Savannah morning news., 1886-01-03
JORDAN IN POSSESSION.
Actions FORMAL PROTEST. OF
NO AVAIL.

The Sub-TreasUrer Bases His Refusal to
Surrender the Office on the Advice of
His OOunseI-The Treasurer Finally
Breaks the Government and State
Seals on the Vaults.
NEW YORK, Jan. 2.-Thomas c. Acton,
Assistant Treasurer of the United.States,
IN this city, received letter Dec. 80,
1883, from Secretary Manning, ordering
MIN to turn over his Office to C. N. Jordan,
treasurer of the United States, this morn
tng. Mr.. Acton at once obtained the
following opinion from Messrs. George
Bliss and Elihu Root:
r NEW YORK, Dec. 30, 1885.
To Hon. Thomas @. A cton:
olR-Ne advise You that your term Of Office
expired on Dec. 20, 1885, that YOU have since
peeh nolding over, and that your relations in
tnis respect Will not change on Jan. /, 1856;
mat you have no legal right TO turn oyer your
once and property in your charge to any per-
son not nominated by the President and con-
hrmed by the Senate, and that you cannot
saieIy obey any order so 10 do. No person
not confirmed by the Senate as your successor
Gun give you proper receipt or release YOU
ana your bondsmen from the responsibility of
turning over the Office TO a person not con-
nrmed by the senate. In order that the
operations of HlIe great Office of assistant
tAGdEuItt HtfNuf4 not De Df0u0nb 10 q Sbdnu-
sun you would doubtless as a good citizen
leel disposed TO obey any order TO that effect,
UuJ as the operations of the Office have gone
OO IOr ten days since your term expired, we
see no reason why they may not continue in
the same way for a few days longer until the
ifresldenJ and Senate can act. In view OF
these considerations we hardly think that the
authorities at Washington can be contem-
plating the action reported by the press, but
1t would be well for you to call their atten-
ton to the views entertained by yourself and
your counsel.
ACTON;S LETTER TO JORDAN.
The following letter was delivered to
Mr.. Jordan this morning at the sub
treasury, in answer to his demand for the
surrender of office.
NEW YORK. Jan. ?, 1896.
Hon. G. N. Jorda's, Treasurer of the United
DEAR sIR-I have received 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. You now desTe to take
possession Of this office, and of The various
funds in my charge as Assistant Treasurer,
ana baslng your action upon the letter of the
Secretary of the Treasury, and demand from
me my consent to, and cooperation in this
action on your part.
I'm reply, ! have 90 say that amhere
ready to continue the performance of the du-
ties of this Office and cannot assent Dy word or
troll of thus Office by any one not appointed by
lhe PRESIDENT and confirmed by the Senate,
as my successor.
You have caused your seal to he placed
upon the vaults containing the funds TO make
the necessary payments from day to day and
thereby interrupt the performance by me of
tne regular every day and necessary du-
ties Of the Office. If this interruption is re-
heved shall be glad to act in the Office In the
same manner that have done since Dec 20,
ult. IL this is not permitted to me whatever
shall be done by you IN regard 10 the business
OF this Office must be done without my assis-
tance or assent and against my protest. No
one can regret more than that The action of
the government to furnish successor to
me in the Office of Assist
and that temporary embarrassment to the
public business should possibly occur, but l
have no right by any act or omissiOn OF mine
to e0pardize the rights or Increase the risks
of my bondsmen. l am, sir, your Obedient
servant, THOMAS G. ACTON,
Assistant Treasurer.
Mr.. Acton made no further objection,
and Mr.. Jordan took control. For an hour
no business was done, the vaults being
under the seals placed thereon Thursday
by Mr.. Jordan. Finally Mr.. Jordan at
IL 40 O'Clock broke the seals and COM
menced business.
ADvICEs TO WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The Secretary
of the Treasury to-day received the fol-
lowing telegram from Solicitor McCue,
who is in New York:
Mr.. Acton refused TO remove the seals
from the sub-Treasury vaults. Under
my advice the Treasury has done 80 to
carry on the current business.
Treasurer Jordan telegraphed as fol-
lows:
Have taken possession Of the Office un-
der the Solicitors advice.