Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-10-14
State Department, exercise their func-
tons under the supervision and con-
troll of the Attorney General.


tions under the supervision and con-
troll of the Attorney General.
The Secretary of Agriculture is
charged with the supervision of all
public business relating to the agri-
cultural industry. He appoints the
officers and employees. with the excep-
ton Of the Assistant Secretary, who
is selected by the President, and d.
reefs the management Of all the divis-
ions and sections and the bureaus en-
braced in the department. He exer-
cises advisory supervision over the
agricultural experiment stations, re-
ceiving support from the Treasury,
and has control of quarantine stations
for imported cattle, and of interstate
quarantine rendered necessary by
contagious cattle diseases.
Under him are statistician, an
entomologist, a botanist, a pomologi,t
chemist. miscroscopist, an ornith-
ologist, bureau of experimental
stations, of animal industry, of vege-
table pathology, of forestry, of records,
of illustration, of silk culture, of seed
distribution, and of gardens and
grounds. BY recent act Of Congress
the Signal Service for weather fore
casts and meteorological observation
has been transferred to this depart
ment from that of War.
In addition to the above, depart
ment of labor was established IN 1888,
now in charge Of a Commissioner,
having no seat in the Cabinet, who is
directed to obtain and disseminate
among the people of the United
States useful information on subjects
connected with labor, and especially
upon its relation to capital the hours
of labor; the earnings of laboring
men and women, and the means of
promoting their material, social, in
tellectual and moral prosperity. He
is also especially charged, in accord
ance with the general design and
duties prescribed by law, at as early a
date as possible, and whenever in.
dustrial changes shall make it essenti.
al, to ascertain the cost Of producing
dutiable in the United States in lead.
ing countries where such articles are
produced, by fully specified units Of
production, and under a classification
showing the different elements of cost
of such articles of production, includ
ing wages paid in such industries.
The members of the Cabinet receive
an annual salary of $4,000. They
meet in a chamber at the White
House at stated intervals, and when
ever directed by the President but
their conferences are not public, and
their consultations are seldom divulg.
ed. The President presidcs, but nc
journal of the proceedings is kept and
the names of those who attend are not
recorded. They report to the Presi
dent annually in writing for trans
mission to Congress, and from time tc
time upon special matters if required
by him. They hold their places en-
tirely at his will, discharge their
duties under his exclusive direction,
and he can require their resignation
at his pleasure. They are not respon-
sible to Congress or to the people for
the policy or the conduct of the adj
ministration. This rests with the
President alone. Within the broad
and flexible limitation of the Constitu-
ton during his term no ruler possess
es such absolute authority and irres-
ponsible power as the President of the
United States John j. Ingalls,.