The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-03
w A s III Z N q II o N .
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 1873.
Tho President and His Cabinet.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 1873.
Tho President and His Cabinet.
The President will not visit Washington this
week, no business of importance demanding his
attention. He has been visited at Long Branch
the last few days by Secretary Belxnap and Assist
ant Secretary Cowan. Secretary Richardson is
there now and matters relating to their respective
departments are disposed OF as promptly as If the
President were in Washington.
The Geneva Award.
report prevails that the Geneva award OF
900 has already been paid into the Treasury;
but on inquiry 1t has been ascertalned that pre-
iimiEary arrangements only have been made to
this end 1t will be remembered that on the 9th of
June the Secretary Of the Treasury issued call for
the redemption of certain series of ive-twenty
bonds, more than covering the amount Of
the award, in anticipation Of its pay
ment, and that the British government
arranged with the Syndicate to discharge the
treaty obligation. in pursuance Of the plan adopt
ed large amount Of these bonds has already been
surrendered to the Treasury, and gold certificates
issued therefor, to be made available on and after
September Q, at the time Of the formal redemption
of the bonds. These gold certificates, it is under
stood, are In the hands OF the British Consul at
New York, to be delivered with other like repre-
sentatives OF specie their value covering the en-
tire award by the British Minister to the Secretary
OF State ana by him transferred to the Treasury as
so much cash,
The Postal Gard Difficulty.
Nothing has been received at the Post once De-
partment from the postal card manufacturers at
Springfield, Mass In answer to the letter OF Third
Assistant Postmaster General Barber notifying
them that the cards are not equal to the require
ments, and unless the quality OF the paper and the
printing be improved the contract will be annuled
and proceedings instituted against them to recover
the penalty named in the bond-S1OO, 600. The
sample OF those printed yesterday, received at the
Department this morning, shows Improvement in
the printing. but Is not yet up TO the
standard, and the contractors must furnish
better paper, as they agreed to do. Mr.. George
II. Tyner, postal card agent at Springfield,
writes to Third Assistant Postmaster General
Barber that on the 9th ultimo he rejected 90s
sheets about $1,000 postal cards. on account OF
the miserable printing and poor quality OF the
paper. Upon Mr. Morgan, one OF the firm having
the contract, examining them, he said he would
like to save as many good ones from the lot as
sibe, whereupon the agent requested him to show
any cards in the whole lot that were equal to the
contract requirement. The contractor cut from
one sheet two cards. which, he said, were good
enough to issue. The cards were enclosed in the
letter to General Barber. and are very poor speci.
mems OF Typography. Mr.. Tyner ordered that the
whole $4,000 cards be destroyed, and the depart
ment has approved OF his action. About two mil
lion more postal cards will be required to CON-
plete orders from all the post ofllces. 1t is ex-
pected that this number will be shipped within the
next week, and the whole country Will then be
supplied.
Treasurer Spinner the Back Pay
Grab.
The following Is q letter OF Treasurer Spinner,
written to member Of Congress, ON the back pay
question:
TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATEs,)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 1878. I
MY DEAR SIR-Your letter Of the 10Th ut.,
with an enclosure, as therein stated. has been re-
ceived. l don't know that can answer your in
quiry better than by an extract from private
letter that wrote TO another member OF Congress
this morning, who made like inquiry. Among
other things said to him.
''The First Comptroller OF the Treasurer has
decided that the money heretofore appropriated
and that snall remain unexpended at the close OF
the present fiscal year, ending with June 30, 1874
for the pay OF the salaries OF members Of Con-
Of the Treasury has sc
further than this; he holds that the appropriation
is an independent one and, like that for the pay
mains for the purpose for which 1t was appropr-
ated, and that therefore there Is no authority for
covering II into the Treasury.
.Hon. John sherman, who drew the bill that was
enacted into law, by virtue OF which unexpended
balances OF certain kinds OF appropriations are d
OF the fiscal year, and who ought to know what was
intended by the law, took the view OF the that
you have. However, Notwithstanding his opinion
that unpaid salaries should be covered in he did
conclude in consequence Of the rulings OF the
Treasury Department., to direct the secretary OF
the Senate to draw his extra pay and to hand 1t
over to me, in my official capacity to be covered in.
This has been done IN his case as it has been done
al am not lawyer, but II / should volunteer an
opinion as layman Ishould go further than either
the Comptroller or the Secretary. doubt whether
a
sideration and without legal authority or warrant
of law will place 1t beyond the reach OF the parties
claimed at any time hereafter In several ways, and
even on the mere statement OF an account by the
depostor or ny his heirsat.law against the United
you might divest yourself BY last VIII and tesla
ment, stating as consideration the love and anec
ton you bore your native land"
Hoping this will be satisfactory to yog, am very
Treasurer United States
Issue OF New National Bank Notes.
Superintendent Macartee, OF the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing, LEFT here tonight for New
York, to personally superintend arrangements for
the early Issue of new On, $40 and 50 circulating
national bank notes, It being the intention OF the
Department TO prepare these notes as soon as pos
siblc HIS business In New York VIII be with the
bank note printing companies having contracts
for portions OF the work. At the Treasury every
thing is in readiness to nnsh the notes az soon as
the contracting companies do their part Of the
business
Important for Flax, Grain and Flour
Dealers.
A telegram rom the Legation OF the United
States at Paris OF the 30th ult announces that the
surface on max has been abolished, and the ENTIRE
pot has been indefinitely suspended for all vessels
bringing grain or nnue