Ten Years in Washington or, Inside Life and Scenes in Our National Capital as a Woman Sees Them ... to Which Is Added a Full Account of the Life and Death of President James A. Garfield

CHAPTER XXIX.

Chapter 29101 wordsPublic domain

THE UNITED STATES TREASURY—ITS HISTORY.

The Responsibilities and Duties of the Secretary of the Treasury—Three Extraordinary Men—Hamilton Makes an Honest Proposal—The Mint at Philadelphia—A Little Personal Abuse—The Secretary Borrows Twenty Dollars—Modern Greediness—The Genius Becomes a Lawyer—Burning of Records—Hunting for Blunders and Frauds—The Treasury Building—A Little Variety—A Vision of Much Money—Old Debts Raked Up—Signs of the Times—The National Currency Act—Enormous Increase of the National Debt—Facts and Figures—The Credit of the Government Sustained—President Grant’s Rule—George S. Boutwell Made Secretary—Great Expectations, 284