The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-02-26

1t takes financial genius to conduct the
financial affairs of such gigantic under
taking as the Worlds fair, and A. f. See
berger has just that genius. That was
why, in the initial stages of the undertake
ing, he was selected over the heads of hun
dreds of men of financial executive ability
who would have been proud of the honor.
He did not seek for it. On the contrary, it
was offered to him by unanimous vote OF
the directorate. At the last annual cleo
ton he was reelected without the formal
ity of show of hands, and the same his
tory will repeat itself next month and
next year and the next, so long as there is
dollar of Worlds fair money to be han
died. From the window of his private
room Treasurer Seeberger can see the Gus
tom house, where for four years. under the
administration of Grover Cleveland, he
held court in the responsible office of col
lector of the port. But he would not change
places today with the occupant of that
office. No politicians, national, state or
local, especially the latter, bother him now.
Even the most expert bookkeeper or in
ventor Gf the term may be used) of sys-
TENS of keeping financial accounts would
open his eyes if he could see some of the
methods that have been put into success
full operation by Treasurer Seeberger. But
they are not public property, and if you
were to inquire concerning them of any
one of his staff of eighteen they would sim
ply look wise and shake their heads. There
are within few score of 10000 subscribers
to Worlds fair stock, and Treasurer See
berger can tell you in thirty seconds just
how much any one of the 10000 has paid
and how much that particular one still
owes. He can tell you in the same space of
time Just how much money has been re-
ceived up down the hour that he is talking
to YOU from the commencement of the en-
terprise, how much has been paid out how
much the balance is, where it is, how much
he is going to pay out in the next forty
eight hours and in the next six days, how
much he is likely to get in within the same
period, and he will tell you within thou
sand dollars Just how his finances will
stand a week to come.
To bring the money end of an immense
undertaking down to such fine point as
this takes both brains and system, and
Treasurer Seeberger is blessed with an
abundance of both. Sometimes he has to
sit as a judge and listen to the appeals of
stockholders who started out with good in
tentions and who find themselves stranded
by the wayside, and seek an extension of
IDe IlIIle Mlbulu nliNh C4pcSOth W
meet the calls upon their holdings. Most
of such applicants come from the ranks OF
the working classes, and it would surprise
a good many people to know the number of
wage earners whose patriotism has led
them to become stockholders in the enter
prise. Treasurer Seeberger does not be-
lieve in trying to squeeze blood out of a
stone, and although he has no authority to
release any one from liability, he never fails
to give the deserving applicant all the
time he wants to pay up. But let the man
who tries to impose on him beware He
NAV tell plausible story, and tell it with
tears i'm his eyes, but the fraud will be
nenetrated, and instead of leniency he will
get vigorous retribution.
Not only is Treasurer Seeberger a money
petter. but he is also a money saver So
far he has taken in nearly s., 0OO, 900 and
disbursed two-thirds of it. Yet the cost of
Collection and disbursement, including sal
aries and his own departments proportion
of the rent, postage, stationery and all in
cidentals of every kind has been less than
IL per cent Such a record as this would
he considered marvellous even for the most
eminent fnaneierS of the New or Old
World. And it has been accomplished by
a simple unassuming Chicago hardware
merchant. II you happened to meet him
In a group around the fireplace at the
Union League club of an evening, smoking
his cigar and listening to, or himself tell
ing. a good story, you would not select him
at first glance as an executive giant of
finance Nevertheless he will need, when
the end has come. no more enduring monu-
ment than the financial records OF the
Worlds Columbian exposition.
HENRY NJ. HUNT