The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-03
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

Working Of the New Machinery-Tho Reduce
tion Of Force-Great Expectations from the
New Administration.
WASHINGTON, April !, 1869.
From state OF doubt and uncertainty which for
some days elevated private interest above the public
business the employees of the Treasury Department
have settled down once more to the regular routine,
and affairs are moving along now as smoothly as
ever. Before tine names Of the Cabinet officers were
announced by the President 1t impossible to find
in the Treasury that steady devotion to duty that
exists in the absence Of great excitements Clerks
IN those days sat at their desks few minutes to-
gether, or perhaps an hours but their minds were
more intently occupied with the allabsorbng Ques-
ton Of who was to be the Secretary OF the Treasury
than with the books before them. After brief In
terval Of labor they would wander from room to
room, exchanging with their fellow clerks such
scraps Of gossip, rumor or facts as may have fallen
In their way.
When 1t was rumored that Mr.. George II. Stuart,
OF Philadelphia would be Secretary there was de-
cided inclination towards Bible classes, and Sunday
schools begun to crop out, especially among the
younger and more dissipated portion Of the en-
ployes. This disposition suddenly faded when the
discovery was made that it was Stewart Of New
York who was to be Secretary instead Of Stuart Of
almost universal inquiry arose as to what KIND Of
man Mr.. A. T. Stewart was. In order to ingratiate
themselves into his good graces they must know his
likes and disikes and become well acquainted with
his weak points generally. The work OF asceraining
something about Mr.. Stewards character was
scarcely begun when it became evident that another
tack must be made, and George S. Boutwell, was TO
be the subject OF inquiry. Very little time
however. was allowed the curious to indulge
Don't
wen was nominated and confirmed before it was
| generally known that he was nominated, attended
walked into his office in the Treasury building sat
down at his desk and went TO work with the self
possession Of an Old Treasury Official.
To be sure, q number of the older officers of the
Treasury stu retained some recollection OF MIR. Bout
well as Commissioner of Internal Revenue and this
ancient official acquamtanceship served as an intro
ductOn, for Mr.. Boutwell, had certainly not signed
his name score OF times to the papers awaiting his
| approval before these ancient ornaments OF the
Treasury slipped into the room one by one on some
preteXt another, and seemed greatly surprised to
| ind others there In advance.
Thus the old managers Of the Treasury business
learned at the earliest possible moment the plea
| sure OF the new Secretary on certain matters OF
| points ascertaned was that Mr.. Boutwell, did NOT
believe In holding reception OF clerks that he might
make speech TO them, alter the manner OF a cap
| Tain just taxing command or a man-or-war.
| This excitement over the greatest one OF all,
which swallowed up all the rest, took possession OF
| remain and VINO will be taken orr The greatest
| eagerness was and is still manifested to get the
| slightest scrap OF information bearing upon this
/ very important point. Hitherto 1t has been mat
ter involving the greatest difficulty to obtain even an
mixing OF the Secretarys intentions IN this respect
ana the interest Is Kept at high pressure gauge by
the sudden execution, from to time, OF an olllcal
| and the appearance OF his successor
Mr.. Boutwell, evipces decided disposition TO g.
more the old method OF selecting olcers and seems
inclined to choose for himself, independent of the
was suiiciently developed in the selections be- mads
for Third Auditor and Register, for he selected men
for these positions whom he was Obliged to persuade
into acceptance Of the Offices. He prefers that the
offices shall seek the men, rather than men shall
| seek the offices.
| Although Secretary Boutwell, has intimated that
very lew changes will be made among the heads OF
bureaus and divisions, he has already developed,
plan fer diminishing the force OF employees in every
| bureau OF the department. With the beginning OF
l the present month the work OF reduction COM
mences, and will continue during the ensuing three
eEgers ana aborers f. brought within he iimits q
the appropriations for the fiscal year OF 1869.
| Whatever doubts may have been entertained in
regard to the wisdom shown in selecting Mr.. Bout
| well for so important post as Secretary of the
Treasury seem TO have passed away within the past
| week or two. He appears 10 undertake the re-
sponsibllities OF his Office with courage and firm
ness which indicate a consciousness OF power to
Of the country. He Is q hard worker and takes an
absorbing interest In the more complex duties OF his
Office. He dispatches great deal OF business In a
short space OF time and possesses that quality rarely
found In high government officials courtesy TO listen
to the wishes or complaints OF every one, rich and
poor high and low, Is trial OF little magnitude
to an elevated public servant where applicants Tor
interviews numerous they are at the offices
OF the heads Of departments; but Mr.. Boutwell, de-
monsrates the practicability Of the task and per-
forms 1t IN the most agreeable manner. And in the
selection Of his Second Assistant the Secretary mas
shown the s0undness OF his judgment OF men. Mr.
W. A. Richardson brings so mucn business tact and
matured discretion TO the performance Of his duties
that he Is already quite at home among them and
his kindness and auabilty have made favorable I'M
pressons upon all who have business to transact
with him
In few words. the new management OF the Trea-
sury has begun IN such way as to inspire the bope
that the affairs OF that department. winch exercise
great an influence upon the welfare OF the country
viii be justly and wisely administered; that the
interests OF monopolies and other favored parties
Will be unhesitatngly sacrificed to the good of the
whole people, ana that the benign influence that an
ert Will soon make itself felt In the increased pros
perty OF the national finances
TIE E0pTVErpcT rOyrDEss