New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-06
TUR NEV SECRETARY.

pres;dept Grants new Secretary OF the
Treasury has grand opportunity before him
if he only has the keenness to discern and
tho ability 10 improve it.. He will not be cx-
pected to conceive any great measure OF
finance mr. set on foot any great schemes for
immediate specie resumption. Mr. Richard
son has done sufficient tinkering III small
way at large things to last us lor long
time. The people will willingly Dear the
evils of the existing condition II they may
only be spared the unpleasant spectacle or
weak vain, and incompetent Minister OF
Finance attempting to grapple win SUBJECT
he can i'm no wise comprehend. vi That they
have had enough, and too much. already. Any
old woman who could have stood on the Treas
ury steps and thrown up her hands. and SAID
SbOor at the Panic, would have done better
than this man did with his everlasting vanity
and irredeemablo stupidity Under his adj
ministratien the Department has been con-
ducted with the most miserable IN
efficiency whatever about 1t Is not
weak is pretty sure to be wicked. a
committee of his party and personal friends
have had him and his management under con-
s,deration, and, after much bead-shaking and
giving-the- benefit of doubts, have said upon
the whole, that he was honest-a most exas-
perating verdict to any person less pachy-
dermatous than rhinoceros, and thereon he
has accepted with a smirk the offer OF
Judgeship, and unmoved by the fact that ne
was only confirmed by the refusal to vote OK
his own political friends who deemed him un-
fit he will step upon the bench just as though
his removal from the Treasury was not a
dishonor to himself, his appointment to am
Office a disgrace to the Admnistr""7-' anu
his transfer to the bench all outrage upoh
common decencv
Of w. 1icnardsOn and his works the whole
country is tired. What the people desire and
what the new Secretary, if he is wise, will
order Immediately, is a thorough Overhauling
and cleaning out of the Department intrusted
| to him. There is a prevalent suspicion that
| the Sanborn business is only the outcr0pping
| of a vein of niquity that underruns the whole
Department. Sawyers and Banfieds and San
bOrns are not phenomena or accidents: they
are products of a system. Mr. Bristow has
| the opportunity to reform the whole thing
| He does not need to be shown the mistake OF
his predecessor in signing contracts of the
most important character AZ mere routine bust
| ness Mr.. Richardson's example of neglecting
the minor details, the small things in the
Department. that he might give his entire at
tentiOn to the craftsmanship of finance, should
be a sufficient warning to him not to under
take the things he cannot do, or that are
at least doubtful, to the neglect of the things
he is quite equal to and can do well. One of
| the Administration organs praislng the wisdom
of the Presidents appointment, observes that
| on NJ mol Ittnal
economy is not wanted in the Treasury Depart
ment at this time, for the President has no plan
of specie resumption nor any specific financial
| policy to be carried out which calls for such
man. His plan, if he has any, is to let things
go along as they are, trusting to fortune to
bring us out right by and by In this view of
| the situation the ability required in the Treas
ury is simply administrative, and for such du
ties it is said that the new Secretary is pecu-
liarly fitted.
The people do not expect from him any
| great things. He can use what surplus
he has in retiring the illegal issue
of twenty eight millions of tho So
called forty-four million reserve. He
can, as opportunity permits, convert our six
per cent into five per cent bonds. He can
steadfastly resist the wickedness of imitation,
and at least keep his face turned toward
specie payments. For the rest, the people
will be more than content, they will award
him enthusiastic praise if he discharges the
ordinary routine duties of the Office conscien-
tiousy and faithfully, compelling the same
faithful service from all his subordinates,
and honestly and laborlously purifying the
department of the public service intrusted to
him roofing out incompetency, REFRESHING
favortism and partsanshp, and making
official position at least respectable and hon
Orable. His opportunity is great. He follows
the most conspicuous and most lamentable
failure in the political history of the country,
and has only to be moderately wise and not to
| undertake too much.