The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-11
WASHINGTON,
How the Geneva Award Is To Be Paid by
Great Britain.
GENERAL VAN BuREN's SUSPENSION.

WASHINGTON June 10 1873.
Proposed Payment OF the Geneva Award.
No official information has been received by this
government from that OF Great Britain with
reference to the payment of the Geneva
award. but intimations have been made from
other sources that Great Britain Is perfect
ing arrangements to meet the requirements
OF the treaty. IL will be recoected that the
Treaty OF Washington provides that the
gross sum awarded-$i5. 500, OO0-shai he paid in
coin at Washington. AS this amount OF gold would
according to calculation, weigh twenty-three tons,
the question has arisen to whether the coin
itself or Its representative should be received In
satisfaction. NUMBER or American bank
ers some time ago proposed to our govern
ment TO transact the business in manner
which would satisfy the treaty obligations but as
the government had heard nothing whatever from
Great Britain on the subject they were informed
that their propositions could not be entertained,
and. further, that it was the business of Great
Britain TO take the initiative ON that question.
There is no doubt the money viii be deposited by
the British government in the Bank OF England,
and that the United States will, at the proper
period, be paid, in accordance with the
spirit OF the treaty. 1t may he done in
this way-namey, by the purchase in Eng.
land, through designated banking firms
some OF them connected with the Syndicate
OF ive-twenty bonds TO the amount OF the award
these to be sent to the United States Treasury for
redemption. The gold thus accruing will be de-
liverable in Washington, without the necessity and
risk OF transportation the ocean to this CITY,
the equal amount OF gold in the Bank of England
having been previously used in the purchase OF
the bonds. Those who conduct the trans
action receiving gold certificates could place these
in the hands OF the Secretary OF State, and this
would be equivalent to the coin. for which they
would Immediately be exchanged. Such, there
seems no doubt, will be the mode Of payment.
Several days ago the Secretary of the Treasury
gave notice that the principal and interest OF
$40 000 900 OF lvetwenty bonds will be paid the
Treasury on and alter the 9th OF September next.
1t is said in welnformed circles that this course
was adopted In view OF an arrangement for the
payment OF the Geneva awards in the manner
above stated and to Icndar easy the process OF
payment by the British government.
The Case Of General Van Buren,.
There seems to be amsapprehenson with regard
to the course OF the government in the suspension
OF General Van Buren, as the head OF the American
Commission at Vienna. The Department OF State
has not, as some persons suspended, preferred
charges against him. He was supposed the same
as cOnsuls and other officers are sus-
pended by direction Of the President, when 1t
appears that the public interests require such
proceeding. The charges against General Van
Buren, came from other sources, which it became
the duty OF the government to investigate. Friends
OF this gentleman residing in New York have been
In correspondence with the proper depart
ment with view OF learning all the facts in
the case, and in order that they may promptly
vndicate him. Every facility has been afforded Tor
this purpose, the Board of Inquiry In Vienna CIV.
ing General Van Buren, full hearing to himself
and witnesses. Reports OF the proceedings have
been received only In part, but these, while they
do not impugn the honesty OF General Van Buren,
show his incapacity for the business placed in his
charge, and hence the irregularities" which led
to his suspension.
The Postal Card Trouble-The POST
master Generals Interview with the
Contractor.
Postmaster General Creswell had q conference
this afternoon with Mr.. F.. Morgan, Treasurer OF
the Morgan Envelope Company. OF Springfield.
Mass which has the contract for printing postal
cards, and Messrs. Hudson Cheney, representing
the Paper Manufacturing Company, OF Manchester,
Conn.,, which furnishes the paper to said company.
There were also present William N. Ireland, Acting
Third Assistant Postmaster General; A. u. Hazen,
who has Charge OF the Stamp Department, and
Major p. Etheridge, Chief OF the Special Agents.
The gentlemen representing the manufacturing
companies explained at length the dificu-
ties under which they have labored, and
stated that these have been almost entirely
overcome, and that hereafter the department win
have reason TO complain either OF the quality OF
the paper number OF cards produced. Mr.. Nor
gan explained that his company has now obtained
a sufficient number Of presses and has otherwise
SO increased its facilities to be able to again turn
out 900 cards Of the best quality per day, and
that in short time they will be able to produce
1,000, 600 per diem. The printing OF postal cards
has been suspended but two days since the Morgan
Company commenced work, although Of late,
owing to the inability OF the company to procure
paper OF the requisite quality. the number printed
daily has been small. acquisitions for postal
cards are being forwarded from the Post
once Department daily to Springfield, and,
from assurances received, the Postmaster General
believes they will hereafter be promptly filled. At
any rate he Is willing to wait awhile longer and
see whether the present company will be able to
fulfil its promises before revoking their contract.
The following Official statement shows the present
condition OF the postal card contract :-Requisi-
lions have been made on the contractors to date
from 542 post offices for 2s,s71 900 postal cards.
Orders are suspended at the Post ONCE Depart
ment from 1913 officers for 7,135, 70O making the
total number OF orders for them from $500 post
masters, SO, COG, 7oo There had been issued up to
noon to-day, as per telegram from Springfield,
u 900, leaving $685. 100 postal cards ordered
but not yet furnished.
Appointment OF n Comm issioner to the
Vienna International Patent Congress.
The President has rendered to the Assistant
Commissioner OF Patents, John NJ. Thatcher the
appointment OF Commissioner from the United
states to the International Patent Congress- which
VIII be held in Vienna next August, with the OBJ
ject mainly OF considering the propriety OF adopt
ing an international system OF postal laws. The
appointment has been accepted, and Judge
Thatcher will sail for Europe on the 5th OF July.
The Collection OF Special Taxes.
Collector Friedman, OF the Third New York dis
trct, reports that under the new law collections
from special taxes already above the highest