Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19


women in that department who have been
performing their duties for the govern
ment that number of years. and some much
longer.
The record for length Of service is held
by James F. Hobbs, one Of the disbursing
clerks of the great department He became
clerk in the office OF the third auditor
May IS, 1853, more than fifty-three years
ago. He came to Washington from Maine
In 1865 he was made disbursing clerk.
there being two in the department. He
handles each year about 100000 of gov
ernment money in the payment of salaries
to clerks. During his forty-one years in
charge of government money he has paid
out over 500, 600, and there is not a
scratch against him showing an error OF
single penny. His record is one that many
clerks hope to emulate
Second to Mr.. Hobbs Is Thomas r. wal
lace, valued clerk in the office of the
auditor for the treasury. He has held a
position since August 10, 1866. and Auditor
Andrews holds him In high esteem
The next longest record is that OIL Robert
e, Preston, appointed to a clerkship from
Tennessee, April 1, 1855. He worked his
way up until he became director OF the
mint, the position now held by George u.
Roberts. He Is still in that bureau, and in
the absence of the director assumes charge
Of affairs. What he doesn't know ABOUT
the coinage Of the world, the production OF
gold and silver, the use Of the precious
metals in the arts, is not much. he mas LOT
many years made that a special study and
he dives into figures relating to these sup
1ects with the same ease that small boy
Jumps into a mill pond on hot summer
day.
Those who received appointments during
the war period are many, but In no one
office is there a larger number OF these
faithful officials than In the office of Treas
urer Treat. The famous old treasurer OF
war times, Gen. Francis E. Spinner, select
ed many employees for his office who are
still there, holding positions Of the highest
trust In the greatest financial bureau on
the face of the earth.
James F. Meline assistant treasurer OK
the United States, promoted to that office
on merit, was one Of Gen. Spinner seIec-
tons. He first went into the treasurer's
office in September, 1864, but stayed there
only a short time and went back to duty
in the ranks of the nations defenders. He
became a captain In Hancocks corps
When peace came he again received an
appointment to the same office. What most
Of the former treasurers of the United
States knew about the affairs Of their Of
flee he taught them. Then there is Edward
R. True, cashier of the treasurer's office,
appointed ito a clerkship in 1854, and w. H.
years later.
Delevan W. Harrington, chief Of the d.
vision of general accounts of the treasurer
office, came into office under Gen. Spinner
In 1868, shortly after the civil war, in which
he had served with honor in the 44th New
York Regiment which was made up of col
lege men from every city and town In the
state. There were so many applications for
membership in the regiment that each man
getting In had to pay 500 for the privilege
Among other men in the treasurers office
with long records of service are P. H.
Eaton, appointed August %, 1865; Henry
B. BENEFIT, in 1864; John A. Harsha, in
1865; Amos Crounse, in 1866; all good and
true men.
Gen. Spinner not only had good foresight
in his selection of men. but he YVES equally
fortunate in his selection of women. At
least three women in the treasurer's office
have noted records. The best known Of
these is Mrs. Bonsal, formerly Miss Re-
becca L. Wright. She was appointed by
Gen. Spinner at the request of Gen. Sheri-
dan. It was Mrs. Bonsal who furnished