Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-01
SIXTH TREASURER TO
COME FROM NEW YORK
coRTELYOU WILL BE WHEN HE
ASSUMES THAT PORTFOLIO
Alexander Hamilton Was the First,
When the Office Was Created.
Cleveland Had Two from the
Empire State

Special Correspondence of The Herald.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81. - When
Postmaster General Cortelyou assumes
the duties of the secretary of the
treasury he will be the sixth citizen
of New York to take charge of that
department. The first was Alexander
Hamilton, appointed by Washington
when the office was created in Sep
tember, 1889. He served until January
81, 1895. Nearly fifty years elapsed be-
fore another New Yorker was called
to this responsible position. President
Tyler had a stormy time with his cab
met and made more changes than any
other chief executive. During his term
he had six secretaries of the treausry,
among them being John G. Spencer of
New York, who entered upon the dis
charge of his duties March 8, 1843, and
served to May 2. 1874. Spencer at the
time of his nomination was at the
head of the war department, and while
secretary of the treasury was nomi-
mated as associate justice of the SUI
preme court, but his nomination was
rejected by the senate. Spencer was
the father of Midshipman Spencer who
was tried and hanged for mutiny on
board the United States brig Somers
by Commodore Mackenzie.
Buchanan. like Tyler had a stormy
1
pieces during the closing days of his
administration and he summoned John
A. Dix of New York to take the head
of the treasury department. Dix served
from January IL, 1851, to March of
the same year. 1t was while secretary
of the treasury that Dix sent his fa-
nous telegram to the commander Of a
revenue cutter at New Orleans:
IF any man attempts to haul down
the American flag, shoot him on the
spot"
Cleveland Had Two
1t was not until Cleveland took the
office of president in 1885 that another
citizen of New York was placed at the
head of the treasury. During Cleve-
lands first term he had two secretaries
of the treasury from New York-Dan-
lei Manning from March 8, 1885. to
February H. 1887, when he resigned,
and Charles S. Fairchild. from April 1,
1887 to March 5 1889.
During the first administration of
Mr.. Lincoln when William Pitt Fes-
senden resigned the treasury portfolio,
March 3. 1865, the president offered the
place to Edwin d. Morgan of New
York, who declined. and the nomina-
| ton was withdrawn from the senate.
President Arthur, in October, 1881,
made the same tender to Mr. Morgan,
who again declined.
President Grant. on taking the Of
fee in 1859, nominated Alexander T.
Stewart, the great merchant of New
York. for secretary OF the treasury.
Mr.. Stewart was an importer and, con-
sequently, ineligible under the law.
He offered to retire from business,
turning his store over to trustees, but
the feeling was so strong against him
that the president withdrew the nomi-
nation. The government has been In
existence one hundred and seventeen
years, yet tn great Empire State OF
the Union, the financial center has
held control of the treasury depart
ment but little more than nine years
and five Of those were the first five OF
the government
Some months ago II crept over this
people Of the District that they were
frequently made the victims OF short
measure and light weight in purchas.
ing the things supposed TO be the ne