New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-19
Nh. rpTONs srCCE.sOR.

WAsuNGToN Dec. 1s.-Ih' announcement l. no"
several Gars oil that the President ha, selected cN-
Senator Paddock OF Nebraska 10 hc Assistant Soc
retary of The Treasury in place OF MIR Upton and no
contradiction has vet been publicly made. The re-
port il credited by intimate friends fthc President
by whom II is further sid that the choice is the
Presidents own. MIR Paddock n quiet and un-
obtrnsive Senator and his record on financial mat
te1s is chiefly noticeable for what 1t does not con
tain. He never served on the Finance Committee,
never with one exception introduced a ball or reso-
luton designed TO shape financial matters, and 1t
cannot be gathered from any part OF his public
record that he ever made financial affairs study.
By the record of his votes, and by few Incidental
remarks made in the senate. he is found to have
been a strong silver iuAationst. The longest
speech which he made upon the subject. or upon
any financial question. was upon the Matthews res
olution declaring the Government bonds payable in
silver. 1t was a. follows:
Mr. Padiock-Hr President ! desire simply 10 say in
n single word, that when the proper opportunity Is pre-
scented shall the most liberal coiInGc and the
fullest practicable silver this rcsoII-
ton s concerned, consider II premature. 1t Is simply
placing the cart before tue morse when we sha nave
au horzrd increased coinage Of silver, when shall
have passed the silver bin proper It will be in order to
consider the law and our duty In the matters treated OF
in this resolution. At this tinc consider II rcss
and usecss performance ana Is because hhK so tt
shall vote against The resolution u thc law - IA re
cited n the resolution, the declaration thereof does not
] ]
resolution which hGs not the force law, cannot make II
n law. ! shall vote for thr indefinite pOstrOamcut, as
moved by the ScuutOr rom Vermont.
The one financial measure of which lir Paddock
was the author was bill looking to i'a increased
coinage OF trade dollars and making tErm q ic41l
tender for the payment OF debts.
Mr.. Paddock is a cOnspcuou, repre- ru'Jiiv' Of
that faction of the Republican party II his S.atc
which was de e'eated in Chicago. IN the Scnac he
was most devoted follower of Senator Coulliing,
and before the election o. delegate from Nebraska
to the last National Convention he WAS earnest
worker for General Grant. he predicted with grcn.
confidence that Nebraska woud send a Grant dele
CATION 70 Chicago but every delegate was for
Blaine.
1t will be his duty if appointed, TO direct in n
great measure and in detail the operations of the
most intricate and most important piece of cXecu-
tive machinery of tine Government TO give counsel
to the Secretary OF the Treasury himself stranger
to the department, upon financial matters OF gen.
Cral character to act Secretary of the Treasury
in the absence of his Chief and especially to super
wise the appointments of subordinatcs. There IL no
place in which thorough and practical knowledge
of financial subjects, and also of the intricate work
ings OF the Treasury Department, would DO more
usciul-indced Ls more neCeSsary-than IN that OF
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.