The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-05
WASHINGTON.
Oar Ussai Weekly Budget From the Ma
tionsI Capitsl-Com missioner Sparks,
Comptroller Durham, Assistant
secretary Huidrow.


entirely asksd about the new Cabinet OH.
GERS and their numerous assistants. OF
course the portraits Of a coed maoy of them
haYe been published. but they do not show
ia al cases the characteristics OF the men az
they sit a. their desks and wrsssle With their
new duties. It Is q curious and interesting
fact that The longer the man has been IN
public lie the easier ne Is 70 reach. r. you
want TO see tie Secretary OF State you have
little trouol IN doing SO. BE occupies a
large room in the center Of the State De-
partment binding, well furnished, but not
marked BY any special signs OF extraya-
gance. II you want to see him give your
card to the slender side whiskersd darkey
who sits =. desk oatsids ais door, aud you
viii be likely TO get sn opportunity to state
your case ia few minutes When you do
meet him yo1 find a man with a frank. in
tslligent face, quie. but rather pleas
ant manner, easv 10 approach, and
not half 30 frigld in his msnuer as
you had expected 10 f1d the man OF
highest rank after the President. The Sec
Rotary OF State IS charged, under direction OF
the Pfesideat, with BE duties appertaining
to correspondence with the public Ministers
and C9nsUls OF the United States and with
the representatives OF foreign powers &C
credited to the United States, asd 10 nsgoti.
atiors OF Whatever character relating to the
foreign affairs OF the United States. Rsis
also the medium OF correspondence between
the President and the Chief Executive OF tAe
several States OF the United States. The As.
sistant Secretary, Governor Porter, of Ten
ressse. has for his special dates the i'm.
mediate supervision OF all correspondence
with diplomatic and consular officers OF the
United Siates In France, Germany and Great
Britain, ard the further duty OF acting =
Secretary oil State IN the absence OF ths Sac
rotary himself. Governor Porter you fnd
when you have occasion to call on him a tall.
sleHder man OF City, VITA grey chin whisk-
ers and nlusteche, easily approached, blight
and Intelligent upon the duties OF his POSI-
toD. To see Secretary Manning ia more
difficult than to see the Sscre.sry OF state.
He is newer IN the business aud besides has
many more callers His room is OYerrun at
all times with politicians who want fa7ors
IN the appointment of this or that mao to
position. he has tive large rooms ia the
pleassntest part OF the Treasury, the corner
overlooking Pennsylvania avenus. He
makes his hTst room a general reception
room Tor all callers; here he receives every
body, and when he wants to talk privately TO
any one he retreats 10 the inner room, leay-
ing the crowd OF Others who are always in
the room waiting and wondering what that
fellow is going to get With his portrait
you are familiar. His duties are ID have
charge OF the National finance. He digests
and prepares plans for the improvement and
management OF the revenue and support OF
the public credit; he superintenis the col.
lection of revenue, aud prescribes the
m n nd all
public accounts. and making returns grants
all warrants for money to be issued from the
Treasury in pursuance OF appropriations by
Law; makes reports and gives Information to
either branch OF Congress as may be re.
quired, respecting all matters referred to
him by the Senate Or House of Representa-
tives. and generally performs all s1ch serv-
ices relative to the finances as he is directed
to perform controls the erection OF public
buildings, the coinage and printing of
money, the collection of commercial Stats
tics, the marine hospitals the revenue cutter
service and the life saving service.
With the face Of one of the most i'm port
ant of the Treasury officials the public is not
20 familiar. Thss one is the new Comptro,l-
er OF the Treasury, Hon Milton j. Dnrh An.
He is q typical Kentuckian, standing six
feet in his stockings, with broad shoulders, a
manner, and the air of man who has
mace close study OF his profession. and is
thus entitled TO the honors paid him in his
selection for this very important place.
And 1t is most important one; n ore so
than many people suppose. Ths Third
Comptroller counteTsigns all warrants iss6sd
by the Secretary Of the Treasury covering
the public revenues into the Treasury, and
author ziDg ell payments therefrom. Ali
accounts examined by the first Auditor. ex
cept those which GO to the Commissioner OF
Customs. and all examined by the Fifth
Auditor. and accounts OF Registers and Re.
csiyeTs of Land Offers examined by the
Commissioner of the General Land Office
are re examined and revised IN thu Frat
Comptrcller's Office Here also. are exam
ined and reported on the drafts for salaries
and expenses drawn OF Ministers and Con.
suls abroad. and the acquisitions for ad-
varcss drawn By Marshsls, Collectors of In
ternal Revenue. Secretaries OF the Terrific
ries, ard other Disturbing officers. Powers
of attorney for the collection OF drafts on the
Treasury are examined. and many other dl-
ties having references TO the adj dstment OF
claims against the United States pertaining
to the Office, but are of too varied a char.
acter to be enumerated,
or course every body knows how the head
OF the Department OF Justice, Mr.. Garland,
lookr. A suo1th-faced man with rather
thin hair-a face that Is not especially strik.
ing. He Is one OF the most easily reached OF
the Cabinet officers There ia not the delay
and red taTe that there was ia reaching his
predecessor. Mr.. Garland, who signaliz id
hin entrance into the department by the sale
Of all the department. horses and carriages,
still clings to the gorgeous curtains that his
predecessor had pat up in the large and
handsomely furnished room that serves for
an Office for the head OF the Law
Department of the United States
Government. He is the head of the
department. and the chief law officer of the
Government He represents the United
States in matters involving legal questions;
be gives his advice and opinion on questions
Of law when they are required by the Presi-
dent OF by the heads of the other executive
departments on questions OF law arising
upon the administration OF their respective
departments; he exercises general superiu-
tendance rnd direction over United States
attorneys and marshels in all jadicial dis
tricts in the States and territories; aud hs
provides special counsel for the United
States wherever required by any department
Of the Government.
The heads of the War and Navy Depart
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