Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-15
How and when the En- ccuttve De-
poTtmcnas We're Gre aaed.

portmcnss We're Gre ased.
SOME c1.DEN TIME CCsToNs-Bow TIN rRKsTpKrr
CsED TO READ HIS MESSAGE TO coNu.SRss
The first CT the executive departments OF this
government created by law Was the state do.
partment The act OF Congress providing that
"there shall be an executive department 10 la
denominated the department OF foreign affairs.
was approved July 18th. l7s9, and the annual
salary OF the Secretary was fixed at g. 5l,
The War department was the next createi by
an act OF Congress approved August TN. i1Sl
and the salary OF the Secretary was fixed a.
5000. Next came the Treasury department
created by an act approved September "a l.~9
the salary or the Secretary being nKed al s. SOW
These three were the only executive depart
mentS which existed I'm the early days o. orr
government In an act OF Congress. approved
september Path, lIS?, Ito establish the laflcisl
courts or the United States, the following pro-
vision II found
And there shall also be appointed a moot
person. learned in the law, 10 act as Attorn"g
General for the United States. who Shall hs
sworn or affirmed 10 faithful execution OF hia
Office; whose duty IL shall be 70 prosecute a.
conduct all suits IN The supreme Court ia which
tie United States shall be concerned, ana I,
give his advice ana opinion upon questions or
law when INQUIRED 10y the President az TIE
tinted States. or when requested by the nts1,
or any of the departments. touching any ma
us that may concern their departments AMI
81 all receive such compensation for his Ser
wees as shall by law be provided"
he salary OF the Attorney General or the
lifted Stat Was fixed by rnaI act II Fl $50 a
wear: salary OF The CHER Justice OF the 4. =.
SUI RENE Court AZ g. Ue': asspciate Justices,
=, 500, and some OF the district tuigts 70
only allowed one thousand dcllars per year
An act OF Congress approved September y H.
continued temporarily the poSIm isIer genpr. 4,
az The colonial government. but AN act of Nay
>'h. lssl, provided that there shall BE- es.
tablshed al the seat OF government g-nerai
posi- oilce. etc, AID fixed the sal Try or the post
master general AT s.. 800.
AZ was not until the S0th OF April l19S that
another executive department was Great IL
ihtn a la@ providing That there shall be an
executive department. TO be denomInated IN
department or the navy WAS passed and the
Salary OF Tue secretary was fixed az ~ OaO TITO
Interior department was created Narch al
1873. Some years subsequent 70 the creation II
The Attorney General aud Postmaster Genera
The departments over which these officers
presided We're maze executive departments
and the gentlemen elevated TO Cabtnai
positions In every act relating 10 the execu-
live departments the language was eNpli II
that There shall be an executive departrra mt
etc. This language was not used In erea iny
the Offices OF Attorney General and POstmast-r
General. In these early days VI the government
the President read his own messave 10 Con.
gross. Memb or Congress were allowed SIX
dollars Tor every Gay they attended and six dol
lars milfage for every twenty miles Travelled In
going u and from Washington.