The New York herald., 1874-07-02
WASHINGTON.
The Office of Postmaster General
Declined by Mr.. Hale.
VHE DISTRICT OoMMIss1oNERsHIP.
Appointment Of a New Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury.

WASHINGTON jay 1, Ts7A
mr.. cstten Declines the Cc-nmissioner-
ship OF the Dirsrict.
IL appears that Mr.. A. catte'' VINO was con-
a,msd as Governor sheyaerds successor for Com
missioner OF the District OF Columbia was not
consu,ted py the President about accepting the
smoe and Mr.. Canep promptly declined The
President asked DIR. oattell to withhold his resig-
nation until b. return from West Virginia. Mr..
Catt In be letter. that 1t ls for reasons OF
personal .ature that he respectfully declines the
annoi panent. Otherwise he would cheerfully
serve Ttne government and the people of the Dis
xr,sI Mr.. Cattens successor viii be named to
merrow.
Ex.l Governor pennison and Hon. Henry T. Blow
had ar. interview with the President to-day and
potne.a MIN OF their acceptance OF the onlces Of
Commi ssioners for the District OF Columbia
C~nGr essm an Hale Declines the Once Of
Postma ster General.
SIons, essrnan Eugene Hale OF Maine, to whom
Vba Pref rendered the position or Postmaster
Gen,rs,. arrived here last evening from Altoona,
ana ;had a short interview with the President ie-
gard lng his acceptance OF the ONCE. When MI.
Hale asc srtained that it was Mr. Creswelrs deter
ming, ION, 70 forsake of1cal honors on the 1st OF
July a nd was unwilling to continue as Postmaster
Gene. Il TIL September or October, Mr.. Hale at
onoe,1 a,le up his mind not to succeed Mr. Cres-
well Al ID accompanied the latter to the Executive
Manson tais morning. when he formally declined
20 accep the honor conferred; but not for reason
OF ill-he uEh.- In conversation with your CORE
spondern Mr.. Hale said he was overworKed during
the last ession Of Congress- The task OF revising
the app rspriations and the amount Of physical
energy n ,uuired to accomplish a more than
usually n evere task had somewhat impaired
his sisa ugth, but not his health; be.
sides. wn ~ weather was more injurious
to him tnaa L hard work. and he did not feel like
sacrificing health and strength for the honor OF
being Car met Minister. In reply to the question
why he dbl not accept the Office and let the First
Assistant % stmaster Gepera act in his place until
the beginnsl g OF the fall, Mr.. Hale said it was not
his dispostrs to ask any one to bear his burdens
and II he ad accepted he should have entered
upon the dur es Immediately. Mr.. Hale has assur-
ances OF the highest esteem Of the President and,
IN declininQn le ONCE thanked General Grant most
cordially for he evidence OF his regard. To those
not acausinte with the abors OF the Postmaster
General it u my appear strange that Mr.. Hale
should ha We referred rather to continue in Con.
xress than become member OF the
Cabinet TfAa duties OF the ONCE are more
srduou h rhan.any other Of the executive depart
ments Of -the,government. Success in the admin
istratit IN Of afrars depends solely upon the per-
sona al ze ntpn given to details by the head OF the
departn s.nt and this is the secret of Mr.. Cres-
Wells RI outation as an eflcient oficer
Tne L; blucb iIct dt Hdii-pdsb tcu O'NioCh tuIs
morninl Messrs. Creswen and Hale being pres
ent All she members expressed their regret that
personal considerations have compelled Mr.. Hale
to decline ethe Postmaster Generalship.
Ex-Post master General Creswel stated on leav-
ing the Cs binet meeting to-day he would act as
Postmaster 'General until MS successor snonlo De
anpointed sut he intended to insist upon leaving
the departr Aent as soon as possible Returning
n the der Nrtment he directed First Assistant
Narshan to G,gn some documents presented TO
him. declnil z to settle any questions or decide
sny matters except such were necessary to
Keen the depa ument in operation with respon-
sb,e head II x said successor Will be appointed
IN q few days.
Mr. BALE left C-nignt for ELLSWORTH Me-, where
he VIII spend Il summer with his family. The
President in bid ding him goodby, said he had no
Idea to whom 4 should offer the position now,
and added 81 8, iau have to take time and think
pver the tsr of tn who seem to me most worthy
pf the once Tn pame most prominently men,
toned is senator Ramsey, OF Minnesota, whose
long yeafe OF ser vice on the Senate Post ONCE
Committee not only ,fts him for the once, but he
has ahe other requisite OF having great executive
Ability and a iondness for hard work. John b.
Packer. OF Fennsylv anla Chairman OF the House
Post Ofice Commrtee, is also mentioned.
The New Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury.
Charl "a E..Conant, to-day appointed Assistant
secreta " Of the Treasury has been Tor eleven
years pa " government clerk, the last two having
been spe Vt in charge OF the Warrant Division OF
the Treas ury department and position OF re.
sponsibit r.not tnfeinor to that ne was today ap-
pointed to- fill. Secretary Bristow found it i'm
possib,e TO .getss man of any political standing
who would nccept the ONCE. His choice from the
Arst was av rse to calling in stranger 10 the de-
tails OF the department, but 1t was urged that
political streI Ssth with marked ability might be
found IN some one willing ito serve his countryat
$4,000 per anUum. The search was fruitless,
anu Secretary .Bristow now rejoices that he
has an assIs tant who, II not politician
viii give Satisfaction to the country In
tne thorough discharge OF the duties OF
tne once The appointment, too. was heartily
made by the President, who considers 1t
rs a good step in the direction OF civil SER
vice, reform ana was s.lad he had the opportunity
pi practically carrying out Its purpose in this in
slance. Mr- Conant isslboct forty years OF age,
native OF New Hamps une, but has resided In the
District since 1868.
Reduction ofeahe Public Debt.
The Public DEBT state ue Mt issned to-day shows a
reduction OF 81 AGO, 1876 sf. The following is re-
'"'''1'" Deot Bearing Interest IN Cotn.
Bonds at per cent ..s.'...$lZl3,624T 700
Bonds at per cent. ~''';s4''' oIo'ozs'ooo
Principa. 81, 724 252 $50
interess .......,................,.. 3S,ie9, 4le
Be0rfno Interest in IOlrfh Money.
Certificates Of Indebtedness ~ per 10000.
rauv pen.ion f,Yn1 al 2 per ceLa .... 14,00O,O00
pr,nc,nal si4,67s,O0o
Inferest ..............-. 2l9, lao
rahf , ,rb,oh Interest has ceased eincf if1furtty
p,,ncinal ..-..<,.........-. t32lG,5gO
,ntnras1 -............. 22667I
Deot bearing no Interest.
MIA aenand and legal tender notes s3S2,076 1872
,art,Srates of neposit it...-........... 5s,fG0000
prac,lanaI cnrrency ................. 1881, 205