The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-01-28
WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS.
The Duties of Assistant Secreta-
RES of the Department.
Positions That Arc More Important Than
Most People Tbink-The Mon with
Whom President Harrison Has
Surrounded Himself.
Especial Washington Letter.1


Next to being member of the cab
met and being able to sign official docu-
ments as secretary or as postmaster
general or as attorney general, it is a
great honor to be first assistant secre-
tary or first assistant postmaster gen.
eral and to be able to sign ones name
occasionally as "acting' in the capacity
of head of the department.
1t is quite as important for presi-
dent to select proper men to be assist
ants to his cabinet officers as 1t is to
select the cabinet officers themselves at
the commencement of his administra-
ton. 1t very often happens that the
head OF department is obliged to leave
number of matters of the greatest
Importance to his FIRST assistants, and
they are acted upon in the name of the
secretary. In this way millions and
millions of dollars of the public money
are disbursed every year without the
personal knowledge of the cabinet Off
GERS or of the president. The assistant
secretaries and the assistant postmas-
ters general are relied upon to attend to
work Of great Importance with relia-
bility, integrity and honor, and it must
be said to their credit that in the pres
ent. and in all administrations, they
have not been found wanting.
At the commencement of the present
administration President Harrison was
confronted with the important duty of
selecting for his first assistant postmas-
ter general q man of discretion, courage
and superior ability. He desired to APP
point Mr.. j. s. Clarkson, of Iowa, but
that gentleman had been disappointed
In not having been selected for cabi-
net position, and did not like to accept
second place of any kind. However,
he was urged by his friends as well as
the president to accept this position of
trust, and finally did so. The office was
one of particular political Importance,
and as Mr. Clarkson was and had been
an experienced politician, he was be-
lieved to be, and proved himself to be,
exactly the man for the place.
The entire star route and railway
mail service of this country is under the
supervision and direction of polished
gentleman possessing business ability
In high degree. In Mr.. J. Lowrie
Bell the president secured the right man
for the right place. For third assistant
postmaster general the president select
ed A. B. Hazen, man who has risen
from the ranks Of government service
Rnd became third assistant postmaster
general many years ago but was re-
moved during democratic administra-
ton. Gen. Hazen is an exceptionally
efficient officer.
The secretary Of the treasury, Of
course, is at the head of our great finan-
cial institution, and it was highly i'm
portant that he should have assistants
upon whom he could rely at any and all
times during his absence to act for him
or to counsel with him upon matters of
unusual Importance. The president ap-
pointed as assistant secretaries to the
treasury George Batcheller, of New
York, o. L.. Spaulding and w. L.
Crounse, of Nebraska. Mr.. Batcheller
resigned and accepted a foreign mission
some time since, and Gen. Nettleton, of
Minnesota, was appointed in his place.
Mr.. Crounse has recently resigned also,
which necessitates the appointment of
another assistant secretary of the treas
ury. All of these gentlemen are the
possessors of superior business ability
and especial knowledge of financial af-
fairs Mr. Spaulding has charge, or
rather supervision, of the customs busi-
ness, and discharges his duty with re-
markable ability.
In the great interior department it
was also necessary that good assistants