Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-05
DfiglG ana
his position

To see Secetary Manning is more
difficult than to see the Secretary
! of State. He is newer in the business,
and besides has many more callers. His
room is oYerrun at all times with pOliti-
| clans who wantfaVOrsi in the appointment
of this or that man to position. He has
two large rooms in the pleasantest part
OF the Treasury, the corner overlooking
Pennsylvania avenue. He makes his first
room general reception room for all
callers. Here he receives everybody, and
when he wants TO talk privately to any
one he retreats to the inner room, leaving
the crowd of others who are always in the
room waiting aud wondering what that
fellow is going to get. With his portrait
you are fausiliar. His duties are
to have charge of the national
finances. He directs and prepares
plans for the improvement and manage
ment of the revenue and support of the
public credit; he superintends the colIec-
ton OF the revenue, and prescribes the
forms of keeping and rendering all public
accounts, and making returns; Grants all
warrants for money 10 be issued from the
Treasury in pursuance Of appropriations
by law; makes reports and gives infOrma-
tien to either branch of Congress, as may
be required, respecting all matters re-
ferred to him by the Senate or House Of
Representa- ives, and generally performs
all such services 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 statistics, the marine hospit-
ais, the revenue cutter service, and the
life-saving service.
With the faceOf one of the most impOr-
tant of the Treasury officers, the public
is not so familiar. That one is the new
Comptroller of the Treasury, Hon. Milton
j. Durham. He is u typical Kentuckian,
standing feet IN his stockings, with
broad shoulders, a kindly and agreeable
face, pleasant manner, and the air Of IA
man who has made close study Of his
r~Otesssion, AM. is thus entitled to the
HonOrs paid hi 4 his selection for this
cry important place. AID it is a most
important one, more 50 UTan many people
suppose. Tue First Comptroller counter
siVnS all Warrar- issued by the Secre-
t.. Y OF the Treasury covering the public
revenues into the Treasury, and author
Yin, all ! yments therefrOm. All ac-
counts examined by the First Auditor,
excepG those which 20 TO IT, Co. mis-
sion r of stOms, and all examined by
the .fth Auditor, and accOuA.s Of
registers and race yers Of land Offices eX-
amined b. the Commission OF the Gen
eral Land Office, are re-eXaln-~ ed and re-
' sea in the First COmptrL .4ur' Office.
Here, also, are examined and reported N
the Gratis for salcries and expenses d.ay
by Minister ant snsuls abroad, and the
acquisitions for yancer 'rawn by Mar
shals, Collectors Il i. 5ernal Peyenuo.
Secretaries OF the Territories, - otner
GisbursiBg officers Pc ceG 90 attorney
for the objection o. drafts on tae Treasury
are examined; anu many oaRtr duties
h wing reference to the adjustment OF
claims against the United states, pertain
to the Office, b. ar % TOO varied "a
chara ter TO b. enumerated.
OF course everybody knows bc the
head OF the Department % ,l.s @ Mr.
Garland, looks. Asmcoth-faced m. =. with
rath n Thin b. ? face thai is not especI-
al.y sinking. He - one Of the most easily
reached Of The Cabrast ollicers. There Is
no. y delay ana led tape hat there was
in reaC hiLg HE predecessor. Mr.. Garland,
VINO signaliZed BIZ. antrs .ce into the de-
paFtmenJ by the sale Of oil Of the depart
mont horses ..ud carriages, still cltngs 10
the GORGEOUS curtains that his Dreslecas-
sor bad put up in the large ana handsome
ly furnished room that serves for an Office
for the head " the Law Depart
ment of the United States GOV.
eminent. He Is the head Of the
department, aRd the chief law officer Of
the government. He represents tue Uni
ted states in matters involving legal
questions; hegiVes bis advice and opinion
on questions Of law when they are re-
qnired by the President, or by the heads
OF the other executive departments on
questions OF law arising upon the admin
istration Of their respective departments;
he exercises general superintendent
and 3a3Seb 4ysr u2ited staief attos- 4