The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-29
AN OyERBURDENED OFFICIAL.
The Work of the Head of the Treasury
Labors of McCulloch, Boutwell, and Otheys.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON Aug. 28-Speaking of the phys
ical condition of Secretary Manning, en- old
official of the Treasury Department said this
morning: 1.-THE Treasury Department itself is
at all times most difficult branch OF the gov
eminent to successfully manage. and man
must be of the coolest possible disposition and
the most equable temperament in the world IN
order to bear up under the burdens which are
imposed upon him. Perhaps there was no man
more thoroughly competent for the position
since the war than Secretary McCulloch.
He was trained banker when he was
first selected as Comptroller of the Currency.
and he organized that exceedingly important
bureau with the greatest success. Throughout
his administration, too of the Treasury port
folio he was remarkable for the GOODNESS and
success with which he conducted the Office
Secretary McCulloch was followed by Ex-Gov-
ernor Boutwell,, to whom more than to any other
man is due the success of the refunding scheme
Mr. Sherman has generally been accorded all
the credit that attaches to that important
financial movement but it was owing
to Mr.. Boutwell's paving the way
that Mr.. Sherman was enabled to
carry it out and he did it, too, with nerve
Boutwell, was followed by Richardson. who was
sick of the portfolio almost as soon as he ap-
pointed. The Sanborn contracts worried him
| greatly 1t will be remembered that the San
| born contracts grew out OF an arrangement with
| one Sanborn, who discovered that great many
| parties had defrauded the government out of
| large sums of money. He offered to make the
| collections, which probably would not otherwise
| have been made at ALL for certain percentages,
| and his fees amounted to such enormous
hat CIR al inv
| ordered and Secretary Richardson was greatly
| worried in consequence. He admitted to the
committee that hs signed hundreds OF letters
| which he never read. and of which he knew
nothing of the contents. This created great
deal of scandal at the time. but Richardson was
not the first the last Secretary who has done
| the same thing. In fact, If one should see the
| number of letters which are signed by the Sec
rotary of the Treasury each day, no one would
| be surprised that that official should not know
| the contents of one in hundred to which his
| signature is attached. RICHARDSON was followed in
! order by Bristow, Sherman, Window, Folger,
| Gresham, McCulloch, and finally by Manning.
| OF the list, Folger alone broke down under the
sstrain of Office. The others were more or less
| cool throughout all the troublous financial
| times which they experienced, but the work
| was too much for Judge Folger. He was a ju-
| dicial rather than administrative officer and
was in the habit Of attempting to master every
subject upon which he was called to act In the
| least. The strain was too much for him, and
| it was undoubtedly owing to his over
| work that he finally succumbed. How
| ever, there has never been man
| in the department since the war
who has worked 80 persistently as
| Mr.. Manning. 1t is safe to say that while in
| charge of the Office his mind was wrapped up in
the financial affairs of the government for three
quarters of every day, including Sundays He
worked at his Office till 6 or even o'clock, and
then, after dinner, would again be engaged until
midnight. If he ever comes back ne will be
compelled to change his plan of action or he
| will break down again, and next time it will be
| so serious that he will be compelled TO perma-
| nentlY retire from active life of any kind"