Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-24

well banquet by the citizens Of Ottawa,
where he has resided for twelve years
past. In response to the toast "Our
Guest" Mr.. Eckels gave interesting ex-
preston TO his views concerning the
conduct of his office. He said in part:
''The Office bestowed upon me un-
sought, though it was, is not unappre-
ciated or it's great responsibilities under
estimated. From its creation under the
exigencies of the civil war TO the very
present, the office Of the Comptroller OF
the Currency of itself has ranked high
in the estimation Of the public, while
added honor has been given it by the
character of those who have heretofore
filled il with credit to themselves and
benefit to the nation.
Criticism has been passed by many
that practcing lawyer rather than
skilled financier had been placed at the
head of bureau, distinctively tinan-
cial one, and the intimation has been
thrown out that the national bank sys-
TEN may suffer serious impairment
through the rashness Of the Comptroller
in taking action without a sufficient
understanding Of his duties. No i'm
pairment to any system can be brought
about by an honest and rigid enforce
ment OF the law which governs 1t, and
those most strenuous in their criticism
must not complain II the national bank
act as IL stands upon the statute
book be the rule and guide OF the
COMPTROLLER. The danger to the public;
the danger TO the banks has never been
the rashness Of the Comptroller, but
has always had it's source in the In
difference OF bank officials in keeping
within the restrictions of the law. l
venture the statement that the history
Of bank failures since the organization
of the first bank will prove that the
loose methods of the officials OF falling
banks or their patent dishonesties have
caused the great majority OF bank dis
asters.
In the apparent keeping within the
law and yet In the absolute evasion OF 1t
on the part of many who hold these
places OF trust, is to be found that which
makes the office of comptroller difficult
one, and renders essential that those
who have at heart the interests OF the
system should urge, instead to protest
against, the very strictest construction
of the act that has given them such
power and profit and the public at times
the highest benefit. To this end then l
shall strive always that the laws shall be
enforced, that business and moral in
tegrity shall characterize those connect
ed with the bureau and that In no
instance shall the public's inter
ests be sacrificed to political
expediency. l may be pardoned in view
of the doubts of many as to the wisdom
of the Presidents nomination of me,
IL Insist that the interest and well
being Of the Comptroller's Office and the
credit of the administration be held
in higher esteem than the building
up of some politicsl leader with his
constituents. / am not averse TO parti-
sanship but partisianship which works
the highest good to the party Is that
which draws distinctly the line OF
demarkation between political ques-
tions and business propositions, 1t is
not the partisanship that would
make every bank examiner
political agent and the
test Of his abilities as a guardian Of the
public's trust, the efficient service
which he might render at party pri-
mary. Who can doubt that less Of pol
itics and more of business judgment
would have prevented the placing
upon the statute books Of
the United States an act which to-
day causes the Secretary Of the Treas
ury hours Of ANXIOUS thought TO main
tain 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 judgement
of even the author Of it himself,
and as result the financial
world is agitated to the very center at
the prospect of q silver monetary sys-
TEN here in opposition to that OF every
nation of recognized commercial stand
ing. The disasters that its continued
operation threaten may be averted for
the present through wise and heroic
acts Of the President and the Secretary
of the Treasury, but just so sure as it
remains through the year unrepealed
Just so sure shall the gold coin OF the
nation be drawn from circulation and
debauched and discredited silver dollar
be given To us in its stead"