The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-06
COL. D. s. ALEXANDER.
Retirement Of Comrade from the Office Of Fiji
Auditor.

Retirement OF Comrade from the Office Of Fifth
Auditor.
On the 23d of March last, the Hon. d. 8.
Alexander rendered his resignation as Fifth
Auditor of the Treasury Department to Secre-
tary Manning. TWAS not accepted until the 29th
ult., although Mr.. Alexander had asked for its
acceptance at an early day. He was appointed
President Garfield. Prior to his appointment
he was a resident Of Indianapolis, Ind where
he was actively engaged in the practice of law,
and prominently identified with the Republic
can party and the State Central Committee.
He brought to his new position all the activity
and energy of young blood being only "a years
old), and this coupled with his legal experience,
knowledge of public matters, and that greatest
of all gifts for business man, executive abil-
ity, mark his advent into the Fifth Auditors
Office an innovation, and assured him success
from the start. He quickly acquainted himself
with the duties of his new calling, and ere long
made many needed reforms in the Office, the
result of which was to place it in the front
rank as business office. The duties of his
Office are the auditing of the accounts of all
Consuls and Consular Agents, Collectors of In
ternal Revenue, disbursing officers, etc.
Prior to 1881 the annual reports of some of
his predecessors had been condensed into half
page Of printed matter,-merely q compliance
in form with the statute. The reports of Mr..
Alexander will take rank with those of any
other officials He has, year by year, treated Of
the work performed in clear and comprehen-
sive manner, and added such suggestions to the
Secretary as seemed proper to the needed
changes, which make his reports an acquisition
to the official records Of the Department and
interesting papers for the perusal of those COM
ing after him. The work of his office is up to
date.
The late Secretary, Mr.. McCulloch, was SO
impressed with the manner in which Mr. AL
exander conducted his work, that he took Oc-
cason to say to Secretary Manning that, in his
five years experience as Secretary of the Treas
ury he had not met q more competent official.
Mr.. Alexander asked that his resignation be
accepted in order that he might enter into the
practice of law, arrangements to that end hav
ing been made in Buffalo, N. Y,
His departure will be regretted by large
circle of friends. In the short time he has
been here he has made many strong attach
ments, and hosts Of well-wishers will bid him
Godspeed in his new field.
He was here but short time before the
Grand Army of the Republic recognized his
merits, and from the command of Burnside
Post he was quickly promoted to the command
of the Department of the Potomac His ad-
ministration of that important trust proved q
signal success, and his comrades presented to
him in May last. by order of the Department.
Encampment, 16handsomely bound and marked
volumes of law books, as a recognition of his
services to the Order. His first appearance in
a National Encampment was year ago, at
Minneapolis, Mimi, where he was brought to
the favorable notice of the members by his
speech placing in nomination Gen. Burdett for
Commander n-Chief. as we'll as in other ways
At the Portland Encampment he was Chairman
of the Committee on the Address of Com
mander-in-C Kountz, and instrumental,
more than any other, in the election of Com
rade Burdett to be Commander-in-Ch Chief.