Evening star., 1895-05-24

alarming turn for the worse, is expected
to arrive today in New York from Liver
pool.
Dr. Charles C. Stone, Mr. McCulIoch's
physician, stated that the immediate cause
of death was coma resulting from kidney
disease and hypostatic condition of the
lungs. The arrangements for the funeral
nave not been completed.
Only Official Cognizance.
Under the law the only official cognizance
that can be taken of the death of eX-Sec-
retary McCulloch is the half-masting of
the flag over the building where he served
his country so we'll. The statutes bearing
on this general subject are found in the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
rriation bill, approved March ), 1888. In
that act it IS provided:
That hereafter no building owned or
used for public purposes by the govern
ment Of the United States shall be draped
in mourning. and no part of the public
fund shall be used for such purpose.
That hereafter the executive depart
ments of the government shall not be
closed as mark to the memory of any
deceased ex-official of the United States"
Sketch of His Life.
Mr.. McCulloch was born in Kennebunk
Me-, eighty years ago December last,
and entered Bowdoin College in 1924 at the
age of sixteen years. Ill-health caused him
to give up his studies two years later be-
fore graduation, and he began to teach
school, continuing this avocation until 1929.
Taking up the study of law at this time, ne
devoted himself diligently to it, and in 1872
was admitted to the bar. He quickly per-
ceived that his native town presented few
opportunities for career, so in 1888 Mr..
MeCuloeh moved to the west, and settled
in the then small town of Fort Wayne In
diana. His ability and comprehensive in
telligence were quickly recognized here, and
in a little more than two years after his ar
rival he was made cashier and manager of
the State Bank of Indiana. 1t was in this
position, which he held until 1856, when lie
became president of the institution, that
Mr.. McCulloch cultivated the fertility of
his resourceful powers as a financier, which
were one day to be called into requIsition
in national crisis, and he become known
far and wide as shrewd and conservative
business man, who was as far-seeing as he
was careful In 1863 Mr.. McCulloch was
called from the bank presidency to become
controller of the currency under Secretary
Salmon 2. Chase The office had just been
created by Congress, and upon Mr.. McCul-
loch devolved the difficult duty of organic
Ing the bureau and putting into operation
the national banking system. The reputa-
tion he had gained in Indiana stood him N
good stead in his new place. Through his
influence and efforts the managers of state
banks and other large financial institu-
tions were induced to become national
banks, and the system flourshed under his
direction from the outset. In March, 1865,
secretary w. +. FeSSenQen, VINO naQ sue
ceeded Mr.. Chase when the latter was ele-
waited to the chief justiceship, resigned, and
President Lincoln appointed Mr.. McCulloch
Secretary of the Treasury. The latter was
at first disinclined to accept the enormous
responsibility that his promotion implied,
but upon the assurance of President Lin
coin that he would be responsible for any
mistakes that might be made Mr.. McCul-
loch entered upon the duties of Secretary.
At that period the government was in a
critical state of financial embarrassment.
The immense obligations brought upon it
by the war did not only have to be taken
care of, but there were enormous demands
to be met instantly with an almost empty
treasury to depend on in the emergency.
The salaries of nearly 500 900 soldiers and
sailors were due, and in order to pay them
it was necessary to negotiate additional
loans and there were besides other press
ing demands for money that it was impera-
tive to meet. Secretary McCulloch success
fully raised the money necessary to re-
lieve the government of its dilemma and
in six months from the time he became
secretary the reduction of the national
debt was begun. He also converted
quantity of short-time obligations into a
funded debt and in two years the financial
affairs of the treasury were in satisfac-
tory state.
Secretary McCulloch remained in office
until 1869, and in 1871 went to London,
where he was engaged in the banking busi
ness until 1878. In October, 1884, upon the
retirement of Mr.. Gresham, the present
of the treasury, Mr. McCulloch was again
appointed Secretary of the Treasury and
remained in office until the end of Presi-
dent Arthur's term.
Mr. McCulloch's ideas about the manner
in which the financial affairs of the gov
ernment should be managed may be abund-
antly gained from his annual reports. In
these, during his first incumbency of the
office of Secretary, he advised steady re-
duction of the public debt the retirement
Of legal tender notes and the speedy re-
sumption of specie payments, urging that
public debt of permanence might prove
dangerous to a republic. He did not be-
lieve the government under the Consttu-
ton had the power to make its own paper
notes lawful money, and declared that pa
per currency should be furnished by the
national banks
Mr. McCulloch was a voluminous writer
on financial and economic subjects for
magazines and newspapers, and is the au-
thor of Men and Measures of Half a
Century," which is in the nature of re-
view of the social and political changes
during that period, from 1885 to 1885. He
was a man of courtly and affable manners;
warmly hospitable and kindly and charita-
BILE to degree. Since his retirement from
active life he has resided in this city, on
Mcpherson square between and K streets,
and upon his farms in Maryland, just be-
yond the District line.
How Lincoln Made Him Secretary.
The circumstances of Mr.. McCulloch's
appointment to President Lincoln's cabinet
were recently graphically recited by Mr..
McCuhoch himself, and the story is in
these words: "A day or two after his sec
ond inauguration Mr.. Lincoln requested
me- by one of his messengers, to call upon
him at the White House at some time dur
ing the day. which did in the afternoon.
He was alone, and as he took my hand he
said, L have sent for you, Mr.. McCulloch,
to let you know that 1 want you to be my
IL