The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-11
Prefers to Be Senator Rather
Than Secretary.
Why Dingley Declined to Become
Secretary OF Treasury.

| nave fallon TO the lot OF any other Ameri-
can citizen now living Mr.. Allison was
asked to DO secretary of the treasury under
President Garfield, which he declined. Ho
was asked to take the same place by Prosi-
| dent Arthur, and again he declined. Pres
ident Harrison begged him very hard TO be
his secretary of the treasury, but his ap-
peals met with the same fate. General
! Harrison was very persistent in bis efforts
TO secure the services Of Mr.. Allison. /
! have heard that he begged for a long time
and finally threatened, not openly, but in
directly; but TO 10 purpose Now Senator
Allison declines to be Mr. McKinley's Sec
retary OF state. -Four dcclnations, three
of one cabinet post and one of another, is
believed TO bo tho record.
Aiiison's Popularity.
Senator Allison's friends almost unani-
mously uphold his decision as wise. He
occupies unique and enyiable place In the
senate. He is tho leader of the Republican
side, and as that leader has more influence
than he could have even in the great Office
OF secretary Of the treasury or secretary of
state. In addition to being tho Republican
leader, Mr.. Allison Is perhaps the most
popular man In congress. He is almost
wholly without enemies, and every one de-
lights TO be considered his friend. His
lines have indeed fallen in pleasant places.
His carser as public man is almost ideal,
and he naturally Is unwilling to change IL
for ills which no knows not Of.
Governor Dingleys' declinatlon of the
treasury department was a genuine sur
prise In Washington and throughout tho
country. Mr.. Dingley had been generally
looked upon as the coming secretary Of the
treasury. It was well known here that
President Elect Mckinley bad turned to
him rs first choice. Major Mckinley and
Governor Dinpley had been warm friends
IN congress, ard scarcely any one doubted
THAT the invitation, given with SO much
good feeling ana carnestness, would be re-
sponded TO with an acceptance. At one
tme Governor Dinsloy was strongly mind
ed TO accept, but no was ultimately led to
contrary conclusion through various con-
siderations.
Governor Dingley's Views.
Among these Is ono Of his temperament
tai pecularties. Governor Dingley is pc
culiar IN that he has u strong repugnanco
To assuming responsibility for any branch
OF work which he cannot personally know
tho details Of Since Governor Mckinley
offered him. tho secretary ship of the treas
ury he has looked very carefully into the
details Of the department., and no has had
confirmed in striking way bis original
opinion as 20 the duties Of that great Office.
He has convinced himself for instance.
that as secretary of tho treasury it would
DO absolutely necessary for him TO sign
thousands Of letters, hundreds of orders and
important documents without anything
more than general knowledge of their
cortents. Every secretary of the treasury
has 20 do this.
why" said Governor Dlngley TO me in
discussing this phase Of the matter, IF
were secretary Of tho treasury, l should
consider it my bounden duty 60 know what
was going on In the bureau of engraving
and printing and other great bureaus Of
tho department. for which should be held
responsible. l know myself too we'll to
overlook the feet that L could not sleep Of
nights unless l paid periodical visits to
that bureau to SEQ how matters were com
ing on. AS with tho bureau of engraving
and printing, whore ], 900 men are employ
ed So with other branches of the great
treasury department. Ii l were to under
take to meet the responsibilities of that of
flee in the way which my conscience and
methods should dictate would kill my
self could not endure the strain. My
health is fairly good, but could not stand
that l work hard in congress and in the
on ways and means. But there
l know just what l am doing. do not |
have to take other peoples word for things. |
IL is all within my own control. 1 assume |
for my own acts alone"
Two Overloaded Departments.
Governor Dingley went on to point out |
TO me that tho treasury is too big depart. |
ment for any one man To manage. The |
Is too great. The depart |
mont has been loaded with oil sorts Of !
things till il Is now pretty nearly one half |
the government. 1t embraces, besides the |
and auditing bureaus which |
belong TO 1t, such extensive |
branches of the public service as the super |
yising architects office, which has charge |
Of hundreds and hundreds of public build |
ings throughout the country. 1t embraces
the great life saving service, which ex-
tonds all along our coasts, both ocean and |
lake. 1t embraces the lighthouse system
Of tho governments, which is great estab-
Iishmcnt 1t takes In also tho inspection
of steamboats, the marine hospitals, the
bureau OF navigation and tho bureau of
Governor Dingley's deollnation Of the
honorable post of secretary of the treasury
md the reasons which lie assigns therefor
afford another argument I'm favor OF ro-
organization Of tho great departments OF
the government. Tho treasury and the in
terior department nre overloaded. Be-
tween thom they embrace SO great % part
II the government service that two other
departments could easily be made out OF
hem. For long time there has been agi-
alton I'm favor of the creation of "a depart
nent Of commerce, 10 which such bureaus
ls the inspection Of steam boats, the light
houses, tho life saving system, the coast
md gcodetic survey. tho bureaus Of naviRa-
ion and immigration and perhaps the
public building operations could Le as
'ignod with advantage 90 the government
orvioo. In the interior department. the
luhlio lands, the patents, the railroads
md rorhaps other buie7us could bo
Merged In tho now department. with
'quaily good results. Tho time has come
or realizing that the United States gov
rnmeut has outgrown It's original notcs
ind bounds to a Hrcnt extent and that a
Is necessary.