The Portland daily press., 1874-07-02
WASHINGTON.
MIR. Hale Declines the Postmaster Gener-
abs Office.

abs Office.
WASHINGTON July 1.-Representative Hale
returned to Was hfngton last night and imme
diately called on President Grant to thank him
for his mark of confidence and friendship il
rendering him the appointment OF POSTMASTER
General, but at the same time to respectfully
withdraw his acceptance of that office.
The President expressed his regret that Mr.
Haze had come TO that conclusion, as he had
anticiplt ted with him pleasant official relations
Mr.. Hale has been in Altoona few days,
and thought that he would be able to enter
upon the duties of the position to-day, as MIR.
Creswell had made his arrangements to retire
yesterday. He had recovered in a slight degree
from the fatigue incident to the long session OF
Congress, but the excessive heat of the past few
days so weakened him to compel the declln-
alton of the honor, and require him to seek at
his home the rest and recuperation imperative
ly needed. He will, therefore, leave for his
home in Maine tomorrow.
The Cabinet met at half past ten this morn
ing, Creswell and Hale being present. All
the members expressed regret chat personal
considerations compelled Mr.. Hale to decline
the Postmaster Generalship. No successor to
Creswel is yet designated and several days
may eapse before one is named.
The Public Debt.
The public debt statement issued to-day
shows reduction of S., 1S0, 1913. "a.
appointment of an Assistant Secretary OF
the Treasury.
Charles E Conant of New Hampshire, the
present chief the warrant division of the
Treasury department, was appointed to-day by
the President, Assistant Secretary of the Treas
nry, vice SAWYER resigned. Mr.. Conant has
been clerk of the warrant division of tn. Treas
ury Department for nine years, and has been
chief of the division for four years.
Fraud.
1t has been discovered that forged orders for
certificates of pay due policemen and members
OF the fire department have been issued by, it
is supposed, some one having acces t. the regu-
lar staTp of the District Comptroller's office,
Thirteen months pay is due the fremen, aud il
is thought 80 per cent of this amount has been
paid in certificates or the character named.
More Removals.
Seventy-fve additional removals were made
to day in the Treasury Department, most of
them males in the Office of the Secretary of the
Treaeury, bureau of internal revenue and Gus
toms, Third Auditors office and that of Treas
urer Spinner. Mr.. Goddard, assistant chief of
the customs division was among those dis
charged. The entire number dismissed is up
ward of GOO. Many of those retained were re
duced to clerkships of lower grades Twenty
eight clerks in the division of records and pen
sions were discharged from the Surgeon Gener-
ais office, and from his entire department 202
will be discharged by reason of the law requir-
ing the dismissal of all civil service men and
hospital stewards
kalkrOad DecrssOn.
The Attorney General has decided that I'M
der the act of June 10Th, 1874. no payne Mt
can be made to any railroad company for the
transportation of troops and property of the
United States. when it is a railroad constructed
in whole Oh in part by the aid of government
grants of public lands upon any conditions as
to the use of the roads by the United States
The remedy of such company if it has any, is
by suit against the government in the Court of
Claims.
Various Matters.
Ex-senator Cattell declines the District
Commssionershp.
Mr.. Creswell will act as Postmaster General
until his successor is appointed, but will not
decide any questions, only atten ling to routine
business.
j. B. Hill has been appointed Marshal for
the eastern district of North Carolina.
The interest on the District of Columbia
S4,g00,000 loan was paid to-day by the First
National Bank of New York city.
The July interest on the 8 per cent. improve
ment bonds of the late board of pubic works,
and the interest on the District waite, bonds,
was paid here to-day at the Metropolitan Bank
Our Relations with spain.
New YORK, July IA Washington special
to the Herald states that our relations with
Spain are approaching climax. The action
of the State Department has been throughout
very firm, and nothing has been done without
consultation and with the unqualified sanction
Spain IS imperative; our government VIII not
yield nor submit to further temporizing. That
which is most to be regretted is the expected
recall Of Admiral Polo as representative of the
Spanish government.
Per contra. A despatch to the Sun says
there is no truth whatever in the sensational
despatch about our government having made a
demand upon Spain for full indemnity for
the Virginius prisoners slain by order of the
butcher Burr,el.
On the contrary. it is well knewn in diplo-
matte circles that the Spanish Minister some
time s.nce made formal demand upon this
government for indemnity for damages on ac.
count Of the Virgnius and other blockade run
ners fitted out in American ports. This de-
mand is now the subject of diplomatic con-
troversy between Minister Cushing and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs at Madrid.