Evening star., 1901-12-14
TREASURER'S OFFICE
Bureau Which Antedates Declara-
tion of Independence.
MICHAEL HILLEGAS FIRST INCUMBENT
Served Until the Department Was
Recognized.
SOME INTERESTING DATA

A recent investigation Of the question
| as to who Ia entitled to the first place on
the list Of treasurers OF the United States
| has demonstrated that some old traditions
are at fault, and not the least interesting
point brought out Is that the office is one
| Of the first established by the government.
1t formed the germ from which the Treas
| ury Department was evolved, and its early
incumbents were fully as patriotic as the
most sturdy Of the revolutionary sres, de-
voting their 'lives. fortunes and sacred
| honors' to this most important office.
which antedates even the Declaration OF
| Independence.
Another point made plain is that the
name which long stood at the head OF the
list of treasurers in the official register of
the department should have been second.
while the one popularity regarded by the
| old Washingtonians as the original treas
| urer was, in fact, the third. Incidentally
much other data has been unearthed, and it
! is clearly apparent that the office, as well
as the department, has kept pace with the
| other branches of the government
This bureau now employs force of near
| ly four hundred persons and had when the
| government was established upon Its per-
| manent site In 1900 but four. Then It re-
| quired but two rooms for the transaction
| of it's business and now has rooms suffi-
cient to have quartered all the branches Of
| the government at that period.
Before the revolutionary war the prov
| ince of Pennsylvania had for its treasurer
| Michael Hillegas, and he became the treas
| urer Of the committee of safety. When the
| Continental Congress, July %, 1IT5, deter
mined to give the direct management Of the
| finances to two treasurers. Mr.. Hillegas and
| George Clymer, both of Pennsylvania, were
| appointed. The latter was soon afterward
| elected Congress- and that bOdV decided
| that thereafter there should be but one
| such officer. Mr.. Hillegas became thereby
| the sole treasurer, and being well to do
| financially contributed of his means as well
| as his time to the cause of the patriots.
In few months after Mr.. Hillegas took
| charge, February IL, 1776, Congress ap-
tend the treasury, and to be known the
| committee of finance, or board Of treas
ury," and month later established a
| treaury office of accounts. A treasurer Of
| loans was added in July, 1876. and on a re-
| port made to Congress in September fol-
| lowing authority was given to provide a
| house in the city or place when Congress
| should sit. wherein shall be held the several
| offices of the treasury"
Under Articles of Confederation.
| Little change was made in the character
of the treasury until the articles Of con-
| federation were signed. July s, 177s. when
| other offices were added-a controller, au-
ullOI anu Two CUdIHDeTS OIL dCCOuuIS.
| February 13. 1779, Congress resolved to ap-
point a Secretary of the Treasury. but it
| was not until the close Of May following
| that Robert Troup was appointed. A some
| what similar system to the present practice
| Of the department was then established.
February 20, 1871, a superintendent Of
| finance was chosen in the person OF Robert
| Norris. 1t was he who conceived the idea
| of the establishment of national bank for
the purpose of facilitating the financial
a nd
| months after, May %, 17S1, he laid before
Congress plan for such an institution.
| This was approved and an act incorporat-
| ing the Bank Of North America was pass
| ed December 81, following. Thus the
| pioneer national bank in this country was
created one hundred and twenty years ago
Under the articles of confederation, which
| became effective by final ratification, March
l, 17S1, and the Constitution framed In
1887 and ratified the year after, Mr.. Hill
legas continued in the office, about which
the other treasury offices had been gath
cred, till the latter instrument went into
effect, and the department had been re-
organized by Alexander Hamilton, Mr.
Hillegas vacating the office September IL,
17S9
The name Of Samuel Meredith has been
the one to head the list of treasurers in
the official register for years past, and he
has been recognized as the first treasurer
from the fact that he was the first to be
appointed to the office after the Constitu-
tion had gone into effect, and the depart
ment was established under that instru-
ment. This document went into effect and
Washington was inaugurated in April, 11Sy
The Treasury Department was established
under this instrument September 2, 17S9
and treasurer was appointed in the per-
son Of Gen. Meredith September II of that
year. Mr.. Hillegas was therefore the
treasurer under the Constitution several
months, and for a few days after the re-
establishment of the department under that
| instrument. In fact. he had been treas
urer Of the United States" for fourteen
years previously. for the term United States
appears In the Declaration Of 1176, and in
the articles Of confederation of 177S, as
well as in the Constitution.
This examination Of the archives resulted
in putting the name of Michael Hillegas at
the head of the list Of treasurers.
Drops to Second Place.
Though the name Of Gen Meredith drop
ped down to the second place in the list
1t deserves to go down in history with
| that Of his predecessor He like him, was
Philadelphian-a brother .n-law of Mr.
| Clymer, and besides his services to the
cause Of the patriots in a pecuniary way
| he having contributed over one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars-he made a rec
| ord in the continental army, rising to the
| position of brigadier general Under Alex
| ander Hamilton and Oliver Wolcott, Gen.
| Meredith served through the administra-
| tions OF Washington and John Adams.
The office OF the treasurer was moved
| here with the government and the Treas
ury Department, which had grown up
| around 1t, was fortunate in finding that
| the building intended for it, known as the
| least executive building" was ready for
occupancy. This was an oblong brick
structure covering but small portion of
the present site, with two full stories,
| basement and attic and containing over
thirty rooms. This fronted north, west of
10Th street and the north wall was at
about the south line Of 3 street In the
| northeast corner Of the main floor of the
building General Meredith was located,
with but two or three clerks. During his
incumbency, which ended October 81, 1901.
| q fire took place in the building, but
through the exertions Of the officers, en-
ployes and citizens 1t was confined to two
| or three rooms. The conduct Of the sec
retary. Oliver Wolcott. in giving his atten-
tfon to the safety Of some Of his private
property stored there was criticised, but a
congressional investigation resulted in his
vindication.
The next incumbent Of the ofaca xras ~.