The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-13

man replied that he found the work
OF the treasury no harder for
MIN than that of the United States
senate. and that the matters with whi>h
he had 10 deal In the treasury were
those with which he mad been
throughout bis life familiar.
asked Secretary Gage the same question
today. and he gave me substantially the
same answer. Stil. the treasury rs the
biggest department Of our government.
It's secretary has 10 handle millions. He
has more than 1880 men in his employ.
and the vast amounts Of money for whi,h
he Is responsible surpass the widest
dreams OF Aladdin or the treasures OF
Monte cristo. The business connected
with the treasury is enormous. r. en-
braces the whole country and with giant
hands reaches even across the oceans.
and puts its fingers even into the vaults
o. foreign nations. The work OF this
Office in the past has been so great that
many famous men who have tried 10 cope
with ID have staggered at the start.
struggled under the load and fallen dead
in the attempt. You know how the pearls
OF sweat ran down Carlisle's sonbre. sal
low face and how the bankers OF Wall
street and London had IN be called IN 10
help him bear pp under it, You remember
how Secretary Folger in Arthur's time.
tried 70 spread himself ont under the
treasury load SO that ever biz OF II might
be supported upon his back, and how IL
crushed him. Then Daniel Manning, in
the prime of his manhood. took up the
burden and had his life squeezed out by
IL. Then Secretary Window attempted
the task, only 10 drop dead in the midst
OF his iabors. and now, when the duties
OF the situation are even greater than be-
fore and the load. IL anything. heavier
than before we have a man who appears
10 be carrying II with ease. Why Is II
thar business which proves the death
Of many is so easily carried on by some?
1t lies in the nature az the men, their
abilities and their experience.
Forty Years Banker.
Secretary Gage for instance. Is a born
banker and his life has been spent in
handling money. Let me give you his
biography in a nutshell.
Porn I'm New York about sixty-one
years aro during the last days of Presi-
dent Jackson. Beginning his life as a
messenger in n bank when he was eigh-
teen years old AT $ a month. AT twenty
two night Waterman in /, mber yard Of
Chicago. hunting in vain for another stu
alton in hank At twenty-three
hookkeeper i'm the Merchants Saving and
Loan Company Of Chicago at 500 yea.
\ few months later paving teller in the
same institution az $3.50 a year. and at
twonty-ssx the ~ shier. with a salary %
>.
cashier Of the First National Bank OF
Chicago then It's vice-presdent and gen
eral manager and finally some years since
succeeding To the presidency At q salary
~ ssS go a year He left the presidency
20 he secretary of the treasury. There is
the story. Fer forty years he has been
a banker For thirty years he has been
handling large sums % money and for
more than q score millions have been
constantly under his eyes. His work in
the United States treasury is not new 10
him and as FAR as ! con see II seems 10
ne easy When ] called upon him today
II was at the close az his business hours.
lie looked as fresh Il he had just corle
from his morning bath. Ills eyes az that
clear PALE blue found upon fine old china
were free from worry. and although their
owner is past threeScore saw but little
sian OF crows feet AZ their corners.
AChnt with Mr. Gage.
said TO Nr Gage that he did not look
ike an overworked or oFerworried man.
He replied that he did rot feel so, ard
fnv question rs 70 whether x was 4 n7Ti
Job 30 Dee secretary OF the treasury ma
turaliy followed TO this The secretary
replied,
Il know that this Office is generally con-
slae.szl very difficult one anil that Il Is
said 70 have been the death ~ former Sec
~etarYeS The treasury department. is \
great machine II IL Well built. and IL -
now in good running order The Wheels
rsens 70 ~ perfectly one into the ether.
The parts are good. and the machinery is
aen Oiled # has been running for
years. and 81 seems 10 me 20 work very
smoothly and we'll.
''Haw about the safety valves Mr. So
s,retarv7" said I ARE there enough ~
them 10 prevent less or to avoid the dam
ger O. wreck king the institution
Yes" reuled Secretary Gage. "the
treasury has its checks ard satety guards
ssveryvShera These are we'll arranged ana
effective Though 20 practical business
ruan It may sometimes seem that there are
too many u" them"
rnctc sans zig cash Account
How much mouey have you on hand
now Mr Gage
Here IS foday's statement" said TIE
SECRETARY ~ the treasury as ne picked
up a sheet % figures an5 looked Il over
SNe have 50 round numbers more th3n
two hundred and twrnfg'-eisht millions ~
dollars on har3 o~ setting asste one
hundred million dollars as 3 gold rvr
~ have cash H8l2nce e o0e hundred
ard twenty eight million Ap'iarS The
feet Sc that we nsxe a hundred ana FORTY
-ye million dollars 5n gold. rvrntv-f}vs
l4on dollars in silver cer9s@rates trd
uite more than tnlrty-thrse UG'Iou del
lars fn tEsEsary notes
Ian you ten ri Secretary ta-t hax
fa,.sh money you take In evrre 8ay-'-
certainly W. -an~ VAS thc re-fv
I'VE kuoN 20 cauf tGst Vnat ~ are
seeming and what w. are receiving To-
sae fer Instance we h-ve Eatthu over
es1r rise frare castQ9S We zot SIS sa
from th,. Internal revenue snt a}o-t 81. SGD
srafu 8theT so'lre@s All gol& today wo
esve taken IL Ss e.fE- - tar &ets
...,.ttE- 49, haNs Fs4r..tfr.H esf -