Part 71 (2/2)

On the 23rd of April, 1877, I designated John Jay, Lawrence Turnure, of New York, and J. H. Robinson, a.s.sistant Solicitor of the Treasury, as a commission on the New York customhouse. They were requested to make a thorough examination into the conduct of business in that customhouse. Full instructions were given and many specifications were made in detail of all the points embraced in their examination.

On the 24th of May they made their first report, preferring to treat the general subject-matter separately. This report related chiefly to appointments upon political influence without due regard to efficiency. I promptly referred it to the President, and received the following letter:

”Executive Mansion, } ”Was.h.i.+ngton, May 26, 1877.} ”My Dear Sir:--I have read the partial report of the commission appointed to examine the New York customhouse. 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 any other equally respectable citizens. No a.s.sessments for political purposes, on officers or subordinates, should be allowed. No useless officer or employee should be retained. No officer should be required or permitted to take part in the management of political organizations, caucuses, conventions, or election campaigns. Their right to vote, and to express their views 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, etc.”

My answer to the commission was as follows:

”Treasury Department, May 26, 1877.

”Gentlemen:--Your first report on the customhouse in New York, of date the 24th instant, has been received, and the reduction proposed by you of twenty per cent. of the number of persons employed therein is approved.

”So far as these offices are created by law, vacancies will be made and left for the action of Congress. The reduction of the other employees, the number of whom and whose compensation are not fixed by law, will be made as soon as practicable.

”I am much gratified that the collector, the naval officer, and the surveyor of the port, concur with you in the proposed reduction.

”The hours of employment, after the 31st of this month, will be from 9 o'clock a. m. till 4 o'clock p. m., excepting where a longer time is prescribed by law. This corresponds to the hours of clerical service in this department. This rule will be strictly enforced, and absence will be the cause of reduction of pay or removal.

Strict attention to duty will be required, and other business will not be allowed to interfere with the full discharge of the duty attached to the office.

”I notice that you do not suggest a mode of carrying into effect the reduction of the force recommended, and I cannot, with due regard to the remaining subjects of your inquiry, ask you to extend your investigation into the _personnel_ of each employee, his character, efficiency, and merits. This must be mainly left to the collector, who, by law, is authorized to employ, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, proper persons as deputy collectors, weighers, gaugers, and measurers, in the several ports within his district. Thus, nearly all the officers of the customhouse are appointed by the collector, and, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, may be removed at pleasure. He will be promptly called upon, under special orders, to perform this delicate and onerous duty. It is very important that it should be executed with due regard to the efficiency and merit of the employees, and so as best to promote the public service.

”In order that a rule might be furnished him, I called upon the President for instructions to govern alike the collector and myself in the execution of this duty. A copy of his answer is hereto annexed. You will see from it that he approves your recommendations, and that he wishes the customhouse conducted free from partisan control, 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; that the public business should not be affected injuriously by the interests or influence of party leaders or party struggles; and that, while an officer should freely exercise his political rights as a citizen, he should not use his power as an officer to influence the conduct of others.

”I believe the opinions expressed by the President will meet with your hearty approval, and they are in harmony with your report.

”Permit me to add the thanks of this department for your care, ability and industry in conducting this inquiry.

”Very respectfully, ”John Sherman, Secretary.

”Messrs. John Jay, L. Turnure, and J. H. Robinson, ”Commission on Custom House, New York.”

I inclosed a copy of the report of the commission to Collector Arthur, with the following letter of instruction:

”Treasury Department, May 28, 1877.

”Sir:--Inclosed I send you a copy of the first report of the commission on the New York customhouse, recommending a large reduction of the employees in the various offices in your collection district, and the approval and adoption of that report.

”It only remains now to execute this order, upon the principles and in the spirit stated by the President. This task, always an unpleasant one, when it requires the removal of employees, falls mainly upon you, subject to my approval. It may not be amiss now for me to state, in advance, somewhat in more detail, my views as to the mode of reduction. The extent of the reduction is fully stated in the report, and we are thus relieved from that portion of the task.

”I notice by the report that you have an exceptionally large proportion of experienced officers still in the service. You will have no difficulty in selecting, from these, the more efficient and trustworthy to fill the more important positions, and when these are carefully selected, you will have secured for the duties of greatest trust, active, efficient, and experienced officers.

It must happen that among those longest in service some are disabled by age and infirmity. It is often the most painful, but necessary, duty, to dismiss there, or reduce them to positions which they are still able to fill. The government is fairly ent.i.tled to the services of those who are fully able to discharge personally the duties of their office, and who are willing to give their entire attention to their official duty. If they cannot, or do not, do this, it is no injustice to remove them.

”In the selection of inferior officers, the only rule should be the one daily acted upon by merchants--to employ only those who are competent for the special work a.s.signed them, whose industry, integrity, and good habits give guarantees for faithful services, honestly rendered. This reduction will enable you to transfer those now employed on work for which they are not fitted, to other work for which they are competent, and to reward exceptional merit and ability by promotion.

”It is impossible, in a force so large as yours, that you should know the peculiar qualities and merits of each employee, and it is important, in making selections, that you secure this information through committees of trusted officers, and in proper cases to test the intelligence, ability, and qualifications of an officer or applicant for office by written questions or an oral examination.

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