Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-24
MAI. incline IS DEAD
Assistant Treasurer of United
States Passes Away.
FOUGHTDISEASEM ANFULLY
He Was One of Greatest Financial
Authorities.
APPOINTED BY CLEVELAND
Had Splendid Record in Civil War.
Often Acted as the
Treasurer.

Maj. James Florant Meline, assistant
treasurer of the United States, who was
considered one of the greatest living au-
thorities on finance, especially as 1t re-
lates to the business Of the government,
passed away yesterday afternoon at 4
o'clock, after q lingering illness. at his
home, Oil o street northwest. Stomach
and kidney diseases caused his death.
Although he had stoically remained at
his work until month ago, 1t was known
among his co-workers Of the treasurer's
office long ago that he was a seriously
sick man and that it was probable that
his days were numbered. In the quiet
but tenacious manner so characteristic
Of him. he stuck to his desk, oftentimes
when he could hardly walk. It was not
until exhausted that he finally remained
at his home.
Treasurer Treat and the hundreds of
employees of the office today bore testi-
had signed his last government check.
Unanimously they agreed that the gov
eminent had lost one of it's ablest and
best informed men. At every subtreas-
ury In the country and among the great
financial districts doing business with the
Treasury and subtreasuries his position
and signature to papers for millions Of
dollars were known.
Native Of Ohio.
Ohio, June 3. 1S41. His father, F. NJ. Me-
line. was for many years employed in the
Treasury, and prior to that had been con-
nected with important commercial houses
at st. Louis and elsewhere. In ST. Louis,
NH ltC IL
boy. he obtained his early education.
This was continued later at st. Xavier's
College. Cincinnati, where his father later
moved. He also attended Mount St.
Marys College of the East. near En-
AT the beginning of the civil war Mai.
Meline enlisted in the 9th Ohio Regiment,
of which Nicholas Longworth was COL
onel. He served in this regiment begin
ming as q private. from, April. 1861, to
June %. 1854. rising to a lieutenancy, un-
der Buell.. Rosecrans, Grant and c.lerman.
When his regiment was mustered out he
accepted an appointment for a few
months IN the Treasury, under Gen. Spin
the army, Hancock's corps. as captain.
serving with gallantry until the close of
the war, when he was breveted major
for mer1torious service. He was muster
ed out Of the service March %, 1855.
While in the 9Th Ohio Regiment he was
severely wounded at the battle Of Stone
river.
Shortly after leaving the army Mai.
Meline was again appointed to a clerk
ship In the treasurer's Dice. at 81 200
year. Gen. Spinner was friend Of Mai.
Meline's father. and formed an attach
ment for the young man. BY degrees he
advanced in the office, his mastery of the
business and his sterling qualities win
n1ng recognition under every treasurer.
He was an assistant bookkeeper in 1878, a
bookkeeper In 1876 and in 1883 he went
higher. when he became chief clerk of the
treasurer's office Two years later he
was teller IN the cash room and not long
afterward he became assistant cashier.
Even at that time he was known as an
authority on finances.
Appointed by Cleveland.
President Cleveland had hts attention
called to Maj. Meline in 1893, and that
year nominated him as assistant treasur.
er of the United States, which position he
had filled ever since. But for the
exigencies Of politics he would unaues.
tionably have become treasurer Re-
peateday, In the absence Of treasurers, he
has had charge Of the Office, and he was
never subjected to criticism.
Maj. Meline volunteered for the Spanish
war in 1898. but Secretary Gage told him
his services were more valuable to the
country as assistant treasurer than in
any martial capacity.
Maj. Meline was married twice His
first wife was Miss Belle ]. Strickland,
who died several years ago. She was a
descendant Of Robert Fulton. He had
three children by this marriage, two of
whom Wno, are are now living; F NJ Meline OF
fornia. His second wife. who survives
him. was Catherine Livingstone Perkins,
a great granddaughter Of Daniel D.
Tompkins. vice president. and Judge
Smith Thompson. Secretary Of the Navy
rage he had two children. James r.
Meline. jr. now living In this city, and
one daughter. who died q few years ago
The funeral services will be held tomor.
row afternoon at 2 o'clock In st. Mat
take place in Rock Creek cemetery. The
pallbearers will be as follows: Active
A. D. VanDerveer, j. o. Manson. r. K.
Forsythe. e. L. Mcleod. William How
ard Gibson, ]. A. Sample Honorary-C.
g. 3 T Treat g. g; G Bantz: a. U Wyman. E.
A. r. Quaiffe. D. w. Harrington. George
Fort, r. w. Lantz. J. w. Lowell, D. ".
Herriott. c. s. Pearce. A. T. Huntington,
p. B. Daskam. w. F. McLennan. r. E.
Preston. Felix A; Reebe. NJ: E. Allies. J.
]. Wilbur, Juan Boyle and w. H. Wom-
ersley.
Treasurer Treats Tribute.
Treasurer Treats tribute to Mai Meline
was as follows:
"A more than passing notice is deserved
in the death OF Maj. James F. Meline.
My personal sorrow at his demise is very
great. After forty years of service the
government has lost one OF its Oldest,
most highly esteemed and widely known
public ohlcials.
His personality was a striking one
HIS bearing was that of a soldier, and
this characteristic permeated his whole
career. His ability to dispose of large
amount OF various kinds of work was
greatly In evidence. He took special pains
to be thoroughly informed upon any mat
ter upon which his advice might be
sought. He had retentive memory, and
a power Of acute discrimination in sep
arating the essential from the non-essen-
tial matters pertaining to question. He
was clear in thought and definite In ex-
preston. His Official papers are models
of clearness and brevity.
He was not the type so popularity UNI
derstood by the ma jority Of people as the
'red-tape man. AS an adviser to the
Treasurer he had no superior. He was
not only we'll informed as to the law, but
as to procedure and precedent. He was
an excellent Judge Of men and fair In his