The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-26
climate means. but as rule the grea,

se.eoes>sssEsss>n-ees
| gitimate means, but as a rule the great
plum of holding office in the honor con-
| ferred by having done so, which remains
a family heirloom.
The heads of the executive departments
at Washington hold Office under quite
different tenure from those having charge
of the executive departments in Euro
pean governments.
For instance, an American cabinet OIL
Ger is known only as a member, while
an European official of corresponding
rank is called a cabinet minister. It is
surprising that the mere difference in
expression of the title should give one a
better footing than does the other, but
such is positively the facial Ieast
among that toadying element which
forms a large portion Of the fashionable
life at any political capital.
The status of an American cabinet OIL
cer-contrarily to that of foreign one
is more of a position as head of busf-
ness department than of mere diplo-
mat. In his official capacity the head of
an American bureau can both sue and be
sued Moreover, he holds his position
entirely at the will of the executive head
of the government-the president. When
he retires he hands over all his legal
complications to his successor, who often
finds more than enough in the troublous
details of his inheritance upon entering
office than to compensate for the honor
thereof. &0sa2
In regard to the Importance Of offices,
that of secretary of state, of course.
stands first, but it is perhaps the most
| unsatisfactory of any. "a
It is necessary for the incumbent. or
this Office to have a. Nplethoric pocket
book, for he must not only be the hafdeSt
worker of any man iN the cabinet, but
must have the financial facilities for do
ing the honors for his colleagues.
His reward is something akin to the
satisfaction which comes from the doing
of good works
All this. he. must be able and willing to-
undertake for the good of his country
for the princely sum of $3.50 per year.
Beyond thisol1e receives the blameafo
all that may happen to go amss IN the
diplomatic entanglements between TINS
and other countries, and, exasperatlng
fact. he may even, at the very point OF
securing a great coup as the resuh OF
long labors then be obliged to suddenly
resign Office, leaving the glory of the gait
accompli to his Successor.
The difficulties of his position are IN
Vulnerable and we are exceedingly Iertu-
nate when we find, a man With poth the
means and the ability to I'LL the posltlol.
The Importance of the office, 1t is true,
depends upon the kind of a man we have
at the head of it; but that. Of course,
may be said of any office, even up 10
the presidential throne itself.
And the discouraging feature OF this
position Is the fact that after Tor years
having labored to perfect a treaty OF
the utmost Importance he has no more
power to enforce 1t than you or L. -
After the state department has carried
its labors to what it considers a perfect
conclusion, the treaty goes before tne
senate, where dozen or more personal
opinions may conflict with itnahd assist
in tearing it to pieces. Then the multi
ated treaty goes to congress to meet
similar fate, and after it's revamp1ng by
both houses the state department can 90
nothing to carry it into execution unless
the house grants the money, should the
carving of it make an appropriation
necessary. =
The more level-headed man the sec
rotary of state u.s. the less bungling or
changing there is likely ito be with trea-
ties, and as the staff of his department
is the smallest of any, the better 1t IS
for the consummation ofsour growing IN
ternationaI arrangements.
AS matter of fact, the secretary OF
state really deserveSsfirst honors for haY-
ing successfully contaminated the propo-
sition. but he really does not get it from
most of the people, who give the glory
to the president especially If they nap
pen to be of his political complexion
The principal expense which the other
cabinet officers have toabear Is the din
ner which each of them is expected TO
give the president every season. This IS
| a social function of great Importance and
! almost equal to the breakfast given on
New Years day by the secretary or
state.
But dining and winning and social func-
lions alone only constitute a portion OF
a cabinet officers expense during his
term at Washington
His wife and family must be supported
in a style sufficient to support the dignity
of their position They must have lux
uries that in their own simple lives at
home would never be dreamed of. Each
must, of course, keep a stylish carriage,
live in good style, and make display
proportionate to his important office.
Nest of the foreign ambassadors are
provided for Handsomely. and their ele-
gance and profusion of display may be
said to have perverted the simplicity OF
early American life at the capital.
| costumes are seen among the foreign staff
on Pennsylvania avenue. They outshine
| as a rule those of the wealthiest Ameri-
cans.
! If Mrs. Roosevelt ever said she intended
| to dress on $500 year or something to
! that effect, she never really meant it,
| for such thing would be impossible
! Nor could the example of one president
wife stem the tide of Increasing display
no noticed
here every year. Itlweuld be similar to
the case of Canute. trying to hold back
| the tides of the sea, -
/ Instead, therefore,, as public opinion
would have it, the big men in the affairs
| of our government having the opportuni-
/ ties of their lives to- fill their pocket
books and go home. to their native towns
and city millionaires, it is generally a
case of returning with. the barren honor
| of short lived tenure of office and an
| exhausted pocket book