The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-06
H-U-M-P-H-R-E-Y-S
DAVID a. WELLS DEAD.
He Died Yesterday at Norwich at
the Age of 20.
Norwich. Conn, Nov. 5.-David A. Wells

Norwich. Conn, Nov. 5.-David A. Wells,
The political economist, died at his home
In this city this afternoon. aged 70 years.
David A. Wells was born at Springfield,
Mass, June II, 1898. He was lineal des-
cendant on his fathers side of Thomas
Wells, governor of the colony Of Connec-
ticut from 1865 10 165S and on his mothers
side from David Ames, who under Wash
ington, built and established the National
armory at Springfield, Mass He and his
brother, Oliver Wells, were the founders
OF the well known manufacturing and
railroad building family of Massachusetts
In 1911 he graduated from Williams Col
lege, and became assistant editor of the
Springfield Republican. While connected
with the Republican. Mr.. Wells suggested
the idea and was associated in the inven-
ton for folding newspapers and books by
machinery. In 1s49 he left journalism and
entered the Lawrence Scientific School of
Harvard University, from which he grad
uated in 1852. He subsequently was APP.
pointed an assistant professor in that in
stitution. While at Cambridge in 1848 he
commenced the publication of the AN
nual Scientific Discovery" which was con-
tinued for many years.
Mr.. Wells first became prominent in pub
lie life in 1864, while residing in Troy, n.
Y, by the publication of a pamphlet en-
titled our Burden and Our Strength"
demonstrating the financial strength of the
federal government and its ability to de-
fray the cost of the war.
One result of this publication was a con-
ference between President Lincoln and
Mr.. Wells, at the request of the President,
in February. 1863 to decide as to the best
means of dealing with the national debt
and raising revenue for the payment of
the interest.
At the request of the President Congress
subsequently created a commission of
three persons to inquire into the subject
of raising by taxation the revenue
needed TO supply the wants OF
the government. Mr.. Wells was appointed
chairman of the commission. The report
made by this commission in 1866 led to
the creation for MIR. Wells Of a special
office, running for four years. as special
commissioner of the revenue of the Unit
ed States In this office Mr.. Wells eff
fected an entire reconstruction of the in
ternal revenue system of the country. In
1863 he drafted a complete bill for re-
vision of the tariff, which passed the Sem
ate, but failed in the House of Represent
atives
On retiring from federal office in 1870
he was appointed by the Governor of New
York chairman of a commission to inves-
tigate the state taxation. He submitted
two reports in 1872 and 1878, and draft
of a code of law. He was afterwards re-
ceiver of two railroads, and later a men,
Der of the national board of railroad ar
bitration, president of the national board
of visitors at West Point, president of
the New London County Connecticut
Historical Society and president of the
American Social Science League
Mr.. Wells was originally a Republican
but after the Cincinnati convention of 1872
he voted the Democratic ticket. In 1870
he was elected a member OF the Golden
Club and in 1871 he was made an honorary
member of the Royal Statistical Society Of
England. In 1874 he was elected to the
French Academy to fill the chair made
vacant by the death of John Stewart
Mill. He was made a D. c. l.. by the
University of oxford. England, and a
LII. D. by Harvard and Williams.
In 1889 he was awarded the great gold
medal at the French exposition for his
contribution to economic literature. He
was the author of number of books on
tariff and financial questions. He ran
for Congress from the third Connecticut
district in 1876, and again in $780, but was
defeated both times in a strongly Re-
publican district. He was an opponent of
the income tax and repudiated the Chicago
platform of 1885,
Mr.. Wells was twice married. His Sec
ond wife survives him. also a son, David
Dwight Wells, who was for a time as
sistant secretary of legation at London.