The sun., 1908-01-16
CORTELYOU HASNOT RESIGNED
HE DENIES EVEN THAT HE
EXPECTS TO RESIGN.
His Denial IL Confirmed at the white House
He Does NOt Deny. However. That
the Presidency OF the KniCkerbOckee
Trust Company Has Been offered to Him


the Presidency OF the EnickcrbOcker
Trust Company Has Been Oneredt to Him
WASHINGTON. Jan. l5-The renewed re-
port that Secretary Cortelyou has handed
his resignation to the President or that
he is about to do 20 was denied in most
emphatic and comprehensive terms by
Mr.. Cortelyou to-day. His statement was
confirmed by an informal declaration to the
same effect at the White House.
Secretary Cortslyou's denial is made to
apply specifically 20 the statement: First.
that he has resigned or expects to resign
the Treasury portfolio; secondly. that he
has accepted a provisional offer or any
other kind Of an offer to assume the presl-
dency Of the Knickerbocker Trust Company,
and. finally. that he has had any serious
differences with President Roosevelt.
The Secretary to-day dismissed a. absurd
that he has been trying to persuade Mr..
Roosevelt that his Presidential boom should
be recognized by the Administration and
that the Administration should permit him
to Use his own methods in furthering that
boom
One thing Secretary CorteIyou did not
dispute on this day OF denials. That Ia
the report that the equivalent Of an offer
Of the Knickerbocker Trust presidency had
been made to him. II is well known to the
Secretary's friends that several opportuni-
ties In the financial world have recently
been offered TO him and that none tempt
him at present
To several Of his callers to-day Mr. Cor
telyou said that all he desired was to be let
alone in the Treasury Department, whore
he can continue to do his duty to the best
Of his ability.
That the presidency Of the Knickerbocker
Trust Company which is now in the hands
OF receivers, has, as was reported several
days ago, been offered to George B. Cortel-
you on behalf Of the depositOrs and the
committee representing them which has
been actively engaged on the plan for re-
sumption Of payment by the company,
was admitted yesterday by H. l.. Satterlee
counsel for the committee He said that
Mr.. Cortelyou had been chosen as the best
man for the place in the country. No
response to the offer has been received by
the committee.
I'VE decided to begin at the top and
work down, said Mr.. Satterlee, -snd that's
why we began with Mr.. COrteIyou. II
he is unable to accept no other man would
resent our asking him as second choice.
Speaking for the depositors represented
6y the committee Mr.. Satterlee said,
Il feel sure that IL Mr.. COrtelyou would
at any time consent to accept the presi-
dency OF the Kniokerbocker Trust COM
pany it would meet with absolutely unani-
nous approval. His acceptance would
mean an administration OF the company
on the best lines and would be a guarantee
Of the fulfilment Of the plan OF resumption
and would command general confidence
in the community. It would be a most
beneficial thing to the business interests
Of the city Of New York to have him as
the head OF a trust company which would
undoubtedly comply with the require
ments Of the Clearing House and be admitted
to it as a member. No public officer de-
serves the gratitude and commendation
Of the business men in a greater degree
than Secretary Cortelyou. His personal
character is Of the highest and his admin
istrative ability and business sagacity are
admitted by every one It is to be earnestly
hoped that il he should at any time lay
down the Treasury portfolio he will come
back to New York and take his place among
the foremost bankers Of the metropolis
1t seems to me that II can he accepted as
fact that the voting trustees, MesSrs.
Frick, Herrick and Ledyard, representing
the depositors. would promptly ratify his
selection and that every one OF the 1900
depOsitors and all OF the out Of town CORE
spondents Of the Knickerbocker would
give him their loyal support