The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-04
Total circulation at the closing.

THE THANKING PRIVILEGE.
Abiding to the act passed near the close of the
last session OF the Forfieth Congress TO restrain
regulate the ranking privilege, In which il IS de-
cared that 1t shall NOT be law I'll for any person en-
tilted to The ranking privilege to exercise said
privilege otherwise than by his autograph signature
IL was sooI found that in this well as IN many
other Offices this would require and waste the whore
time or the principal officer to execute it
leaving MIN no time to attend to the i'm.
portant official duties or his oiiice, 1t Is
hard to conceive , how an oalcial duty forced
OF certificate an Official letter. that 1t Is on "oi-
ncal business" can be tortured to be privilege.
swer very well on thousand dollar 'greenbackr
note, but under this law It Is not good 10 O certin-
stamp. Then the abuses II there were any, are not
cured, for the autographic signatures are
necessarily NJ. nced upon the envelopes,
advance OF their use. High officers OF the
government receiving large salaries are by this
construction OF the law compelled to waste their
time in the pro1tless and intellectual employment OF
signing their names TO three cent postage certll-
Gates. The government can't afford this. The thing
don't pay. 1t Is believed that the loss to the gov,
eminent OF the useful services OF officials is nun.
dred fold greater than that occasioned by any abuse
that may have existed and which the laws seek to
remedy.
The treasurer In conclusion, says:-Tt Is certainly
In spirit Of vain Boosting the fact is stated that
In the eight years and more that the Treasury OF the
United States has been Ia my charge, during which
time money transactions were had that foot on the
books OF the oce at sum exceeding s4i COO 900 900
ian amount OF money 50 great that the ordinary
human mind can scarce comprehend ny ana not
outstanding the fact that vast amounts of money
have been and are every day handled by hundreds
OF persons In this office yet not one cent has, up 20
this time, been lost to the people OF the
United States account OF the management
OF the Treasury account Of the conduct OF any
OF the employees in this ONCE. II this Is mere LUCK
then certainly have been the uckiest OF men.
Losses IL IL true have occurred, but thus far they
have been small that they have always been made
good TO the Treasury by the persons responsible for
them, by voluntary contributions Of tue associates
or the unfortunate ones. Although feel have the
right TO say that have always done my whole duty
TO the utmost limit OF my capacity FOR endurance:
that have worked INCREASINGLY In season and out
OF season, IN the public service, and that have
never done an Official act that I am not Wiling the
whole world should know, yet lt IL certain
that without the aid OF an overrutng Providence
that has directed the choice or honest and compe-
tent persons TO aid In the arddous duties that de-
VOWED upon me, or without tho Kindness at all
times shown me by your predecessors and yourself
such a result would not have been possible. I feel
that such good fortune cannot last always. The
bark OF the most fortunate and skfu mariner may
al last be wrecked on some hidden rock; the law
OF chance - now strongly against mo. 1 therefore
now more than ever feel an anxious desire to retro
from the periious position that hold, the holding OF
which am sure has been OF greater benefit To the
good people OF the United States than TO your hun
bic servant, +. Il. SPINNER,
Treasurer OF the United states
Hon. GEORGE ). BOUTWELL,, secretary Of the
Treasury.