Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-04-04
QUITE A SURPRISE.
Appointment of an Illinoisan to
important Position,
AND ONE HE HADN'T ASKED FOR.

Eckeis Made comptroller OF the Currency
When He Wanted Something Else -
Criticism of the Nomination-List of the
Latest Seiectione, with Sketches of Some
of Them Senator Eoar Prepares to
Fight the Proposed Election of Senators
by the People.
WASHINGTON. April 4.-The most sur
prised man in Washington yesterday was
James II. Eckels, of Ottawa, Ills, who
was nominated for comptroller of the cur
rency. He was a candidate for altogether
different office and fairly taken by
surprise when his name came in. He said,
with more frankness than judgment, that
he knew nothing about the office or its
duties, had never had any banking exper-
fence and didn't understand why he had
been selected for the place. He supposed
that the president had made his selection
for personal reasons, as they had become
acquainted during Eckels' term in the law
school at Albany Eckels was candidate
for district attorney for the northern dis
trict of Illinois, but had been given to I'M
derstand some days ago that he would not
get that position. 80
Think 1t RathersIssmarkable.
Illinois Democrats are very much aston
ished at the appointment of Eckels and are
inquiring with more emphasis than ele-
gance as to who Eckels is and why he was
appointed. He was not Endorsed, it is I'M
derstood, by Illinoisans, having relied on
his personal acquaintance with the presi-
dent TO help him to get the other position
for which he was an applicant. The posi-
ton of comptroller of the currency is an
extremely important one in financial af-
fairs, and the incumbent is in charge of
everything pertaining to national banks
and the selection of a man without the
slightest experience in that line, and who
is only 81 years of age is considered most
remarkable
, Names of the Prize Winners
The list of yesterdays nominees is as
follows: William Edmond Curtis, of
New York, assistant secretary of the treas
ury; Charles S. Hamlin, of Massachusetts,,
assistant secretary of the treasury; James
II. Eckels, of Illinois, comptroller of the
currency; James F. MelIne, of the District
of Columbia, assistant treasurer of the
United States; J. Stobo Farrow, of South
Carolina, second auditor of the treasury;
John b. Brawley, of Pennsylvania, audi
tor of the treasury for the postoffice de-
partment; James j. Willie, of Florida,
deputy fifth auditor of the treasury; Dud-
ley o. Watson, of Michigan collector of
customs for the district of Michigan.
Postmasters: Iowa, Francis A. Glass,
Cresco. Illinois, Stephen Oliver, Griggs-
vile; Miss Rebecca Shape, Petersburg. In
diana, Orris T. Dickerson, Spencer; Albert
A. May, Connelltoni Wisconsin,, William
A. Hume. Chiffon; J ohm Finch, Stevens
Point; John Dave. Edgerton.
Curtis Was an ''Anti-Snapper"
William Edmond Curtis, nominated for
the Office of assistant secretary of the
treasury, was born in New York in 1855.
His father was Chief Justice William Ed
mond Curtis, of the supreme court. Judge
Curtis was elected to the bench in 1872 in
the fight against the Tweed ring. Young
Curtis WAS educated at Trinity collie ge,
and graduated with honor from the Column
bia Law school in 1877. He then began the
practice of law with Mr.. Stearns, who is
now his partner. For some time the
firm occupied quarters in the same build
ing as President Cleveland. Curtis was
treasurer of the committee of fifty at the
Syracuse convention, and also treasurer of
the provisional state committee.
Was Dan Lamont's CIassmate.
James II. Eckels was born in Princeton,
Ills. thirty-fi years ago. After passing
through the schools there he attended the
Union university at Albany, where he was
q classmate of Daniel Lamont. He was
admitted to the bar in 1880, and at once
went to Ottawa, Ills, where he has been
associated with Senator O'Conor, James
w. Duncan and Hiram T. Gilbert. He has
been power in local politics. Mr., Eckels
is son of James S. Eckles. . prominent
attorney of Princeton, and son-in-law of
John F. Reed. Of Ottawa. 1t Is understood
that Eckels' backing fof an appointment
WIS quite as much by Republicans as by
pemocrats. A delegation of his friends
which went on to New York shortly after
Cleeeland's election in his interest, it is
said, included number Of Republicans.
Record of Other Appointees.
Hamlin is q lawyer, q tariff reform
Lacquer and q civil service reformer; Braw-
ley Is lawyer OF Meadville, Pa; Willie
Has been q clerk in the interstate COM
merce commission for years; Farrow was
q chief of division, sixth auditors depart
pnent, under Cleveland before.
Omcial Gleanings.
There were 119 heads chopped off by the
postoffice department ak yesterday, eight
1zn being from Illinois and seven from In
diana.
The resignation of Martin d. Bailey. of
Illinois, law clerk of the pension bureau,
has been accepted.
Ambassador Bayard took the oath of
Office yesterday.
POPULAR ELECTION OF SENATORS.
Hosr's Resolution Likely to Bring ON q
Debate that Subject.
WASHINGTON, April At appears from
a resolution introduced in the senate yes
terday as if the debate on the subject of
the election of senators by direct vote of
the people was to be renewed at this extra