Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-15


went to the Senate one
Monday morning the universal question went
up: who is this man Eckels?' The question
that followed was: What does he know about
banks?'
The answer to the first question was that Mr.
Eckels was q practicing lawyer from Ottawa:
I'LL. writer on tariff subjects and friend OF
the President. The answer to the second,
widely published and generally accepted, was
that Mr.. Eckels knew nothing about oanks-in
fact, il was common report that be had never
been in bank. This was a gross exaggeranon'
but it is fact that Mr.. Eekels had no more
knowledge of banking than any other good LAWYER
who has not taken an especial interest in bank
ing matters; in fact, Mr.. Eckels confessed 10
the writer that he had never read the nationai
banking act in its entirety before his appoint
ment.
There was a howl from many of the Senators
over tho appointment. The leaders Oh unance
In the Senate went to the Secretary OF tne
Treasury and the President and urged tnat u
be withdrawn. Mr.. Carlisle said tnst ne mao
had nothing to do with the appointment. MT
Cleveland said that he bad made u after in'eli-
gent consideration. and that II the senate
chose to reject Mr. Eckeis because OF his lack
of experience IN banking be would promptly
nominate another man who knew quite as
little. The Senate had held up the nominal
ton hoping to have il wi .hdrawn- lhere was
an impression among the Senators that the ap-
pointrnent was all mistake anyway: that some
how the President had picked the wrong name
out of a hat or that the clerks in making out
the appointment papers had juggled two of Mr..
Cleveland's selections and given Mr.. Eckels the
wrong Office. When the Senators learned that
they were mistaken and that Mr.. Cleveland
proposed to uphold Mr.. Eckels they reluctantly
confirmed the nomination. with an inward
PRAYER that the national banking system would
not 20 to the demnltion bow-wows before the
President learned what a mistake he had made
IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFICE
The importance Of the Office to which Mr..
Eckels had been appointed will be understood
when the duties of a controller of the currency
are outlined. The controller Of the currency
has entire control Of
I. The organization OF national banks
2 The appointment, with the approval OF the
Secretary Of the Treasury, Of all national bank
examiners.
g. The preparation and issue of national bauk
circulation.
A. The examination and consolidation Of the
reports Of national banks.
s. The redemption and destruction Of notes
issued by national banks.
6. The closing up OF the affairs OF all failed
national banks through receivers appointed by
him.
The men who had occupied this position be-
fore Mr.. Eckels had been men Of distinction in
finance. The most famous OF them, excepting
Hugh McCulloch, was John Jay Knox He re-
advanced to the position of controller through
q number Of minor grades in the treasury serv-
ice. ending in the deputy controliership. He
remained ia Office from 1872 to 1884. and his re-
ports constitute q standard authority on the
financial questions that arose during his term.
That this financial authority should be sue
ceeded by a beardless young man who fourteen
years ago was attending law school at Albany
seemed little less than a sacrilege to old Sem
ators like Sherman and Morrill,
De- oIr.1s hoa ha1 ~ rhonn Nd
Mr. Cleveland surprised the country by ap-
pointing him. he has given it q surprise hardly
less startling by his administration of the Office.
He has shown himself to be . clear-headed,
practical. common-sense man. He has only
tried to administer the law as he found it, on
the theory that that WAS what he was here for;
but he has shown an independence in his ad-
ministration Of il which has utterly surprised
the men who thought him youthful and mex
perienced. He has adopted David Crockett's
motto: First be sure you re right and then 60
ahead" If he has not been right In all that he
has done, he has used his best efforts to that
end at least.
The writer had conversation with Mr.
Eckels only a few days ago about himself, his
appointment and the conduct Of bis Office. He
has made a firm friend Of the newspaper cor
respondents at Washington by his willingness
to give out any information in his possession
that is Of public interest He has theory
that the people of the United States have q
right to know how the government is being adj
ministered for them, and he is perfectly frank
in his discussion of the affairs of his Office
wherever the public interest will not suffer. He
Ia just "a frank in discussing himself and his
appointment and he harbors no grudge against
the newspapers which took fling at him just
after his nomination.
Mr.. Eckels Is man of less than average
height. His face is smooth and thin. with
prominent cheek bones rather scanty blonde
eyebrows and a small mouth, with determined
expression. He speaks quietly. smiling occa-
sionally as he talks, and lingering two coins,
which he takes out Of his pocket and returns to
il again at short intervals.
STORY OF HIS APPOINTMENT
Mr. Eckels wss asked to tell the story Of his
nomination It has been told in good many
different ways. all more or less highly colored
This is the way he tells il himself:
al do not know that the story Of my nomina-
ton TO the Office Of controller Of the currency
viii interest the general public, but if you
desire to know how il came about there can be
noobjection to telling it. Some time after the in
auguration I was in Washington for the pur-
pose of resting after long. siege in court
There had been some talk of me in connection
with the United States district attornevship for
the northern district Of Illinois, an Office in the
line of NV profession and one that had
thought ] would like to have, il any
federal position were given me. and that
only because 1t would locate me in CHICAGO
under favorable auspices. have every reason
20 believe that / would have been appointed
district attorney il ] had cared sufficiently
about it, but IL seems the President concluded
to appoint me TO my present position. The
President consulted with Secretary Carlisle
about the appointment. and also spoke to Sec
Rotary Lamont the night before it was made
had known Secretary Lamont at Albany, hay-
ing attended the law school there in 1879. and
through him and others i afterward met Mr..
Cleveland and a number of men prominent in
politics in the state of New York. Mr. CIeve-
land has been one Of nv personal friends for
ten years, and has always had very kindly
feeling toward me.
My name had been mentioned in connection
with the positions Of the director of the mint
and superintendent of the census. but the
President. OF his own motion. suggested my
appointment to the controllerAhip, because BIZ
seemed to consider il place affording a better
opportunity for me to develop whatever ability
had in the line OF public service. Monday
morning. while was in the lobby of the Ar
hngton. Postmaster Gen Bissell came in and said
Il want to congratulate you Eckes' Not wish
ing to appear surprised. thanked him anG
said nothing. After time my curiosity got the
better of me, and, going over to him. said
what was il that YOU were congratulating me
on Just now? He laughed and said: The
President has determined to appoint
YOU to an Office, bu. | guess YOU car
wait until neon to hear about it,
little later while at breakfast with Gen. Tracey
- I told hin, uha. tho d.