The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-10
Death OF Secretary FOlger.

The country has been shocked and
grieved, as the loss of few public men has
moved it, by the unlooked-for death of
Charles j. Folger, secretary of the treas
ury in President Arthur's cabinet. The
event occurred at his home in Geneva, N.
Y, Thursday afternoon, September 4. He
left Washington recently for his home to
obtain much-needed rest. 1t was not gen.
orally known that the secretary was seri-
ously ill, but some of his intimate friends
expressed the opinion when he left Wash
ington that he would never return. Still
his death was so unexpected that none of
his family had been summoned. The
secretary was widower and his children
were absent-his two daughters in the
Adirondacks and his son in Virginia.
Mr.. Folger was born April 10, 1918, in
Nantucket. When twelve years old his
parents moved to Geneva, where he re-
sided throughout his subsequent life. He
received liberal education, was admit
ted to legal practice in the supreme court
of New York at theage of twenty-one and
rose rapidly in his profession. While
yet young man he was chosen judge in
some of the lower courts of the state. In
politics he was Silas Wright democrat,
but in the great breakup of parties
drifted into the republican organization.
In 1861 he was elected state senator and
by successive elections held that Office eight
years. He was the recognized leader of
his party in the New York senate in the
days before the advent of Conkling. He
was the compeer of men like Tilden,
Evarts, Church and Curtis in the per-
formance of other important public SER
vice. OF his legislative career an appre-
ciative eulogist says:
"In his career in the state senate four points
stood out very prominently and attracted at
tention. First, his conservative course as
chairman Of the judiciary committee-he was
the man above all others feared by the leglsla-
tive jobbers; second, his antagonism to Reuben
+. Fenton when the latter was governor, lead
! ing him in 1867 to opposing and defeating the
nominations sent by Mr.. Fenton rs governor
to the senate, and in severe criticism upon his
acts in public debate-he became the leader Of
| the opposition to Mr.. Fenton before Mr.. Conk-
ling took that task on himself; third, his
prominence in the contest between Commodore
Vanderbilt and the Central and Jay Gould and
the Erie, in the legislature of 1868, when the
former was trying to get possession OF the Erie
railroad. He led in the contest against Wander
bilt taking the ground that 1t was against pub
| lie policy for competing roads to be controlled
| nv the intaraat and that puhlip intaraata
would be best served by all competing roads
being controlled by antagonistic interests and
constant competition kept up. He was bold
In his opposition to monopolies, pointing out
the dangers that would hereafter arise to the
country from them. He championed the bill
passed at that session, preventing the CONSOLE
dalton Of competing lines Of railroads and pro-
! hibting director OF one road becoming di
rector In competing line. The fight was one
Of the most noted that ever took place in u
legislature The interest was vast and there
were rumors at the time that as much as $50,
600 was paid by the railroad magnates for a
| vote OF a SENATOR but In all the scandal and in
vestigation that followed, sustaining many of
the stories, not whisper was ever raised against
the integrity of Mr.. Folger. He fought ON
principle against monopolies, and succeeded in
placing upon the statute-b books a law that has
since proved a wholesome one in maintaining
competition and competing railroad lines. In
that contest Tweed was with Commodore Van
derbilt not having then made his Erie connec.
ton with Gould and Fisk. The fourth noted
point was the bold position taken and the fierce
fight made on Tweed's tax levies for New York
city, extending the session in one instance
three days and maintaining the contest rather
than yield point. He was at all times bold
and determined fighter on any position that he
took, incorporating to the last, and this ap'
piled to questions OF public policy, to questions
Of party interest and also In contests with fac
tions in his own party
For a short time during President
Grants first term Mr.. Folger was sub
treasurer at New York. Governor Cor
nell appointed him to the enthusiastically
of the state on the death of Judge Church