INVESTIGATION OF THE NEW YORK CUSTOMHOUSE.
A General Examination of Several Ports Ordered--No Difficulty Except
at New York--First Report of the Commission--President Hayes'
Recommendations--Letter of Instructions to Collector C. A. Arthur
--Second Report of the Commission--Losses to the Government by
Reason of Inefficiency of Employees--Various Measures of Reform
Recommended--Four Other Reports Made--The President Decides on the
Removal of Arthur, Cornell and Sharpe--Two Letters to R. C. McCormick
on the Subject--Arthur et al. Refuse to Resign--The Senate Twice
Refuses to Confirm the Men Appointed by the President to Succeed
Them--Conkling's Contest Against Civil Service Reform--My Letter
to Senator Allison--Final Victory of the President.