Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-02
The New POstmaSaer.


The New Postmaster.
FEW CHANGES TO BIZ MADE AMONG THIS EMPLOYEES
OF THE oFFICE-AR cOEGER'S DESIRE TO IN
PROVE THE SERVICE.
The new city postmaster. Mr. Frank B. Conger,
qualified for his Office late Saturday afternoon,
giving bond for 500 600, instead OF slO0.OOO as
required by law. and to-day was at bis desk. To
STAR reporter to-day he said that he would not
make many changes In the Office. but there would
be little trimming" here and there.
"The cffice," he said, ''iS necessarily an expen-
sve one as there Is so much free matter to handle
IL Is my purpose to run 1t economically as poss-
BILE without impairing its efficiency. 1 don't want
any allowance for clerks who will do nothing but
draw their salary. want men to do a good day s
work ana "a !. receive fair salary for It,"
great an allowance would be made for the Office
for the new year. The of1ice," he said .is in ex-
na eellent condition. but think may be improved in
The city delivery or carrier service, think, can
be greatly improved, especially In the outskirts Of
II can.h
The War Upon the Trade Dollars
HISTORY OF THE OBNOXIOUS COIN-ITs STANDING IN
WASHINGTON.
The crusade against the trade dollar which Is
now being prosecuted in different commercial
cities seems likely to seriously depreciate the
value of the dollar for the present. The trade
dollar was intended for expectation abroad, where
It's value is rated by its weight 1t is Of greater
intrinsic value than the standard dollars, as it
contains seven and one-half grains more silver OF
the same flncness- The trade dollar demone-
t,zed h July ~, 1876 and Its coinage suspended by
the Secretary OF the Treasury February %, 1878.
The circular OF the Treasury department of
July Is, 1873; declares; THE United States
fore, has only bullion value" The average
bullion value OF full-weight trade dollars is
nlnety-three cents and two-tenths OF a cent each.
The trade dollar some years ago gained popular
circulation in this country. The banks then re-
FUSED to take them and in trade they suffered con-
siderably In value. There was so much OF the
coin In circulation, however, that they gained
their old place at par in many cities. In some,
places. howeyer they have never been received at
a n's sad have Ss mads ann
good profits by collecting the dollars
IN one part Of the country ana shipping them to
another IL Is suggested by some persons, In eX-
planatlon OF the present sudden onslaught on the
trade dollar, that some active commercial demand
for these dollars has sprung up, and in order to
enable spectators and brokers to gain control Of
them. this attempt to depreciate them is made.
THE TABooED COIN NEVER POPULAR IN WASHING
The movement against the trade dollar has not
reached any very great proportions in this city,
because there have been but few in circulation
here. There has always been more or less objec-
ton made by the merchants and others here to
receiving them. and the consequence has been
that the volume in circulation has gradually de-
creased. The cashier OF one OF the largest bus1-
ness concerns In the city told STAR reporter this
dollar. and never had any difficulty in getting rid
Qf them. They averaged about 12 during day.
Out now that there was this general movement
they would have to follow suit and refuse to re-
ceive the coin.
THE TRADE DOLLARS IN THE BANKS.
cashier OF one OF the leading banks said that
they had been In the habit OF receiving trade dol
lars at discount OF one per cent They then
shipped them to Baltimore, where they received
991 cents for Them Now he said they would re-
IuSe TO receive them at all On Saturday he had
letter from his Philadelphia correspondent, asking
what he would give for trade dollars. He replied
tnat he had no use for them. This gentleman
thought that the banks ought to take some united
action on the subject as this present raid upon
me trade dollar promised to be permanent one,
and would neceSSltate some action by Congress
when IL convened in the fall Since Saturday the
banks nave refused to receive trede dollars at all
RAILROAD, STEAMBOAT AND EXPRESS COMPANIES.
The street railroad and steamboat lines have
also taken action in this matter. but the officials
unite In saying that but few Of these coins are In
circulation here
The express companies have declined to refuse
tne:e dollars for some time, and since Saturday
their rule on this subject has been strictly en-
forced.
'sHUT DOWN" IN CENTER MARKET
There was general "shut down" this morning
In the Center market On the trade dollar. Satur-
day. when the butchers came to settle with the
droverS, they found that the drovers refused to
take the tabooed dollars. The dealers have been
In the habit OF taking them at par, and dtsDosing
vi tneh gain In the course OF trade. While the
dealers were agreed as to not taking the dollar at
par, there was no agreement as TO the value at
which they should be received, some dealers re-
luslng 10 take them for more than 90 cents, and
others allowing 80 cents andrsOre for them.
Mr.. Smith, the secretary OF the market COM
pany, Told STAR reporter that he did not intend
price, and that he would post up notice to that
effect in his Office.
WHAT SECRETARY FoLGER SAYS.
Secretary Folger, who is visiting New York city.
being asked by Herald reporter yesterday what
he thought about the war now being made on the
trade dollar, said: Il have not given the subject
any consideration as yet, and have not read the
statutes relutng to the subject. have, therefore
no opinion to express, and do not know what Will
be done. Tomorrow will have talk with AS
slStant Treasurer Acton about the matter"
Affairs in West Washington
BODY RECOYEREn-The hOdy of the colnrad how