Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-19
STATE DEPARTMENT EXHIBIT
Volumes Of History Embraced in Priceless
Documents and Relics.
SWORD WHICH WASHINGTON CARRIED
Original Draft of the Declaration of
independence and the Desk
on which IL was writ
ten Can he Seen.

on which II Was Writ
ten Can he Seen.
So few people understand the functions OF
the Department Of State that II is permits
sible for me to give a short sketch OF Its
history and workings before speaking OF Its
exhibit at the Transmississippi Exposition,
as a clearer understanding will be had con-
corning 1t. The Department of State was
the first department organized under the
government. In its infancy 1t was called
the Department Of Foreign Affairs, and
even before there was a president this de-
partment had two secretaries, Robert r.
Livingston and John Jay. The secretary OF
foreign affairs at that time only attended to
matters concerning the relations between
foreign powers and the then infant republic.
When the constitution was adopted the
name of the secretary of foreign affairs was
changed to secretary of state, partly be-
cause he was given broader functions and
partly because there was a secretary oil
foreign affairs in England, and as we were
not quite as friendly with John Bull then
as we are now our forefathers did not care
to copy after him. The name has not been
changed since, though 1t misleads everyone
who does not particularly look into its origin.
When the department was first organized
the secretary had charge of all matters re-
lating to public lands, patents, pardons and
other state matters which have since grown
SO large that they are far bigger than their
parent. and are departments in themselves.
The Department of the Interior now has
under 1t the land office and the patent office,
both with commissioners at the head and
hundreds of clerks. When these offices were
in the Department of State in the early
days one clerk attended to all business
pertaining TO both and he received the
munificent salary Of $500 per annum. Later
the issuance of pardons was transferred to
the Department of Justice and last year
congress passed an act authorizing the sale
of the statutes at large and the revised
statutes TO be transferred to the superin-
tendent of documents. So now, at last, the
department is bereft of all state matters
except the custody of the original laws
passed by congress, and stands alone clothed
with the supervision and regulation of our
Official Intercourse with foreign govern
mentS 1t has charge of our ambassadors.
ministers and consuls and all communica-
lions from foreign ambassadors or ministers
accredited to this country are addressed to
the secretary of state and all business trans
acted through him. 1t also has charge of all
S'"hS "o"''o' oi'A5h boN'i Y ptl-
ferred on the part Of our citizens.
The Department of State has charge Of
the PRONUNCIATION of all laws passed by con-
gress and the original laws are filed in it's
archives. 1t also has in its custody many
OF the writings of our early statesmen who
were instrumental in founding this govern
ment. Ii also collects commercial Informal
tion through its numerous consuls situated
in all parts of the world and publishes inter
esting reports daily which are sent TO news
papers and people who wish the information.
These are afterward published in a monthly
bulletin called Consular Reports, and they
may be had upon application to the chief
of the Bureau Of Foreign Commerce, De
partment of State, Washington, D.. C.
Just before the beginning of the war with
Spain all the negotiations. correspondence
and ultimatums between the United States
and that country were conducted through the
Department of State, but after the declara-
ton of war its work became less arduous
and the War and Navy departments have
to look out for the country now. All the
Department of State has to do Is to insist
on neutral treatment by foreign countries
and protest in case it is not given. When
the war ceases then the department again
assumes the burden of the proceedings and
negotiates through it's plenipotentiaries the
treaty of peace.
Has the Place of Honor.
The exhibit of this department in the Gov
eminent building has the place Of honor
being directly in front of the main entrance
and as one enters one sees the great sea-
of the United States beautifully draped with
flags, hung over the cases and other pic.
lures. 1t is particularly interesting to the
student, but sightseers will also find much
to attract their attention in it.
The Department of State is divided into
six bureaus, the Diplomatic, Consular, In
dams and Archives. Accounts, Rolls ant
Library, and Foreign The work
ings of each of these bureaus is exhibited.
The Diplomatic bureau conducts the cor
respondence between the department ant
the diplomatic officers of the United States
and also foreign diplomats accredited to the
United States; 1t also writes all letter!
signed by the president to the heads Of for
eign governments, such as letters of con-
dolence upon the death OF a foreign ruler
prince or potentate or members of the roya
family; notification of n presidents accession
to Office. accrediting a United States diplo
matte officer to a foreign country, etc, etc
The workings are shown by exhibiting sam
Piles of the letters written and received from
its officers and foreign officers. This burea,
also has charge of the preparation OF treatie
between the United States and foreign pow
ers. Under the Consular bureau is exhib
tied letters to and from our consuls.
The passport division comes under tn
Bureau of Accounts. This exhibit is o
particular interest to those contemplating