The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-29
The Secretary Tells How He Con-
ducts the State Department
Business.
Something About the Relations
Between Himself and the
Chief Maoistrate.
Great Difficuity In Securing Secretaries oi
Foreign Legations--C s--Correspondence
In Biaine'g handwriting.

Especial Correspondence Of THE INDEPENDENT
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-The room In which
sat awaiting nm audience with the SEC
retary of state was long and OF good pro-
portions, furnished and decorated in a
style Of rich sobriety. II faced south: and
through the windows we're visible the shin
ing reaches OF the Potomac, illuminated by
the yellow sunlight of Indian summer.
Opposite me was Hi old steel engraving Of
Franklin Pierce; on the mantelpiece to the
right was a bronze statuette Of Gen. Jack
son on horseback; there were bronze busts
celebrities AurmountinR polished wood
cupboards and bookcases.
A clerk sat at a desk in the middle Of the
room; in corner was the desk of Private
Secretary Dent, tall pale young mau.
Half a dozen men and women were seated
| in chairs round the room, also waiting for
IN audience. There was no sound except
the quiet ticking Of the big clock at the
west end. Whenever anyone spoke it was
iE a hushed voice. Noiseless clerks or mos
sengers entered and left occasionally by the
door communicating with the secretary's
office, which was open. but was protected
by tall. chocolate coloped screen. was
reminded Of the anteroom OF some great
physician, where patients wait to learn
whether they are to live or die.
Presently colored attendant appeared
from behind the screen and beckoned to
me. followed him. and found myself in a
small cabinet from which passed by an
ton to it's length. The walls were encircled
,r,sA I'll 1 81, -
| table covered with papers and there, facing
down the room, sat a man with white hair
and close cut white beard, but with clear
complexioned face that showed few signs of
age.
| Secretary Blaine-for this was he--rose
and gave me his hand; white well-kept
hand. firm and shapely. Before sat down
he had given me an instance OF his extra
ordinary memory by recalling the occasion
of our last meeting, at dinner
4 given by Whitelaw Reid niue years before.
Mr.. Blaine spoke in Il full, mnsic.l voice.
agreeable to the ear, and expressed himself
with noticeable distinctness, both of mat
ter and utterance, yet with the naturalness
and ease of one whose mind is perspicacious
and whose ideas flow easily. He sat with
his elbows on the arms of his chair, occa-
sionally making slight gestures with his
and they are intelligence itself. l don't
know that have seen such another pair of
eyes; they see and understand everything at
once and without effort; in fact, effort in
the sense Of straining to achieve, is not su2-
gested by Mr.. Blaine's aspect; ne seems to
do what he does easily and even pleasure
bly,. He holds the most important and re-
sponsible post under 1.-THE administration
but ESQ far at least as his intellect is con
cerned) his capacity remains indefinitely IN
excess of any demands unon it.
"The routine of the Office" said he, sis
very simple, and you can understand it in
five minutes. I have under me an assist
ant secretary and second aud third assist
ant. The assistant secretary takes his
place as secretary pro tenn when tho score
tary is absent. and attends to all the consu
lar correspondence. The present incu m
bent is Mr.. William +. Wharton. of Boston
The second assistant. Mr.. Alvey A. Adee, is
engaged wholly in the diplomatic depart
ment The third assistant has all cases o1
extradition and does q great deal OF mis-
cellaneous duty besides. 1t is vacant now
1t was occupied by Mr.. John B. Moore, who
resigned to accept a very tempting offer IL
Columbia college as professor of interna
tional law. He was introduced in the de
partment as a clerk by Mr.. Bayard, my i'm
mediate predecessor. He is very matur,
man, and very able. At twenty-nine, only
he wrote what I think will be considered
the standard work on extradition. pre-
dict he will be heard from in his career.
II There are six bureaus in the department
diplomatic, consular, accounts stats
tics, rolls and library, and indices ant
archives. There is also an officer, Mr.
Frank +. Partridge. who serves here, bu