The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-13
General Spinner.

REMISIsCEESEs IN TIE CAREER OF THE PATRl
ARCH OF THE TREASURY-WHY HE WAS DE
P0sRp.
Washington august 81 Correspondence OF the
Chicago lntcr-Ocean.1
He was personally responsible fol
the honesty of four hundred clerks, through
whose hands pass all the money OF the UnieC
States. Six successive Secretaries Of The
Treasury allowed him the privilege OF Sc
lectipp men whom he knew and in whom be
had faith, but Secretary Br's:ow insisted
upon removing aud appointing whomSoevt,
he chose in General Spinner's bureau, still
holding General Spinner responsible fol
their fidelity. General Spinner said ht
could not keep the Office under such cir
cumstances. Secretary Bristow told him
then he could resign.
Five OF Secretary Bristow's predecessors,
following the precedent Of Salmon Z. Chase,
requested General Spinner, in his annual re-
port, to express what views he held concern
ing current financial issues, and to make
whatever comments the financial condition
of the nation suggested. In his last report
10 Secretary Bris,ow, General Spinner eX.
pccted his views and comments would be
considered Of value, as they always bad been,
and attached thcmsto the official statement
OF the condition Of his office. These views
and comments did not exactly accord with
what the Secretary thought, SO he struck out
everything that in any way dssenlcd from
his uhe Secretary'>) opinion.
"Secretary Chase, Secretary Dix, Secre.
tary McCullocb, Secretary Fessenden, and
Secretary Richardson one Of them
used TO come to my room every day or two
and consult me regarding matters of mo-
ment. President Lincoln used to come over
apI elf far hnt,rs with mo u.hoo ba tod
TO know anything about the condition of the
Treasury; President johnson did the sane,
and President Grant came in every little
while to take smoke with me and talk over
finances; but Secretary Bristow was never
in my office in his life. When he wanted to
see me he always sent coiored boy to cali
me upstairs He treated me like clerk.
But this did not hurt me so much as when
he Weuld pat bis arm around me, call me
<my dear General aud then stab me in the
next breath.
"For fourteen yesrs, continued the Gene
raj, "there was not report or message of
any sort sent from the Treasury Department
to the President or 10 Congress withoutcon-
SIltation With ne. Il was considered at least
courtesy to Atow the expression Of my
views: and ny own annual report was con-
sidered distinct documents message from
the Treasurer of tie United States TO Con-
gress- until last year, when Secretary Bris-
tow mulilated it. altered it, and cut out
some things he knew wanted very meeh'to
say"
"But you could have had it published,
General, even if it didn't go to Congress as
an official document" said.
"Secretary Bristow thought it was not
worth publishing, Or be wouad have pub
lished 1t himself. He was my superior, and
any such action would have been discourte-
Gus"
"What do you suppose was Me. BristoW's
motive in driving sou out2"
Arasrow's MOTIVE sE DRIVING sPlSs,Ea OUT. 4
81 suppose he wanted to get rid of me be-
cause waSan obstinate old mule, aRd insist
ec on having opinions Of my own and run. |
ming my Office in what thought was the |
best way.s 49,.
But hasn't he got a troublesome Rsan TO I
naodie IN MIR. New, your suecessor?"
aeS: be cannot controI Mr. New any
more than he could control Douglass or ny-
sel. AeW IS one OF the queeresf, Mirest men
ever met. He has got u bushel of braias
and good sense, and is independent, too,
ne has had some pretty sharp rows with
8ristoW already, and has told the Secretary
hat ne must let him run that office according
0 hts own notions, or be would resign. Bris- q
oW cannot afford to have him resign, and SO ,
10 has to submit to it," {