Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-22

questions of party harmony-but you wanted
to know about the work Of the Officer"
There was no doubt that "the office was
much nearer his thoughts than any question
that involved the Mayoralty. There was no
doubt that the administrator of financial de-
tails had not moved a finger to be put in
the position Of taking the elevator to the
Mayors office every working day for the
next four years. instead of being able to
walk right in off the street to his rooms on
the ground floor of City Hall, as of old He
was going to work every day over figures
in the Subtreasury here as long ago as 1857,
when he began two years service as a
clerk, while his father was treasurer of the
United States Mint. So the statement that
is often heard about him, that he has made
the study of finances life-work, rests upon
a solid foundation.
His father, James H Walton, was a
stanch Democrat by the way, receiving his
appointment from PennsyIvania's one con-
tribution to the White House, Buchanan. 1t
was in President Buchanan's home county of
Lancaster that Captain Walton was edu-
cated-in the Moravian school at Lititz But
the war swept the Democratic tradition out
of the family. The boy enlisted on the Union
side before he came of age and remained in
the army almost continuously until his retire
ment, for disability received in the line of
duty, in 1878. His training in accounts and
the apportionng of funds was not neglected
in the army, for his most important service
was in the quartermaster's department., in
the Indian wars. He took up residence on
Kingsessing avenue and for four years rested
and regained the strength that was to be so
necessary for his second long period of ac-
tivity
We have seen that the pressure of new
ideals Of public service has brought Captain
Waltons name forward this year as a pos
sible compromise candidate. Curlously
enough his entrance into politics was under
much the same circumstances. In 1881 the
first Committee of One Hundred was formed
and reached the measure of it's success in
the election of Mayor King. Many who had
followed the committee returned to party
lines, but the committee had not been
without effect, as it taught the bosses
the power of the people when aroused and
produced certain amount Of respect for
the Independent voters. In those days VIII
liam Elwood Rowan was boss OF West Phila-
delphia. Chastened by his defeat for Sheriff,
Rowan considered the advisability of regain
ing his status by putting up unimpeachable
candidates for office,
A@SsASNl SAllu ElIlClenI'N IN 1857
1t was while he was in this mood that the
late Anthony J. DrexeI and others urged that
Captain Walton be nominated for Common
Council from the 9th Ward with the in
dorsement of the Committee OF One Hundred
ana other municipal reform associations.
Rowan consented. and Walton was elected
in 1882, by an almost unanimous vote. So,
just one-third Of century ago, Waltbn was
evidently considered able to fulfil botb The
practical" and efficient" functions Of pbiIa-
delphia political life. In April, 1895. he was
appointed by Governor Hastings to the office
Of City Controller.
1t is an anomaly that. in the last % vaars
when waste OF the taxpayers money has
been the distinctive feature Of the organiga-
uon' so steadfast Watchdog OF the Treas
pfy' should have been on guard. And that
fhiiadelphias bookkeeping should have
gained renoWn, through all the devastating
wars OF the contractors for civic loot mnst
give many visiting expert who gees over
Walton's systems a sensation Of grotesoua
inconsistency.
one Is irresistibly led to recall the sebool
primer legend OF Arehimedes. who a. Ne
passion for mathematical computatiors stn,
drew his circles while the city was belng
fought Tor tooth and nail and whose onl,,
request IA the turmoil Of battle, was thai bia
circles be not disturbed
The Controller is the author ~ a.. ..,.-
Of Accounting It was Completed lass -
There is hardly library OF inporta,e, 80
ola World that has not a copy Of tbe ,vor,s
II Is a basis for research ana study a. civil,
problems among municipal officials anS =
universities in this country. =
n ehs nela Of more concrete achievement
= ms inventory of an land structures. otesr
=. = sstaentz and equipment Of the civ
%- 1s Aseennsins e What he citg