EXECUTIVE MANSION, _December 21, 1885_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
In the matter of the removal of Horatio C. }
Burchard as Director of the Mint. }
In conformity to section 343 of the Revised Statutes of the United
States, the following is respectfully communicated to the Senate as
reasons of the removal above referred to:
The Director of the Mint is the head of one of the most important of the
bureaus of the Treasury Department, to which are attached duties of a
highly technical and varied nature.
By the express terms of the law creating the office the incumbent is
"under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury."
This last-named officer, under whose direction Mr. Burchard was thus
placed, reported to me that his mode of conducting the business of the
office was unsatisfactory and inefficient and that the public interest
required a change.
And therefore I removed Mr. Burchard and appointed Mr. Kimball in his
place, believing him to possess especial qualifications for the proper
administration of the important duties involved.