St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-03
Treasurer Jordan Carries the Keys to
Uncle Sans Sheokles at the New
York Sub Treasury,
In Spite of Legal Opinions Obtained by
Assistant Acton Denying Him the
Right So to Do.
Many Thousands OF People In Wash
ington Who Never Had Glimpse
OF the President.
Congressman Curtin's Busy Career
The Decrease of the Public Debt
$9,OOO,OOo.
Acton Protests.

NEW YORK Jan. 2.-Treasurer Jordan,
of the United States treasury at Washing
ton, took charge of the sub-treasury in this
city to-day. There was considerable delay
in the opening of the vaults, and for this
reason business was at standstill for an
hour or two. Thomas Acton, assistant
treasurer of the United States, received a
letter Thursday last from Secretary Man
ming ordering him to turn over his Office to
N. G. Jordan, treasurer of the United
States, this morning, Mr.. Acton at once
obtained the following opinion from Messrs.
George Bliss and Elihu Root:
Hon. Thomas Acton-Sir: We advise you
that your term of Office expired on Dec. 20,
1885, that you have since been holding over,
and that your relations in this respect will
not change on Jan. /, 1886; that you have no
legal right to turn over your Office and the
property in your charge TO any person not
nominated by the president and confirmed 10y
the senate, and that you cannot safely obey
any order so to do. No person not confirmed
by the senate as your successor can give you
proper receipt, or release you and your
bondsmen from responsibility for the mill
ions under your control Were ii necessary
that you should assume the responsibility of
turning your Office over to person not con-
frmed by the senate, in order that the oper-
ations of the great Office OF assistant treas
ufer SnOulu nOJ DS drought 10 slduu-Slll.
you would doubtless as good citizen feel
disposed to obey any order to that effect; but
as the operations of the Office have gone on
for ten days since your time expired, we see
no reason why they may not continue in the
same way for few days until the president
and senate can act. In view Of these consid-
erations we hardly think that the authorities
at Washington can be contemplating the ac-
ton reported by the press but it would be
well for you 10 call their attention TO the
views entertained by yourself and your coun-
sci.
ACTON TO JORDAN.
The following letter was delivered to Mr..
Jordan this morning in answer to his de-
mand for the surrender of the office:
Jan. ?, 18s6.-HOn. G. N. Jordan, Treas
urer. United States, Dear Sir: / have re-
ceived letter from Hon. Daniel Manning.
secretary of the treasury, directing me to sur
render the Office of assistant treasurer of the
United States to you. In reply / have to say
that am here ready to continue the perform
ance of the duties of this Office, and cannot
assent by word or act TO the assumption OF
the conduct control of this Office by any
one not appointed by the president and con
firmed by the senate as my successor. You
have caused your seal to be placed upon
vaults containing the funds, to make the nee
essary payment from day TO day, and thereby
interrupt the performance by me of the reg
ular everyday and necessary duties OF the
office. If this interruption is relieved, shall
be glad to act in the office i'm the same man
ner that have done since the goth of De
cember ultimo. If this is not permitted q
me. whatever shall be done by you in regard
to the business of this Office, must be done
without my assistance or assent and against
my protest. No one can regret more than
do that the action OF the government to fur
nish II successor TO me in the Office of assist
ant treasurer has been disappointed. and tina;
temporary embarrassment to the public bust
ness should possibly occur; but / have no
right by any act or omission of mine to jeop-
ardiZe the rights or increase the risks of my
bondsmen. am, sir, your Obedent servant,
THOMAS c. ACTON.
At II o'clock Mr.. Jordan, as treasurer OF
the United States. took the responsibility
of breaking the seals and beginning bust
ness. Mr.. Acton made the objection and
Mr.. Jordan took control.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The secretary of
the treasury to-day received the following
telegram from Solicitor McCue, who is III
wv York:
M-. Acton refused to remove the seals from
the vaults. Under my advice the treasurer
has done so to carry on the current business
Treasurer Jordan telegraphs as follows:
Have taken possession of the Office, under
the solicitors advice.
Mr.. Jordan asked Mr.. Acton to open the
vaults. This Mir. Acton, acting under adj
vice of counsel, declined to do and, after
some delay, Mr.. Jordan opened them him
self, after consulting with Solicitor of the
Treasury Department McCue. Only such
vaults were opened as were necessary foI
the proper transaction of business. The
business of the sub-treasury, Mr. Jordan
said, was going on as usual without inter
ruptiOn, only the exchanges of the clearing
houses were not made on time. They will
IL,
vault was the only one opened, and Mr..
Acton declined to be present.