Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-09-05
SECRETARY FOLeER DEAD.
Decease Of the Head of the United
States Treasury,
AT HIS HOME YESTERDAY.
His Demise Sudden and Unexpected---Re-
eeiVing the Sad News at
Washington.
INCIDENTS OF THE OCCASION.

GENEVA, n. Y, September 4.-Secretary 1.
Folger died suddenly at 4:45 this after
noon.
WASHINGTON, d, C., September 4.-The
first news Of the death of Secretary Folger
received in this city was conveyed in an As
sociated Press dispatch from Geneva.
Upon its being shown to ASSISTANT Secre-
tary Coon, who is acting Secretary, he i'm
mediately notified the chiefs of bureaus in
the Treasury Department and invited them
to meet at his Office this evening, Later
Coon was informrd BY brief telegram
from Geneva from the eOlored servant Of
Folger of the latter's death. As the news
Of the death of the Secretary spread about
the city it was received with general ex-
preston of regret Officials of the Treasury
Department especially were shocked by the
suddei.ness Of the event. The generally ex-
pressed opinion of these officers was that
Mr. Folger's death was due to overwork.
He sought to supervise all the details ofthe
service instead Of leaving the merely lou
tine work of his subordinates," said one
prominent official and all the others
who were spoken with on the subject ascrib-
en- the SecretaTy's illness and death to the
same cause. Treasurer Wyman said that
for some time before Folger left the depart
mGnt he had been complaining of pain in
the region Of the heart and of difficulty in
breathing.
The watchmen and other employees Of the
department on duty tonight as well as minor
officials who heard the news, expressed thei
sorrow and spoke feeingly of Folger's uni
form kindness to them.
Omcials Meet.
At meeting in the assistant secretarys
office at half dast eight clock this evening
there were present Mr.. Coon, who presided,
Comptroller Lawrence, Commissioner John
son, Treasurer Wyman, Commissioner
Evans Fourth Auditor Beardsley, Super
vising Archichitect Bell, General Dumont,
Supervising Inspector-General of Steam
boats. Mr.. Nimmo, Chief of the Bureau of
Statitics, and Mr.. Alexander, Fifth Audit
or. Mr.. Coon on calling the
meeting to order announced the
death OF Secretary Folger and
stated that he had called the officials to-
gether 10 advise with them as to the proper
action to be taken. In the absence of the
President, an executive order to close the
department coald not be had and he was
doubtful of his authority to close it inform
ally, even for a day He said. if there
were no legal obstacles in the way he
would close the department tomorrow
and also on the day of The funeral Judge
Lawrence, First Comptroller, Judge John
son, Commissioner Of Customs, and Mr..
Alexander, Fifth Auditor gave it as their
opinion that the Acting Secretary had the
authority to close the department informal
ly out of respect for the dead Secretary
Mr.. Coon, after hearing from these sdvices,
announced that be would issue an order
Closing the Department
ts-morrow informally and stated that he
had already ordered the draping of the
building. He afterwards informed an as
sociated press reporter that all mail and ex-
press matter is received as usual, but that
nothing is sent out from the depart
ment and nothing goes on record
as having been done on that dag. He said
that the relations Of the treasury depart
ment with the business world were such that
il was important that il should be closed as
seldom as possible. He thought that by
direction Of the President the sHb-tressuries
and other outside bureaus OF the department
would be closed for couple Of hours, at
least on the day of the Secretarys funeral.
Mr.. Coon, as soon as he received the news
Of the death of the Secretary, notified the
Postmaster Genera, WI . is the only cabinet
officer in the city, and both sent telegrsms
10 the President, informing the latter that
they had received news Of the death OF Mr..
FOlger.
The Acting secretary.
Assistant Secretary French of the Treas
ury has been in Europe for some time and
is now on his way home His absence
leaves Mr. Coon the only Assistant Secre-
tary here. He has been acting Secretary
since Folger lefr. Under the law he vi
continue to act as Secretary, unless
the President should make another
appointment, for ten days from
today. The death of a Cabinet officer dur.
ing his term Of ofiee has been rare occur
renee in this country Webster died while
Secretary Of State, and two Secretaries OF
War-Rollins and Upshur-and two Post
master Generals-Brown and Howe-haye
died while in Office. Folger is The first Sec
retary of the Treasury who has died while