The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03
THE NEW YORK SUB-TREASURY.
Mr.. Jordan Takes Possession, and Begins
Business in Defiance of the Law.

New YORK. Jan. 2-Treasurer Jordan, of the
United States Treasury at Washington, 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 a
stand-still for an hour or two
Mr. Thomas Acton. assistant treasurer OF
the United States in this city, received letter,
on Thursday last from Secretary Manning or.
dering him to turn over his Office to Mr.. N G..
Jordan, Treasurer of the United States, this
morning. Mr.. Acton at once obtained the fol-
lowing opinions from Messrs. George Bliss and
Elihu Root
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.
l, 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 by 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 of you and
your bondsmen from responsibility for the mill
ions under your control Were it necessary that
you should assume the responsibility of turning
over the Office to person not confirmed by
the Senate, in order that the operations
of the great Office Of assistant treasurer should
less, as good citizen, feel disposed to obey any
order to that effect but as the opera
tions Of the Office have gone on for ten
days since your term expired. we see
no reason why they may not continue in
the same way for few days, until the President
tions, we hardly think that the authorities at
Washington can be contemplating the action re-
ported by the press; but it would be we'll for
you to call their attention to the views ascer-
knSw hvxx no~lf al
The following letter was delivered TO Mr. Jor-
dan this morning, in answer to his demand for a
surrender of the ofice
Hon. N. c. Jordan, Treasurer of the United States:
Dear Sir-I have received letter from Hon.
recting me to surrender the Office of assistant
treasurer of the United States to you. In re-.
ply, have to say that am here, ready to con-
tinue the performance of the duties of this
Office. and cannot assent, by word or act, to the
assumption of the conduct or control of this
Office by any one not appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Senate as my successor
You have caused your seal to be placed upon the
vaults containing the funds to make the neces-
sary payments from day to day. and
thereby interrupt the performance by me
sary duties Of this Office. If this
interruption is relieved. shall be glad to act in
the Office in the same manner that have done
since the 2Oth day OF December, ult If this is
not permitted to 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
furnish successor to me in the Office of assist
ant treasurer has been disappointing and that
temporary embarrassment to the public business
should possibly occur; but have no right, by
any acs or omission OF mine, to jeopardize the
right or increase the risks of my bondsmen
Il am, sir, your obedient servant,
THOMAS ACTON,
Assistant Treasurer"
At IL o'clock Mr.. Jordan, as Treasurer Of The
United States, took the responsibility of break
ing the seals and beginning business Mr..
Acton made no objection, and Mr.. Jordan took
control.
Mr.. Jordan asked Mr.. Acton to open the vaults
This Mr.. Acton, acting under advice Of counsel,
declined to do, and, after some delay, Mr..
Jordan opened them himself, after consulting
with Solicitor of the Treasury Department,
McCue. Only such vaults were opened as were
necessary for the proper transaction of business.
The business of the sub-treasury, Mr.. Jordan
said was going on as usual without Interrupt
tion, only the exchanges on the clearing house
were not made in time They will be made as
usual on Monday. The cash vault was the only
one opened and Mr.. Acton declined to be pres
ent.
A Washington dispatch says: The Secretary
Of the Treasury to-day received the following
telegram from Solicitor McCue, who is in New
York: 'sMr Acton refused to remove the seals
from the vault Under my advice the Treasurer
has done so, to carry on the current business
Treasurer Jordon telegraphed as follows:
"Have taken possession of the Office under the
Solicitors advice"