The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-21

IL Vas Victor Hugo who sssd In dsTt-
sion Of the proposition to make Louis Ma
poleon president Of the French republic OF
Js9s. AFTER Augustus must Ne have Au-
rustulus; sitter Napoleon the Great must
vs submit 10 Napoleon the Littis?" This
d about the way thas Intelligent bankers
aid msn of business felt whom IL Was an
nDunced that President Cleveland had
appointed James H. Eckeis. Chicago
lawyer Of no particular consequence.
comptroller Of the currency.
Next TO the secretary Of the treasury
Tie Office Of comptroller Of the currency
u the most important Office Of the depart
msnt II has always been filled by men
Of superior knowledge Of financial ques-
tions. obtained either in banking or in the
stady Of national finances through long
/ congressional service. In no previous
esss do We remember that person by his
own confession absolutely ignorant Of
nsiionsl banking and finance was ever sp-
peInted 10 this very important Office.
John Jay Knox for . number Of years
Allied this important ONCE Of comptroller
Of the currency; . man not only Of large
experience - banker and man OF BUSH
ssss. but = fnaneier Of the highest order
Of natural ability and acquired learning.
The present comptroller OF the currency.
Eckels. Who 10 rafting around in the
shoes once filed by john Jay Knox. II .
! Chicago Democratic Cleveland mugwump
lawyer, Who, with Characteristic AFRO
ssncs. remarked whom he heard that he
hsd been nominated to an important posi-
don In the treasury. that he knew sbso-
lutsly nothing about finance or banking.
anil would b. Obliged 70 study up to
tdischargs his duties"
I The country has heard from NJ. Eckeis.
ana he appears 70 view his highly import
tast and responsible position With the eye
! Of = petty lawyer rather than with that Of
10 sobsr-mindsd. sensible financier. The
country hears from Mr. Ecksls chiefly
when he eoes TO dinner party and under
tales 20 tell the nation what be knows
abeus finance between the sherry and the
shsmpagne.
Row Mr.. Ecksls 10 not perhaps 70 blame
FOR knowing even less about finance than
he does about law. but he 10 to blame for
,,ot telling the truth. He Is in . position
10 know what sections of the country have
sseen hit hardest in the recent monetary
and commercial squeeze aud yet in his
..ecsnt speech he said.
Disasters have fallen upon speculative
institutions and the boom cities of the
states OF Washington. California Colo
iado. Kansas and Missouri, which have in
iufa injured the solvent ones, but the
ttases oi New England and the East. and
lhose of the Northwest have thus far cs-
cared. and w,ii. because the foundations
tspssa which they aro built are rock aud
3,ot sand"
i lsthis means anything ID means that
Che states OF Washington aud California
sn she Pacific coast have furnished the
taos, conspicuous illustrations Of .'dias-
ssfs which have fallen upon speculative
sns5itntions aud boom cities" throughout,
Sac country. According to Btadssrees's the
;i'aeiic coast. while hit harder than New
England. has suffered tar less than the
Middle states. the South or the Middle
Ntst. whose center Is Mr. Eckels' home of
chicago.
The official statement Of commercial and
.sarking failures for Indiana. Ohio, North
.ssskota, Illinois. Nebraska. Minnesota aud
;aisconsin makes tar worse showing than
snything on this Coast. The state OF Cal
f'osaia has. comparatively speaking. made
sn excellent showing; SO has Oregon; 40
hAs asaingioa. and Mr.. Eckels has no
BUSINESS. either IN ignorance. malice or in.
'iifterence, to lend the weigh, of his official
speech To = false and exaggerated ..,,s.
sasai concerning the boom cities" of the
:t'aelfc coast To the average eve here in
Washington Compsroller Eesels looks like
cuckoo under a saafioxeT. hs - a little
:saaa under his hat.