Evening journal., 1914-07-15
New News Of Yesterday
A Remarkable Instance OF
Official Integrity
BY Holland.

The late William A. Richardson
who was Secretary of the Treasury al
Washington in the last half of the
tirst administration Of President
Grant, was one Of those men who
while they gain and maintain strong
friendships, are likely not to be taken
entirely seriously. There is often a
hint of some unconventional habit OF
/, thought or manner or expression
which is sure to cause a smile. al
though 1t is always kindly.
Judge Richardson was probably
more conspicuous as Chief Justice OF
the Court OF Claims at Washington
than as Secretary of the Treasury
That may have been due to the fact
that he was much longer upon the
bench as justice Of this court than
at head of the table in the office OF
Secretary of the Treasury.
AT one time or another warm per-
sonal friends of Judge Richardson
have narrated to me little anecdotes
associated with him which reveal a
kindly humorous side Of his character.
One Of these anecdotes was told me
by the late George D. Robinson. who
was for many years the representa-
tive in Congress OF the Western
Massachusetts district and who gain
ed national distinction by the cam
paign he made as Republican candi-
date for governor of Massachusetts
against General Benjamin f. Butler.
who was the Democratic candidate
and seeking reelection
Judge Richardson has a singularly
scrupulous and as | thought, rather
over-estimated sense of personal hon
or or Of personal propriety in all
matters relating to money Mr.. Rob
inson said.
Il remember that | called upon him
one day very near the close OF his
service as Secretary of the Treasury.
He told me that in his way was the
temptation to utilize to personal adj
vantage some Of the opportunities
appertaining to the office of Secretary
Of the Treasury"
To utilize this. Judge Richardson
reached over to drawer in his desk
and, having opened it, he took from
it small box. handling that box as
carefully as though it contained jew
els or very delicate specimens of cut
glass. He opened this box in a leis-
urely way and then asked me to
look into it. | could see nothing there
but some postage stamps and some
sheets of paper and a few envelopes.
Observing, | think, my surprise that
nothing more precious than these ar
ticles had been exposed, Judge Rich
ardson said:
Il got this box for the purpose Of
providing myself with materials for
my personal correspondence I re-
allied that ] might be tempted to
utilize official stationery and the post
age prerogatives Of the Treasury De-
partment not, Of course, intentional
ly, but carelessly or heedlessly II
did not seem to me that | would be
justified in using official stationery
for anything but correspondence con
nected with the Treasury Department.
Sometimes, however, personal cor
and official correspon
dence come pretty near being the
same thing Whenever that happen
ed I determined scrupulously to use
my personal letterhead paper and en-
and keep constantly on hand
an adequate supply of United States
postage stamps. These | have in this
BOX. and believe II to be the case
hat have in no instance violated
,fficial propriety"
Judge Richardson said this with
perfect simplicity of manner and yet
here was something about his way of
speaking which contained a quantity
humorous suggestion OF which, of
,ourse, he was utterly unconscious.
1914, by e J. Edwards |
All rights reserved).
Tomorrow MIR. Edwards will tell Of |
"A Modest Mans Respect for His Po
sition."
BETTER THAN LEMONS