Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-25
THE CABINET CHANGES.
Judge Gresham Secretary OF the Treas
ury-Mr. HattOn Acting Postmaster
General.


Judge Gresham Secretary OF the Treas
ury-Mr. HattOn Acting Postmaster
General.
TO BE ONLY TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT.
Juuee w. z. Gresham, Postmaster General, re-
celved telegram from the President after II
O'Clock last night, informing him of his appoint
ment to the Secretaryship OF the Treasury. He i'm
mediately qualified and sent to the President his
resignation as Postmaster General At 10 O'Clock
thlS morning Mr.. Gresham went to the Treasury
department with Secretary Chandler. His designa-
tion from the President was given to him by Mr. o.
Pruden assistant private secretary to the Presi-
dent, and his commission by Third Assistant Secre-
Cary OF STATE, A. A. Adee The two Assistant Secre
tarles OF the Treasury, French and Coon, were pres
enC, ana rendered him their congratulations The
new secretary Will leave here this p m to consult
with the President. Under the law First Assistant
master General for ten days, when either ten-
porary or permanent appointment will have to be
made IL Is generally thought that MIR. Hatton
Will succeed to the place.
BELIEVED TO BE TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Inc TACT OF the appointment of Judge Gresham
was not generally known until this morning, and
1t caused great surprise. Among the members of
the Cabinet, however, it has been the subject OF
talk IOr several days past, and Judge Gresham has
RnoWn s that he might be called upon to take the
P1eASo AL SCt Solu COulluStuCy. 1ut COuGluStuCy
was the Inability to obtain decisive answer from
the gentleman whom the President has In view for
tne treasury "a, n portfolio This gentleman is
ham accepted the position as matter Of accommo-
dat1On to the President, and his intimate friends
say a tnat IL IS only temporary appointment. The
duratlon OF the appointment Is commonly fixed till
doout the 1st OF October, when 1t is believed that
Judge Gresham will resign and accept the judge
snip on the Illinois circuit.
MI: Hatton said that he did not hear Of judge
Greshams appointment until this morning When
asked ABOUT the vacancy in the Post Office depart
ment he said that he did not know what the PreSi-
dent Intended to do.
SURPRISE TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
Late last night, after he had RETIRED Mr.. Gresham
was visited by Assistant Secretary of State Adee,
who told him that he had received a commission
from the President for his appointment as Secre-
tary OF the Treasury. This was an entire surprise
10 tne Postmaster General and the only intimation
he had received OF such possibility was tele-
gram IRON the President couple Of days ago ask
S4th Secretary Chandler, who resides near Mr..
Gresham, was at once summoned, and Mr. Gresham
tendered his resignation as Postmaster General,
Wh1ch was accepted by Secretary Chandler tor the
President
POSTMASTER GENERAL GREsHAMs LETTER OF REsIG-
NATION.
The letter OF resignation was as follows:
"WAsHINGToN, September Oath, 1884
To the President:
hereby resign the Office OF Postmaster General
ol tne United States WALTER @, GRESHAM"
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE AT MIDNIGHT.
Mr.. Adee informed Mr.. Gresham that 1t was ne
cessary for him to qualify as Secretary OF the
treasury before midnight Thereupon the three
officials proceeded to the residence OF Judge Wyle,
corner OF 14th street and Massachusetts avenue,
This morning Mr.. Gresham occupied the desk of
the Secretary OF the Treasury.
THE NEW SECRETARY TO LEAVE FOR NEW YORK
THIS AFTERNOON.
1t Is his intention, however, to leave Washington
at four O'Clock this afternoon. He will remain in
Philadelphia tonight. and tomorrow he will visit
the President to confer with him. He is not at all
Wen and 1t Is doubtful II he will return to his new
duties at once. Mr. Coon has been designated to
act as Secretary during his absence.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING THE APPOINTMENT
OF the new Secretary are very peculiar In view of
the fact that Mr.. Gresham was offered the Treasury
portfolio shortly after the death Of Secretary Fol-
ger, but declined it. The subsequent designation
OF Mt Coon to act as Secretary and the delay in
making the appointment until within an hour of
the limited time lead to the belief that the Presi-
denC was waiting for response from some one who
mad been rendered the Office. 1t is the impression
that the response was not received in time, that
1t was In the shape OF declination, hence the sud-
den appointment OF Mr.. Gresham. There seems to
be no doubt about the truth OF the report yester-
days STAR that Mr.. Greshams appointment
would be but temporary. The belief that the
President intended to give the Treasury
portfolio @ o , to !, an ex.secretary Of the Treas
tanned, and both eX-SecretarieS Boutwell, and Nc
Culloch are mentioned in that connection. The
resignation OF Mr.. Gresnam from the Postmaster
Generalship leaves that Office vacant. 1t was sup
posed that Mr. GreSham'S commission as Secretary
OF the Treasury would be accompanied by one ap-
pointing MI. Frank HattOn as Postmaster General
but there was no communication from the Presi.
dent on that subject. hr. Hatton will act as POST
master General, however, and it is generally
thought that he will receive the permanent ap-
pointment before the expiration Of ten DAYS
Another rumOf is that when Secretary Gresham
retlres from the Cabinet he will not succeed Judge
Drunmond but will lay his plans to be sent to the
Senate from Indiana
ACTING SECRETARY COON.
The President to-day designated Assistant Secre-
tary Coon to act Secretary of the Treasury dur
Ing the absence or sickness at any time Of Secre-
tary Gresham. Mr.. Coon was also authorized by
the Secretary to sign In his stead all warrants for
the payment OF money into the public treasury,
and all warrants for the disbursement from the
public treasury Of money certified by the proper
accounting officers OF the Treasury. Similar au-
thorty to sign warrants during the absence or
sickness OF Assistant Secretary Coon was delegated
to Assistant Secretary French. All the bureau and
division Officers OF the department: called on the
new Secretary about noon and were presented by
Mr. Coon.
One OF the last Official acts of Mr. Coon yester-
day, as acting Secretary OF the Treasury, was to
sign requsittOn for the salary OF President Arthur
for the month OF September.
The Situation i'm Ohio.