MESSAGE 
 
 TO 
 
 The Senate of the United States, transmitting a letter from the 
 Secretary of the Treasury, with accompanying Documents, 
 relative to the New York Custom-house. 
 
 JANUARY 31, 1879. 
 
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library 
 Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library 
 
MESSAGE. 
 
 To the Senate: 
 
 I transmit herewith a letter of the Secretary of the Treasury, in relation 
 to the suspension of the late collector and naval officer of the port of New 
 York, with accompanying documents. 
 
 In addition thereto I respectfully submit the following observations: 
 
 The custom-house in New York collects more than two-thirds of all 
 the customs revenues of the Government. Its administration is a matter 
 not of local interest merely, but is of great importance to the people of the 
 whole country. For a long period of time it has been used to manage and 
 control political affairs. The officers suspended by me are, and for several 
 years have been, engaged in the active personal management of the party 
 politics of the city and State of Xew York. The duties of the offices 
 held by them have been regarded as of subordinate importance to their 
 partisan work. Their offices have been conducted as part of the political 
 machinery under their control. They have made the custom-house a center 
 of partisan political management. 
 
 The custom-house should be a business office. It should be conducted 
 on business principles. General James, the postmaster of New York City, 
 writing on this subject, says: "The post office is a business institution, and 
 should be run as such. It is my deliberate judgment that I and my sub- 
 ordinates can do more for the party of our choice by giving the people of 
 this city a good and efficient postal service than by controlling primaries 
 or dictating nominations." The Xew York custom-house should be placed 
 on the same footing with the New York post office. But under the sus- 
 pended officers the custom-house would be one of the principal political 
 agencies in the State of New York. To change this, they profess to 
 believe, would be, in the language of Mr. Cornell, in his response, "to 
 surrender their personal and political rights." 
 
 Convinced that the people of New York, and of the country generally, 
 wish the New York custom-house to be administered solely with a view 
 to the public interest, it is my purpose to do all in my power to introduce 
 into this great office the reforms which the country desires. 
 
 With my information of the facts in the case, and with a deep sense of 
 the responsible obligation imposed upon me by the Constitution, to "take 
 care that the laws be faithfully executed," I regard it as my plain duty to 
 suspend the officers in question, and to make the nominations now before 
 the Senate, in order that this important office may be honestly and efficiently 
 administered. 
 
 R. B. HAYES. 
 
 Executive Mansion, January 31, 1879. 
 
 (3) 
 
MO 
 U5 
 
LETTER. 
 
 Executive Mansion, 
 
 Washington, May 26, 1877. 
 
 My dear sir: I have read the partial report of the Commission 
 appointed to examine the New York custom-honse. I concur with the 
 Commission in their recommendations. It is my wish that the collection 
 of the revenues should be free from partisan control, and organized on a 
 strictly business basis, with the same guarantees for efficiency and fidelity 
 in the selection of the chief and subordinate officers that would be required 
 by a prudent merchant. Party leaders should have no more influence 
 in appointments than other equally respectable citizens. No assessments 
 for political purposes, on officers or subordinates, should be allowed. No 
 useless officer or employ 6 should be retained. No officer should be re- 
 quired or permitted to take part in the management of political organi- 
 zations, caucuses, conventions, or election campaigns. Their right to vote, 
 and to express their vieAvs on public questions, either orally or through the 
 press, is not denied, provided it does not interfere with the discharge of 
 their official duties. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 R. B. HAYES. 
 
 Hon. John Sherman, &c. 
 
LETTER 
 
 TO 
 
 GENERAL E. A. MERRITT, COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, 
 NEW YORK CITY. 
 
 FEBEIJARY 4, 1879. 
 
LETTER. 
 
 Executive Mansion, 
 
 Washington, February 1879. 
 
 Dear General: I congratulate you on your confirmation. It is a 
 great gratification to your friends, very honorable to you, and will prove, 
 I believe, of signal service to the country. 
 
 My desire is that your office shall be conducted on strictly business 
 principles, and according to the rules which were adopted, on the recom- 
 mendation of the Civil-Service Commission, by the administration of 
 General Grant. In making appointments and removals of subordinates 
 you should be perfectly independent of mere influence. Xeither my 
 recommendation nor that of the Secretary of the Treasury, nor the recom- 
 mendation of any member of Congress, or other influential person, should 
 be specially regarded. Let appointments and removals be made on busi- 
 ness principles, and by fixed rules. There must be, I assume, a few places 
 the duties of which are confidential, and which should be filled by those 
 whom you personally know to be trustworthy; but restrict the area of 
 patronage to the narrowest possible limits. Let no man be put out merely 
 because he is a friend of the late collector, and no man be put in merely 
 because he is our friend. I am glad you approve of the message sent to 
 the Senate. I wish you to see that all that is expressed in it, and all that 
 is implied in it, is faithfully carried out. 
 
 With the assurance of my entire confidence, 
 I remain, sincerely, 
 
 R. B. HAYES. 
 
 General E. A. Merritt, 
 
 Collector of Customs, New York.