recos
nze FairChild or ID have anything 10 40 WIN
his unauthorized. nameless, powerleSS ana lu"c
ticnlcss commission. Secretary CaiiIslc co"lu
~ uroperly direct him to open his books ana
naper, and to explain the affairs OF his olllcc
70 the head of large importing house OF 10
any other private and interested person as 70
Mr.. Fairhld, Mr.. MagOnc and Mr. Dunn.
They are not officers of the Government, ana
they can only be converted into such by lawful
and uoper methods. They have come here as
all people with wit enough to walk straight
know, for the deliberate purpose OF coHecuhS
4 mess of scandal to serve Mr. Carlisle As IN
n. Ill hon,
excuse FIR removing Republican officials whom
he has not the courage and manlineSs TO re-
moye in a straightforward way. That's all
there is in the Fairchild commission. 1t is
fraud. It is not locking for facts unless facts
serve is purpose 1t will take anything, and
he thankful. which will help along its partisan
schome.
All officials and all persons who have buSl-
ness with the Custom House will do the honor
able thing if they follow the example OF Sur
veyor Lyon. If Secretary Carlisle desires an
Investigation of the New-York Custom House
he can have one easily enough. Both houses
of Congress are Democratic, either has fuH
power TO investigate and either will chcerfully
accommodates A Congressional investigator
would have the authority Of law, ami would
be so conducted as to render fair play and hon
ct evidence reasonably sure. But the conSti-
tuition of this Fairhild commission is OF it>Hl
a confession that its purpose is unfair, and that
it is trying to get hold Of the patronage Of the
Custom House by processes that are suitable
for sneakS, but not for gentlemen That is
the way the people of Now-Yorll notch these
spies, infOrmerS and detectives" They don't
amount. in homey phrase, to hill of potatoes.
They have no more right to ask questions OF
Custom House officials or of importers than any
other private persons have, and the sooner they
take themselves out Of public sight the better
will it be for their regulations and their peace
Of mind.