Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-12
Felt at Washington at Senator
AIIison's DecIination.
He Prefers to Be Senator Rather
Than Secretary Of State.
Why Mr.. Dingley Refused to Be Secretary Of
the Treasury.

dent Mckinley's cabinet Senator Allison
has now declined four offers to take cab
| met posts, probably greater number than
have fallen to the lot of any other Ameri
| can citizen now living. Mr. Allison was
asked to be secretary of the treasury under
President Garfield, which he declined. He
was asked to take the same place by Presi
dent Arthur. and again he declined. Pres
| ident Harrison begged him very hard to be
| his secretary of tho treasury, but his ap
| peals net with the same fate. General
! Harrison was very persistent in his efforts
| to secure the services Of Mr.. Allison. |
| have heard that lie begged for a long time
and finally threatened, not openly, but in
directly; but TO no purpose, Now Senator
! Allison declines 10 be Mr. Mckinley g sec
rotary of stste -Four destinations, three
of one cabinet post and one of another, is
| believed 10 be the record.
Allison's Popularity.
Senator Allison friends almost unani-
mopsly upheld his decision as wise. He
| occupies Il unique aud cIyiabIo place in the
| senate. He is The leader Of the Republican
| side, and rs mat leader has more influence
| than he could lave oven in tho great ofliet
| of secretary Of the treasury or secretary OF
| state. In addition to being the Republican
| leader Mr.. Allison is perhaps the most
| popular man i'll congress. He is almost
! wholly without enemies, and every one de
| lights to be. considered his friend. Hi.
lines have indeed fallen in pleasant places
His career as a public man is almost ideal
and he naturally is unwilling to change il
for ills which he knows not of.
Governor Dineleys declination OF the
treasury Upr1ptmppt wac 81 rpuuipp
prise III Washington and throughout thf
country MI ihngley had Been generally
looked upon as the ccmlng secretary OF the
treasury. 1t was well known here that
fresioent Elect Mckinley had turned e.
MIN as lrst cholcc. Major Mckinley and
governor Dlngley had been warm friend
IN congress, ana scarcely any one doubted
'hat the lhNitauoh. gwen with so muci
good ieeilng and earEestnesS would be re
spondeo to with an acceptance. At ont
time Governor Dlngley was strongly mind
Ell to accept but he was ultimately led L
contrary conclusion through various con
s'deratiohs'
Governor Dingley's Views.
Among these is one of his Temperament
tai peculiarities. Governor Din8ley is pc
culiar In that he has strong repugDance
to assuming responsibility for any brancl
OF work which he cannot personally know
the details of. Since Governor Mckinley
offered him the secretaryship of the treas
ury he has looked very carefully into tbs
details Of the department, and he has had
confirmed in striking way his original
opinion as TIC the duties OF that great office
He has convinced himself, for instance,
that as secretary of the treasury it would
be absolutely necessary for him TO sign
thousands OF letters, hundreds of orders and
Important documents without anything
more than general knowledge OF theit
contents Every secretary OF the treasury
mas 20 90 TINS.
why, SAID Governor Dlngley TO me IL
discussing thls phase OF the matter, II
We're secretary OF the treasury shoulc
consider IL my pounden duty TO know what
was gong on IN the bureau OF engraving
ana pruning ana other great bureaus OF
inc oepaft'heht ior "hich shouid De hei"
respohsipie know myse't too well t.
overlook the fact mat could not sleep OF
nights Unless l PAID periodical visits t.
tha' bureau TO see now matters were com
ing on. AS Win inc bureau OF engraving
ana printing, where ,ooo men are employ
ed, SD WIN other branches OF the gfeei
treasury department II were to under
take TO meet the RESPONSIVENESS OF that OF,
ice IN the way winch my conscience anu
methoos snould dictate, would XII my
sell: couid not endure the strain. Ny
heaith Is ialri! eoou, put couio not stahe
| that. work hard IN congress ana In tht
committee On ways ana means. but thefi
kho" ]ust What am uolng. 90 no'
nave 10 take other people word lor Things
II is an Withih my own cohtfoi assuihe
responsibility LOT my own acts alone
Two overloaded departments.
Governor Dingley went on to point out
to me that the treasury is too big depart
ment for any one man to manage. The
responsibility is too great. The depart
ment has been loaded with all sorts oil
things till 1t Is now pretty nearly e-half
the government. 1t embraces, besides q
accounting and auditing bureaus VIII
naturally belong to 1t, such extensive
branches of the public service as the super
vising architect office, which has charge
of hundreds and hundreds of public build
! iDgs throughout the country. 1t embraces
the great life saving service, which ex
tends all along our coasts, both ocean and
lake. 1t embraces the lighthouse system