The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-13
Features of Society at
Washington.
THE OFFICIAL ETIQUETTE
Various Anecdotes Of Men Who Are
Prominent in the
Public Eye.

"AobAAN0 Il ONf Itu. -ts-l ne ldNu-
ers OF the Government, through scorn,
perhaps, for all that suggested courts
and monarchical institutions, neglect
ed in the early days to establish rules
Of precedence for the guidance OF the
nations officials, which oversight is
responsible for bitter controversies.
historic feuds and innumerable heart
burns. To the President. naturally.
was accorded the first place, but the
re.ative positions of his subordinates
were not definitely fixed. The Vice
President sometimes took precedence
Of the Secretary OF State. at other
times he followed humbly behind that
august official, their status depending
somewhat on the character of the men
who held these Offices. For years, un-
I'll, indeed, the act OF 1886, the wives
Of the Senators insisted that the wom-
en- OF the Cabinet and Of the Supreme
Court should make the first call upon
.hem, eOltending that, as the mem
bers Of the Cabinet and Justices were
confirmed by the Senate. that body out
ranked them.
When the English Legation was
raised TO the highest rank, Sir Julian,
now Lord, PauncefOte, who was named
Ambassador, assumed that, as the per-
sOnal representative of his sovereign,
he ranked above all the American oni-
cials save the Chief Executive. Mr..
Hobart contested this assumption,
maintaining, quite correctly, that
since, in case OF the Presidents death,
the Vice President would succeed him,
the Vice President outranked both the
Ambassadors and the Cabinet.
For months this matter was in
allegiance. Mr. Hobart would not call
on the English Ambassador. Lord
PauncefOte declined to visit the Vice
President, refused all invitations to
dine where that official was included
among the guests, and on one occasion
stated quite distinctly in his regrets
the reason for his refusal. The situa-
tion became finally 50 embarrassing
that the President invoked the aid OF
the American Ambassador at St.
James, asking him to obtain an opin-
ion regarding this vital point from the
Foreign Ofhce. The English au,hori-
ties sustained the stand taken by the
| Vice President, and instructed the Am
bassador to accord him precedence.
Immediately on receipt OF this ruling
! Lord PauncefOte called upon Mr.. HO-
bart, and harmony was again estab-
! lished.
The latest question OF precedence re-
! .ates TO the Admiral OF the Navy. who
is actually two numbers higher in
rank than the chief officer OF the Ar
my, a Major General General Niles,
never he.ess, as representative Of the
War Department, which Is OF earlier
origin than It's military sis,er, the Ma
| w Department, outranks him az OIL
cial functions, but as an individual the
pas is given 20 Admiral Dewey.
There Is trouble, too, as 10 the exact
places in the official line the Preside
pro tenn. OF the Senate and the Spelk-
er OF the House should occupy. Under
the old statute, which provided that,
falling both the President and Vice
President, the presiding officer Of the
Senate should succeed 10 the Presiden-
cy, and, falling him, the Speaker Of the
House, the President pro TEN. ranked
next to the Vice President, the Speak
er following him. The act OF Congress
approved January 10. 1856. In the event
OF the disability Of both the President
and Vice President, enacted a new
succession on which the present order
Of official precedence approved by the
Department Of State. and used for all
official functions, Is founded. This or
der reads as follows:
First-The President OF the United
States.
Second-The Vice President OF the
United States.
INSTRUMENTATION OF foreign Pow
ers in the order OF their formal recOg-
nation by the Government Of the
United States.
Note.-At functions given by officials
OF foreign governments at the capital
the Secretary OF State takes precedence
Of Ambassadors, including the Dem OF
he Diplomatic Corps.
Fourth-The Secretary Of State.
Noie.-In the opinion OF the Second
Assistant Secretary OF State. Mr. Adee.
who Is regarded as the supreme au-
thority in such matters. the Secretary
Of State. the Chief Justice OF the Su-
preme Court OF the United States and