The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-20
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Hon. Columbus DeIano, of Ohio, the Pros


pectlve secretary.
'tIt is generally conceded" by the Washing
ton correspondents that the Hon. Columbus
Delano, of Ohio, the present Commissioner of
Internal Revenue, has baen rendered oy the
President the position of Secretary of the In
terror, made vacant by the resignation of Gen
eral Jacob d. Cox, and that he has accepted IT.
The struggle seems now to have centred on the
succession to Delano in the Internal Revenue
Bureau, Mr.. Delano being anxious to secure the
place for j. w. Douglass, of this State, his
principal assistant, while it is understood that
Secretary Boutwell,, who is, in measure, the
immediate superior of the Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue, is anxious to have somebody
else in the place. 1t is even intmated that Mr..
Boutwell, is so firmly set ia his opposition to Mr..
Douglass that, in the event of the latter's ap-
pointment, he will withdraw from the Cabinet.
Columbus Delano, the prospective head of the
Interior Department, was born in Shoreham,
Vermont, in the year 1909. When lad of
about eight years, he moved with his parents to
the town of Mount Vernon, Ohio. at which
place he subsequently studied law, and was adj
mitted to the bar. He soon displayed eminent
talents in the profession he had selected and in
a few years had achieved high reputation in
the various branches of his calling. He also
attained considerable celebrity as o popular
speaker, and became known for his versatility,
industry, and steadiness of purpose.
In 1874, being then thirty-five years of age, he
was elected Representative from his adopted
State to the Twenty-ninth Congress. At the
expiration of his term he returned to Ohio, and
in the succeeding year was candidate for the
Governorship of that State. He lacked only
two votes of securing the nomination. He still
busted himself in political life, and in 1860 was
elected delegate to the Chicago Convention. In
1861 he received the appointment of Commits
sary-General of the Ohio, and conducted the
affairs of that Office with great success, until he
was relieved by the assumption by the General
Government of the care and subsistence of all
State troops. Again, in the year 1862, he
was candidate for ofice-this time
for United States Senator-but, singularly
enough, his failure to secure the nomination by
only two votes was for the second time repeated.
In 1861 however, he moderated his demand
and was elected member of the lower house
of the State Legislature, in which body he at
orce took leading part, and soon became an
acknowledged leader of his party AS Repub-
lican of the most radical stamp, he urged for
ward and shaped much of the legislation which
makes part of the official records of the State of
Ohio during that momentous period of our
national history. In 1864 he was member of
the Baltimore Convention. Acting as Chairman
of the Ohio delegation, he constantly, zealously
aud eloquently supported the denomination of
President Lincoln, and also advanced the claims
of Mr.. Johnson for the Vice-Presidential place
on the ticket He took, Also an active part in
the eusuing camdaign.
In the same year, 1864, he was again elected a
member of Congress, and during this term of
his service in the National House of Represen-
tot afaA Fhofr Nf he
Claims. In 1866 he was candidate for re-elec-
tion, but the certificate was obtained by General
George w. Morgan, his Democratic competitor,
who was ousted from the seat, however, on his
claim to it being contested by Mr.. Delano. In
1868 Mr.. Delano was not candidate for re-
election, and General Morgan this year carried
the district by an incontestible ajority.
On the accession of General Grant to the
Presidency in March, 1869, Mr. DelaRo was
appointed by him to the Conmissionership of
Internal Revenue, as the successor to the Hon.
K. A. Rollins, of New Hampshire. This ap-
pointment gave general satisfaction to the
country. Mr.. Delano's administration of the
Internal Revenue Bureau has been vigorous,
capable, and successful and the enormous in
crease in the receipts OF the Government has
been the best endorsement of his fitness for the
| position that could be desired. But he has not
contriyed TO escaped accusations OIL partlality.
The distillers OF the Eastern States have been
necessarily complaining that he has done his
best to crush them out and ruin their business,
while those in Ohio and other Western States
were treated with the greatest consideration.
! When the question OF the continuation of the
odious income tax came before Congress- Mr..
Delano became its unflinchiDg champion, and
by his persistent advocacy of this inquisitorial
imposition alienated the regard of the best
J men of the country. The position of Commits