Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-31
CARLISLE AND THE TREASURY.

The Commanding Position which the Sec
Rotary May Occupy Under Mr.. Cleveland.
Many friends Of Senator Carlisle of Kentuek,
have expressed regret when informed OF the
probability that he will become Secretary OF
the Treasury. They say that his entire life ha.
been spent in the halls of legislation. and tha'
there his fame has been earned and won They
express the belief that the Secretaryship Of tn,
Treasury would not be An advancement fol
him, and might ultimately prove detrimental
81 do not think that people generally appre
ciate the importance Of the office Of the Score
tary of the Treasury, and particularly the power
and prominence which the Office will confe,
upon its incumbent during tho incoming ad.
minirtration," said Mr.. Harry Il. Smith, assist
ant and acting register Of the treasury "Yor
will undoubtedly remember that the first rev.
epue bill was framed by Alexander Hamilton In
1859. when he Was Secretary Of the Treasury
and that it was prepared with the principle OF
protection a. its foundation. Albert Gallatin
who was Secretary Of the Treasury from 1901
to 1913, eXerted = marked influence upon reve-
nue legislation by his annual reports, and the
result Of his labors in that field extended over
period Of nearly . quarter Of a century
Treasury in 1881, cannot be forgotten by
the financial world, because of the fact
that he impressed his ideas and his strong in.
dividuslity upon tho legislation Of that time.
II was Levi Woodbury. who. as Secretary Of the
Treasury from 1884 to ls4l, prepared the re-
lation Of 1912. 1t will be readily recalled tia.
the presidential campaign of 1874 became mem
ornble for the campaign cry of the sue
cessful party which Polk, Dallas and
the tariff of AZ Robert J. Walker became
Secretary Of the Treasury in 1s45 under the
DILL "A.
that position at the head of the financial
system OF the republic that he practically di-
rected the preparation Of the revenue bill
which became law by the casting vote Of Vice
President Dallas, and that casting vote In the
Senate WAS given in opposition to the pro-
fessions OF his party and platform Of the pre-
ceding year. In 1861 Salmon P. Chase became
Secretary of the Treasury. and IL WAS under his
direction that the legal tender and the
national banking laws we're projected and largely
by bis influence that they were passed. All OF
our young men Of today remember the career
OF John Sherman as Secretary OF tho Treasury,
and how in that position he made himself
famous throughout the world As one Of the
greatest fnanciers Of his day. Specie payment
was resumed by the government during his ad-
Ininistration and many other important matters
were ocomDlished under his direction.
81 regard the position of Secretary Of the
Treasury at the present time" said Mr.. Smith,
lands second administration II will probably
be the Secretary of the Treasury, rather than
the Secretary Of State, who will be the real
premier of the administration. If Mr.. Carlisle
remains In the Senate he will, II the customs
Of the Senate are observed, be in a subordi-
nate position to Senators who have been longer
in that body than himself and who have prec-
edence over him by seniority of mem bership on
the committee on finance. Although, when he
was elected to the Senate to succeed Mr. Beck,
M. Carlisle was immediately recognized as the
ablest oratorical champion for the principles of
bis party, and was put forward to advocate
those principles upon the floor Of the Senate in
opposition to the Mckinley bill in the COM
mittee assignments Of the Senate be would nee
essarily be subordinsted to the precedents
and practice of that honorable body. As
Secretary Of the Treasury, however, Mr.
Carlisle would occupy commanding posi-
ton, and inasmuch as his experience
and abilities are spontaneously recognized not
only by his entire party but BY the country. he
would easily become the leader of his party,
next to the President, in bringing about that
revenue and financial legislation to which the
democratic party 10 SO unequivoca committed
andwhich the people expect them to enact in
compliance with the votes cast on the 9th day
Of last November.
1T is reasonably certain that whether MT Car
Isle accepts the treasury portfolio or remains
in the Senate he will, like McGregor, be at the
head o the table whenever revenue or fiscal
legislation is being matursd or considered"