The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-10
MIR. BLAINE AT HIS OFFICE.
He Tells n Correspondent How the state
Department is Conducted.

He Tells n Correspondent How the State
Department is Conducted.
"The routine OF the State Department
work." said Mr.. Blaine, recently, to cor
respondent, "is very simple, and you can
understand 1t In five minutes. have un-
der me an Assistant Secretary and a Sec
ond and Third Assistant. The Assistant
Secretary takes his place as Secretary
pro tenn. when the Secretary Is alb
sent, and attends to all the con-
sular correspondence. There are six
bureaus In the Department-Diplo-
matte, Consular, Accounts. Statistics.
Rolls and Library. aud Indexes and
Archives. or course. all these subordin-
ate divisions centre here" replied the
secretary. tapping his fingers on his desk.
The moment any difficulty occurs In the
transaction OF any division it comes to
me. I have TO sign all diplomatic cor
respondence and countersign documents,
such as proclams stions, treaties and COM
missions, to which the president has
affixed his signature. and all passports
and exequaturs."
do you have much personal inter-
course with the foreign representatives
In Washington"
"A great deal. They are all free to
come here at any time. But Thursday Is
the day specially appointed for their Wis
its. We give up practically the whole Of
the day to them. They begin to come at
10 o'clock In the morning, for many Of
them have the foreign habit OF taking q
very light early breakfast. Americans,
you know, need a substantial breakfast
to begin the work Of the day on."
racaiya than II Gunnaea N tha
order OF their importance"
"Oh, no." replied the secretary, laugh
ing. "All foreign representatives here
are strictly upon an equal footing. There
is absolutely no other precedence than OF
arrival. The one who comes first is the
first to be received. IL the representative
from Hayti gets here one minute before
Sir Julian Pauncefote, Sir Julian must
wait until the gentleman from Hayti has
said his say"
There is one thing that has always
been an engaging mystery to me, and
imagine to most outside people" said.
81 would like to know what happens at
cabinet meetingsw
well. In regard to cabinet meetings,
one hardly wishes to speak Of them, for
they are regarded as private, but there is
no harm that can see In saying that they
are simply conference twice q week,
Tuesdays and Fridays, between the presi-
dent and his several secretaries. Every
thing presented there Is regarded as con-
fidential. When assembled the presi-
dent naturally communicates what he
wishes before any one else speaks. He is
an extraordinary man OF business.
prompt. decided, clear headed. He wastes
no time. l have rarely heard man more
ably or more tersely discuss public ques-
tions. When he is through the several
secretaries. In their order, bring up any
thing from their departments that pre-
sent a general question, a question which
all departments are asked TO take part In
deciding. Business is settled promptly,
and IL affords almost the only time when
the secretaries meet. and in cabinet meet
ings they become very well acquainted
More would not wish to say in regard to
them"