New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-04

re ,tore confidence in it. have known Mr.. Grant
for fifteen years. AS Assuperntendent of the Produce
Exchange hundreds of thousands of dollars passed
through his hands, sometimes daily. His accounts
always balanced to a cent / know that he is
capable, and that he is thoroughly upright He
cannot be bought or swerved from what he deems
bis duty. With him at tho head of the Finance
Department shall rest easy in the knowledge that
the financial affairs of tho CITY are In competeht
hands. and that no irregularities VIII again pe
allowed creep in unsuspected by the head OF the
Department"
JOHN KELLY PLEASED.
John Kelly, when asked what he thought of the
appointment. said
~ think 1t very good one taking all things
into consideration. The Mayor said to me that he
had given the appointment great deal of consid-
GRAFTON, and had thought over the abilities OF
several business either OF whom
would probably make a good Controller,
but he had finally concluded to appoint
one who had some knowledge of the
details of the municipal government. man may
possess good business abilities and vet make faii,
ure as a Controller. He is member OF the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment, tho Sinking fnnd
and other bodies and needs tn possess great deal
of knowledge of municipal affairs and clear head
TO vote wisely on he vsrious measures that come
faith faith in in Mr.. Grants ability and integrity,
He sad that superintendent or tne 1Tnu-
uce Exchange and secretary of the Building
| Committee Mr.. Grant showed much executive anil
! ity. He was an accomplished statstlclan. Inc
Mayor offered the position of private secretary 70
Mr. Grant soon after his election, and after uttle
hesitation 1t was accepted Although ho has only
bad an experience OF seven months IN tue cIty gov
| ernment yet the Mavor thinks he has acquired a
great deal of know ledge of the workings o me NUM-
cipal machinery. The Mayor was convinced that in
brief time Mr. Grant VIII acquant himself with the
details necessary 20 the management of the Finance
| Department. Mr.. Grant was greatly surprised at
| his appointment lie had no ldea lhat INC mayor
| contemplated IT." -
did you recommend any one To the MayorP
| "1ne Fl ling OF the vacant CoutrollershEp was
prerogatIve belonging the Mayor. He is RESPONSE
be TO the people the appointments he makes. IL
would no have been proper for me 10 ask the Mayor
| to appoint any particular man: did, however sug-
| gest 10 the Mayor the name OF Andrew l.. S0ulard,
| president of the Sterling Fire Insurance Company
| a, one who would answer the requirements OF the
| Mayor that the apnointee shoud DC successlu u
| business man. This was the only name
| | mentioned In connection with the
position. | think that the Mayors choice is good
one lie did not act hastily. Knowing that he
would be held responsible. he gave TO tie appoint,
ment great deal of consideration. Mr.. Grant |
think, will make good Controller, and ilrstcasS
OTHER COMMENTS.
| President Reilly said: % am satisfied with Mr..
| Grant l think 1t good appointment. Tammany
| Hall cannot object to it,"
Alderman Kirk, another Tammany Alderman,
| said 1.-The appoin tment. think, will be entirely
satisfactory to Tammany Hall. OF course. it can
| not be considered a political appointment"
| Thomas Costlgan. one OF the leaders OF the
| County Democracy, said: 81 have known Mr.
Grant for several months and think the appoint
ment good one. think him an exceedingly caps-
Civil justice Norton and ex-senator Thomas j.
Creamer expressed the same sentiments.
SKETCH OF MR.. GRANT.
Seth Hastings Grant was born near Utica n. y,
| in 1928. HIS father was Asahei Grant, NJ. d., the
wel-known HISTORIAN missionary. who wrote The
HISTORIANS. or the Lost Tribes" When young Grant
was seven years old his father sent as mission
ary 10 Persia. The lad weat With tho
colony which founded GaIesbure III. One year
ward he returned 10 his old home and entered
I, the academy at Waterylle. Oneida County y. I.
| When twelve years old he again went 10 GalesbuIg.
| He was prccocious and 30 lar advanced In bis
studies that he offerc ed the position of teacher
in the Galesburg school. THIS he decliued. In 1910
| Dr. Grant returned from Persia and placed ms
sop 10 the Phillips Academy at Andoyer. MaSs. lie
lived in the family of the principal, 5. II. Taylor.
In the spring of s41 young Grant came TO New York.
| and became a member OF The family ol Professor
! John Torrey lie entered Princeton College. an ii
was there for three years. Ill health compelled him
TO leave before graduation. He entered the employ
| of Wiley * Putnam. publishers. and remained
| with them for three years. AT the end OF that
/ time he was unanimously chO en- Librarian OF the
Mercantile Library and renamed ns such Tor seven
teen years " "me hoiulhs tns postiou ne "as seiit
| abroad by the Mercantile Library Association To
visit the principal librares and on his return pre-
| pared the catalogue now IN use and arranged the
| general working OF the library. Mr.. Grant resigned
| as librarian and went into the real estate and
| brokerage business. While so engaged the Com
mttee on the Bylaws of the Produce Exchange, Of
| which Franklin Edison was chairman, engaged Mr.
| Grant TO codIfy the bylaws When these were
| completed and the Produce Exchange was re-
| organized Mr. Grant was made the first
| superInt ndent. lilo reOrganizcd the
vice OF the Exchange and vas al
| most daily brought into communication with the
| 5000 members. He held the position of superln-
| Lendent for nine years. During all this time
he received ana kept the deposltsof all those who
| deal In futures" in the Exchange. These
| amounted 10 moro than S5O0OO,OO0 yearly.
| When Mr.. Edison was chosen Mayor he offered
TO Mr. Grant the position OF private secretary, and
| il was accepted against the advice OF several OF
Mr. Grants friends. lie replied 10 these that Mr..
Edison had boen his friend and bcneiactor for sew
eral years and he proposed 10 do what he could to
| aid him.
| Mr.. Grant has been for many years q member OF
| the Madison Square Presbyterian Church, and Is
| now chairman of the Board OF DeacOns. he has
| also been the recording and corresponding secre-
tary and vice president OF the American Bible So
| cleiy He Is Democrat, but nas never identified
| himself with any political organization.
|