Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18

SECRETARY CHARLES FOSTER.
are when they have just reached the two-score
mark, and the immense amount Of labor he in
dulges in daily would afford solid support for
theory that the fnancier is only about half way
along on the road to that sixty-fourth mile post,
which he will never see again. No responsibility
is more burdensome than that which involves
large sums of money, and vet Secretary Foster
displays fewer signs of worry than any other
member of President Harrison's official family
The weight of millions of dollars fails to crush
the elactisity of his spirit: the absence Of those
same millions just when they are most needed
cannot wipe out the smile which frequently
decorates his face.
MR.. FOSTERS METHOD OF WORK.
Secretary Foster is a remarkably rapid
worker. His mental grasp is comprehensive
and its operations are never clogged by dull
ness. An in.imation Is frequently as effective
with him as the detailed narrative would be to
many men; his instinct penetrates the core Of
the subject with almost unerring success.
Combined with this rare gift is a business tai
ent and enegy not too frequently found in the
government service. His wide experience as a
banker, his general knowledge of men and of
worldly affairs, his congressional experience
serving on the ways and means, appropriations
and the library committees-have given him
great advantages; these he unconsciously util-
ICES at every opportunity. Professionally he il
a banker and he has applied his banking meth
DDS with conspicuous success. He did the same
thing when he was governor of Ohio. The
state debt was cleared up during his admins
tration. and when he left the gubernatorial
chair the state institutions were in excellent
condition.
Persons who have been associated with Secre-
tary Foster credit him with being frank in all
his dealings with public men. He knows lust
what Representative representa-. He watches
legislative news closely and has q more intimate
knowledge OF congressional affairs than the
majority of those who spend their days at the
Capitol and their nights in the hotel Hobbies.
In his converse with public men with any
other men whom he sees officially the Secretary
wastes no time. He talks rapidly and Interest,"
ingly, makes up his mind in a few moments and
then sticks to his decision.
Secretary Foster is not lawyer: his mental
vision is keen enough. but it finds no pleasure
In looking for hy-specks. An instance in point
Is a fair sample of the Secretary's businesslike
views He decided to appoint a commission to
select site for the Philadelphia mint. Legal
authority In the supervising architects office
said there was no law for such procedure, where
upon Mr.. Foster said it was poor lawyer who
could not find law which permitted the Secre-
tary to do what he wanted to. The clerk was
ordered to go ahead and prepare the necessary
papers. Congress approved the Secretary
action by appropriating 5000, 900 toward the
mint construction on the site selected by the
commission.
u
nent features in the Secretary's character.
Often when a subordinate is presenting case
very seriously and with all dignity the Secre-
tary will inject a funny comment which will
take all the Official starch out of the situation
His general manner is most kindly; even his
political enemies appreciate his conciliatory
tactics. There are times, though, when he can
be and is positive and severe. That severity is
the more apparent because Of its rarity. He
Will not tolerate any appearance Of dishonesty
or deceit Any effort to evade the facts in
case will be promptly discouraged.
Secretary Fosters judgment as a financier is
regarded as remarkably good. He it was who
succeeded (the plan having been approved by
the Presidency in securing the extension Of the
"a per cent bonds at 2 per cent-ths lowest
rate OF interest ever paid by any government
for a loan. The international monetary con-
ference was. SO far as the plans we're concerned
practically success before the matter was
PLACED in the hands Of the State Department
people for official correspondence. The Secre-
tary had consulted with President Harrison
quite frequently on that subject and they had
settled the whole matter.
HIS DAILY ROUTINE.
Each day has a program that closely resem-
bles the program of any other day. The Secre-
tary is at his Office by Q O'Clock and at once
buries himself in his mail In this he has the
the experienced assistance Of his private secre-
\ tary, Mr.. Robert J. Wynne. Mr.. Wynne has q
wide acquaintance with the American man and
knows whose letters ought to be placed before
the Secretary and whose should repose in the
waste basket Replies are dictated to q STEM
ographer and by 10 o'clock the Secretary in
ready to greet the steady stream Of callers. The
visitors are from all parts of the Union, but the
majority come from the west, where Gov. Foe
ter has unbounded popularity. On cabinet days
the Secretary starts for the White House
just before 11:s0. Luncheon is in order about
o'clock, and ate o'clock the indefatigable man
Is once more at his desk. Then come the let
tiers which need his signature; the warrants
paying out money quite q serious performance
at this time); certified copies of papers required
as evidence in courts Of law, especially the
Court Of Claims; bids for buildings and fur
nishing, letters Of appointment and removal
Ono small job, for throughout the country there
are II 600 treasury employes) and Q hundred
other varieties Of official papers. An tbsss
papers have been checked by the proper officers
and read by Private Secretary Wynne. Every
safeguard is used and every document under
goes the most rigid scrutiny.
As rapidly as the Secretary subscribes hie an