, 1876-07-03
EXECUTIVE PALSY.

TIte Demorrillizing Effects OF the ProcrastI-
nation of the Ncu Cabinet 1ppoiatee in
Accepting the Treasury FortIolio--~Satur-
days Paralysis.
Special Dispatch to Tie Tribune
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 2.-In place Of the
expected deadlock on appropriations, which
was STAYED of for ten days by the passage o1
the limited expense bill, a very unexpected
paralysis OF business took llace in the Treasury
Department on Saturday by reason OF the fol
lowing complications: There are ways under
the Law Of temporarily filling the position Of
head OF q department when vacated by death,
resignation, absence, or sickness. First, the
Assistant, unless otherwise directed by the
President, may perform the duties; second, the
Prcsidcnt,nay direct thehead Of any other depart
mcDt, or any officer III either department whose
appointment is vested in the President, to per-
form the duties Of the vacant office until a sue
cessor is appointed by law. However, such
vacancy caused by death or resignation cannot
he filled for alonger period than ten days. When
Mz. Bristow resigned, on the Goth ;of juno, Mr..
Conant became acting Secretary for ten days,
which period expired ut midnight on Friday.
Consequently, Mr. Cameron, or the head OF any
other Executive Department, could not he des-
ignated to preside temporarily over the
Treasury, and, Is consequence, the
business Of the Department came
to stand SO far as it pertained to issuing war
rants an d signing important papers and letters.
An effort was made to tide over the difficulty
oy the submission OF the question to the De
3artincnt Of Justice whether the ten days pre-
;cribcd by the statute should be business days,
Excluding Sablntls. Had the decision been
ayorable, Mr.. Conaut or Mr.. Cameron could
eve acted as Secretary on Saturday, but the
ccisiuu was adverse. Another difficulty also
rose from this peculiar state OF things. The
esisna:ion OF Treasurer New had been accepted
y the President: tu take elect on Friday, the
18th of June: MIR. Wyinan already nominated
nd confirmed as his successor, on Saturday
forming, the 1st OF July, executed bis official
tcrctary and the Comptroller, Is Law directs,
1t, there being no Secretary, the bond coulu
at be approved, and the new Treasurer could
1t enter upon the duties Of the Office. Conse-
Gently, all through The day neither Mr.. Cam.
t,n nor Mr.. Con:nt could act as Secretary Of
t: Treasury because the period for which the
pntment had expired. Mr. New could
= act as Treasurer because Ills resignation had
lhn accepted to take effect on Friday. Mr..
vman could not enter upon bis duties because
" was no one to approve lis bond. Mr:
Gillian, the new Assistant Treasurer, could
nact, because the statutes prescribe that |
u Assistant Treasurer shall perform such |
al-oyal Of the Secretary, aud, there being a
vgncy in both offices, he had no functions. |
= ~ drafts or checks were therefore +!
dAn, there being no one to sign
~. The payments were maae IRON
aar in the day, however, Mr. New, who is still
La under his bond, authorized the pay Of !
chts and drafts at the counter to avoid the |
1n4yenience Of protesting, to which the banks !
Wqd otherwise be subjected. !
Srt$