The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-23
LAWYER ECKLEs TALKS.

he Has Views of His Own Regarding the
Conduct OF the Controllers Omce.
OTTAWA, ILL.,. April 22.-On the eve of his
departure for Washington to assume the
duties of his Office. Hon. James II. Eckles.
President Cieveland's recently appointed
Controller of the Currency. was rendered q
farewell banquet by the citizens of Ottawa.
where he has resided for twelve years past.
In response to the toast Our Guest" Mr..
Eckles gave an expression of his views
concerning the conducts of his Office. He
said In part:
Criticism has been passed by many that q
practicing lawyer, rather than q skilled hnan-
bier, has been placed at the head Of bureau dis
tnctiyely a financial one. and the intimation has
been thrown out that the national bank system
may suffer serious impairment through the rash
ness OF the Controller in taking action without q
sufficient understanding OF his duties. No ini-
pairinent TO any system can be brought about by
an bonestand rigid enforcement OF the law which
governs it,and those most strenuous In their crti-
rism must not complain If the national bank act,
ms il stands apon the statute book be the rule
and guide OF the Controller The danger 10
the public; the danger 10 the banks has never
been the rashness OF the Controller, but has al
ways had its source in the Indifference OF the
bank officials TO keeping within the restrictions
OF the law. i venture the statement that the
history OF bank failures since the organization
methods OF the officials of failing banks or their
patent dishonesties, have caused the great ma
jority Of bank disasters. IL those most INFER
ested IN the national banks desire most to serve
the public and themselves. let them insist that
those placed in direct control OF these institu-
eolutely so. Let them insist that the spirit
OF the banking act TO govern official conduct be
lived up TO not less than the letter, aud that no
bank official be permitted to do by indirect
means that which he could not do under the law
directly. In the apparent keeping within the
law and yet in the absolute evasion on the part
In hfald MIA NJ u IN ha
found that which makes the Office or Control
Ter difficult one and renders II essential that
those who have at heart the interest OF the sys-
tenn should urge instead of protest against the
very strictest construction of the act that has
given them such power and profit and the pub
lie at critical times the highest benefit To this
end shall / strive: always that the law shall
be enforced, that business and moral integrity
shall characterize those connected with the
bureau, and that In no case shall the public in
terests be sacrificed to political expediency.
may be pardoned in view of the doubts OF
many as TO the wisdom of the Presidents nomi-
nation OF me, II l insist that the interest and
well being OF the Controllers office and the
credit or the administration be held in higher
esteem than the building up of some political
leader with his constituents. / am not averse TO
partisanshIp. but the part1saDship which works
the highest good 10 the partyis that which draws
distinctly the line OF demarkation between po-
htical questions and business propositions It is
not the partisanship that would make every bank
examiner political agent, and the test OF his
efficient service which he might render at q
party primary. When we have reached the
point where we can view the business side of
every public question, apart from its political
one. we will be freed from the troubles that have
more than once returned TO plague u.s.
Who can doubt but that less of politics and
more OF business Judgment would have pre-
vented the placing upon the statute books of the
United States an act which to-day is giving the
Secretary of the Treasury hours of anxious
thought 10 maintain the Nations credit.
Democratic partisans and Republican partisans
striving for party advantage gave to the
special silver interests the sherman law, as
against the business judgment OF even the author
OF lt himself, and as result the financial world
Il agitated to the very center the prospect OF
silver monetary system here in opposition 10 that
of every nation OF recognized commercial stand
Ing. The disasters that its continued operation
threaten may be ayerted for the present through
wise and heroic acts of the President and the
Secretary OF the Treasury. but just ii
remains through the year unrepealed Just so
sure shall the gold coin of the Nation be dra WI
. from circulation and dcbauched and dis
credited silver dollar be given ne in its stead.