The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-10


ARCH OF THE TREAsURY-wHY BE WAS DE-
PosED-TEoUBLE BETWEEN SECRETARY BR1s-
TOW AND TREASURER NEw-THE NEW YORK
COMPREHENSIVE.
Washington august 81 correspondence of the Chicago
Inter Ocean
WHY SPINNER RESIGNED
He was personally responsible for the hon
esty OF 400 clerks through whose hands pass all the
money of the United States Six successive Secretaries
of the Treasury allowed him the privilege of selecting
men whom he knew, and in whom he had faith but
Secretary Bristow insisted upon removing and appoint
ing whomsoever he chose General spnner's bureau,
still holding General Spinner responsible for their fdel
ty General Spinner said he could not keep the office
under such circumstances; Secretary Brisow told him
then he could resign.
MUrrLArISG HIS ANNUAL REPORT.
Five OF Secretary Bristows predecessors following
the precedent OF Salmon p Chase requested General
Spinner in his annual report, to express what views
he held concerning current financial issues, and to
make whatever the financial condition of the
nation suggested In his last report Secretary Bris
tow General Spinner expected his views and comments
would be considered Of value they always had BEEN
and attached them TO the official statement OF the cond
ton 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 dissented from
his 1.-THE Secretarys) opinion.
Secretary Chase, Secretary Dix, Secretary Nc
CulloCh Secretary Fessenden and Secretary Richard
son-every one of them-used 10 come to my room
every day and consult regarding matters of
moment President Lincoln used TO come over and sit
for hours with me, when he wanted to know anything
about the condition of the Treasury; President
johnson did the same and President Grant came in
every little while to take smoke with me and talk
over finances. but Secretary Brsow was never in nv
office in his life when he wanted 10 me he always
sent a colored boy to call up stairs He treated me
like a clerk But this did not hurt much when
he would put his around me, call me my dear
General and then stab me in the next breath"
THE MAN DsHoSoRED HIM.
tFor fourteen years continued the General, "there
was not report or message OF any sort sent from
the Treasury Department 10 the President or TO Con
gress without consultation with me 1t was considered
least courtesy 10 allow an expression OF my views
and my own annual report was considered distinct
document, message from the Treasurer of the United
/ States Congress- until last year, when Secretary
Brstow mutlaed IT, altered it, and cut out some things
he knew wanted very much TO say
.'But you could have had it published, General even
il it didn't go to Congress as an official document
| said
secretary Bristow thought it worth publish
ing or he would have published 1t himself He was my
! superior, and any such action would have been dis
GENERAL SINNERS PLANS
mentioned that the New York papers were talking
of the General for State Comptroller, and asked him if
he would accept the nomination If IL was rendered
him.
life and want to be free For fifty years have not
been out Of office long | have been this time
since the Both of June-and like the sensation. am
only waiting here till that committee finish their work,
and then shall 20 TO my Mohawk home and stay till
the leaves fall when shall 10 Florida for the win
ter
But will nothing induce you to alter your plans!"
'Nothing but death.
But suppose you we're nominated for Comptroller of
New York;
THE SEw YORK coMPTRoLLERsmP.
81 could not accept few years ago vas rendered
the nomination for Governor, when General Dix
elected, and fairly had to run away from it. com
mittee waited on at my home few days before the
Convention and positively refused to have my
used. Another committee came 10 see me the evening
before the Convention and again refused, but they said
they would me again in the morning and make me
accept told them there were over thirty Governors
in the United States, but only one Treasurer could
be Governor only two years and could be Treasurer
TIL died for thought the people were satisfied with
my administration. ! would rather be Treasurer, |
said and hoped to die in the harness The committee
went Off saying they would nominate me wrote
them letter saying Dix was man, and that
would not allow my name to be used For fear they
would bother me again | packed my satchcl and went
away tnkng the most unusual route could think of,
and did go where any letters or kilograms com
mittces could reach me till heard Dix was nominated
because wanted TO be Treasurer OF the United States
TIL died :"
BRrsrow's MOTIVE IN DRIVING
'I suppose he wanted TO get rid Of me because was
an obstinate old mule and insisted on having opinions
Of my own and running my Office IN what thought
the best way. He knew wanted TO stay there very
much; that my record rs an official was something OF
which | was very proud. had satisfied three Prcsi-
dents and Secretaries Of the Treasury, and didn't
suppose any one was dissatisfied with ne Till four
months AGO. Secretary Bristow is very ambitious
man. He wants TO be President and as he hasn't got
very long time in which to make a reputation, he Is
working as hard as he can He tile entire credit
OF running the Treasury and is getting subordinaes
that will not be liable to detrac any from his personal
credit make any reputation for themselves"
sPiNNERs OPINION or HIS SUCCESSOR.
"But hasn't he got troublesome man to handle in
Mr New, your succcssor?n
eyes; he cannot control Mr. New any more than he
/ could control Douglass myself New rs one Of tho
quoercst, farcst men | ever met He has got a bushe
Of brains and good sense and is independent, too He
has han some pretty sharp rows with Brisow already
and has told the Secretary he must let him run that
office according to his notions or he would resign
Bristow afford have him resign and so he has
got TO submit 10 H. Beside tho President wouldn't let
New resign. He would turn Brstow FIRST DO YOU
know that M t within two or three weeks tho prcs
dent has supposed that went out of that Office volun-
tary-thai wished TO retire because OF my health ~
And the old man stopped a moment, struck his desk
THAT is actual fact The President did not know
the real reason Of my resignation until told him nv
self at Long Branch, and hc very much surprised -
NEw A ROW WITH TIM SECRETARY
"what Is the nature Of the trouble between Mr.
| New and the SecretaryY'
About the appointments Mr. New scee, rs did.
that be cannot justly be responsible largo bonds
he is not allowed 20 have the control Of his subordi-
mates and the authority 20 dismiss whom he chooses
and appoint men whom he can trust It is aprivilcgc
that was accorded 70 me without question by every
Secretary until Mr. Br1stOw came. senator Boutwell,
talked the matter over with me when he was made
Secretary and reserved for himself the right ~ dismiss
for cause which J. Of course, admitted but he never
used " ~ Single lhrlal'' lh'it wiz '"il"ua "t'l
matters over which Secretary Bristow and Mr.. New
could not agree but the secretary has bad 10 give IN 20
him every time for New insists that he viii resign II lac
IL not allowed to have his own way"
Docs Mr.. New continue IN Office many Of your sub
| ordinatcs ~
Gle has made no special changes except by order Of
/ the Secretary The Secretary himself has dismissed
some Of my warmcst friends and the most efficient
men In his Office
why
because I suppose, they have made themselves
odious 20 him by criticisng his action You see my pco
pie loved me- aud there a great deal Of feeling al
/ my retirement Remarks were made which caves
troopers carried TO the Secretary, and he made dsnis
sails IN almost every instance where person OF any
| dignity offended him in this way. There was Frank
Jones OF the bcsl Nm tho servce-mv nsssIamt