Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1889-01-31
EXECUTIVE WosK. +.
How II Il Divided Into Departments In
| the United states

ooW ~ ~ tht' -
the United states
The great mass Of work imposed
upon the executive power of the gov
ernment-embracing so many distinct
subjects and requiring so many thou
sands OF agents 10 perforn-must be
arranged and treated in an orderly and
systematic manner. To expect the
president TO give il his close personal
attention and directly slIperiniend the
doings OF each agent would be absurd.
The magnitude and diversity OF the
work demand its separation into parts.
and the general supervision or manage
ment Of each part must be intrusted to
q separate officer.
On this business basis and in accord
ance with the design of the constitu-
ton congress has divided the work
among seven executive departments.
each in charge Of general officer, or
head Of department known respect
lively as the secretary Of state. the sec
retary Of the treasury. the secretary Of
war, the attorney general, the post
master general, the secretary Of the
navy and the secretary OF the interior;
and the work Of each department is
still further subdivided and distributed
among bureaus and divisions and
minor Offices. in charge Of lesser heads
or chiefs, designated as commissioners,
supcrintendents, directors and by vsri-
GUS other general or special titles. An
executive department. then, properly
means one OF the grand divisions OF
government work boldly marked out
or suggested by the express provisions
OF the constitution.
These grand divisions readily ar
range themselves. The sovereign re
lations of the republic with foreign
powers. and its official intercourse
with the governments Of the states al
home may be regarded as one distinct
grand division; accordingly we have
the department Of state. The coinage,
currency. revenue and general fiscal
affairs suggest another great branch Of
work; hence we have The department
Of the treasury. The mention Of
armies suggests work that in limo of
trouble is likely 10 tax the energy Of .
separate division; thus we very sp-
propriately have department OF war.
The prosecution OF offenses against
the United States, and other Judicial
matters wherein the interests OF The
republic are concerned constitute .
general division, represented by the
department Of justice The postal
service, as one OF the most infricate
and important branches OF government
work, certainly forms another grand
division; therefore we have the poe1-
cfiice department Maritime proteo.
ton. like the military or land dcfense.
forms a separate division; and thu
We have the department Of the navy.
The various matters Of domestic con
cern not covered in these other DE-
partments but contemplated by tha
constitution, such NJ the census, public
lands, patents and odds and enda may
30 conveniently grouped into anothei
general division; and thus we hzvu
The very miscellaneous, vet not mis
named, department Of the interior.
To some Of these executive dcusrf
ments are intrusted matters which. o.
their lace ~ least, do not strictly d,
long to the grand division 70 whick
they have been assigned by law ~
instance, the wen1hcr burxuu II a T.,
rean Of the war dc1rr<mcnt; thc go
being iniimstrly oon1cclci with ~
peaceful Interests Of aGicultu,v ~
commevc Il y WY r1>11nIIr ~
msnded THAI Il >houN b 49, ~.
military tonlrvI I'D cinru< .11.u ~