The Detroit times., 1910-10-11
THE GOVERNMENT AT Work
1.-THE STATE DEPARTMENT,
I By FREDERIC J. HASKLM


The government is especially con-
siderate or the American seaman
abroad. II he Is stranded. his wav !.
paid back TO the United States If he
Is ill-treated on the vessel or whose
crew he Is member. his interests
are carefully looked after. Wherever
there Is an American consulate the
flag OF Uncle Sam means protection To
the American seaman. This has led
others TO presume that Uncle Sam
pays the way OF any stranded Ameri-
can back to his home. and thousands
appeal for such aid. But the seaman
10 In class by himself in this re-
gard. and IL aid be given to others. IL
must come out OF the consul's pocket
or from private charity. Women
whose husbands have left them.
others who have regretted their mar
riage to foreigners, and thousands OF
both sexes with varying tales OF woe
annually appeal TO the members OF
the diplomatic and consular service
for aid In getting back to their Ameri-
can homes
Few nations enjoy such an extensive
| trade abroad as the United States and
much Of the success OF the American
| exporter. Is due TO the activity OF the
| men who make up the American con-
sular service. They are the watch
men on the towers OF International
trade. spying out the country for new
fields OF commercial opportunity and
| seeking for every kind Of data that
VIII enable the~American export bust
| ness TO continue TO grow Not long
ago a New England manufacturer Of
knives asked the consular service for
list OF retail dealers In cutlery In
England. He got II and Is now carry
Ing Goals to Newcastle by sending
knives to Sheffield. Another manu-
facturer asked for certain information
| and since the receipt or 1t. has doubled
his export trade. SO successful has
been the consular service of the Uni
ted States that IL Is being made the
pattern after which Germany. Eng
land and France are modelling theirs.
The secretary of state handles many
| things OF purely domestic interest In
| addition to his attention to all for
eign matters. II was this that led to
the changing OF the name of the de-
partment. In the early years OF the
government. II was known as the de-
partment OF foreign relations. but the
| desire Of those in authority at
that time to make its activities in
| clude certain home affairs. led II 20
be called the state department The
| secretary OF state Is the medium or
] correspondence between the presi-
dent OF the United States and the gov
| errors OF the several states. He also
has the custody Of the great seal OF
| the United States which he af1ixes to
| all executive proclamations, to vari-
| Gus commissions. and to warrants
for the extradition OF fugitives from
| Justice. He Is the custodian of the
treaties made with foreign countries
and OF the laws OF the United States.
The publication and distribution ~
the laws OF congress. so as TO make
them accessible to the general public.
Is entrusted to the state department.
The secretary also issues all pass
ports. promulgates amendments to the
constitution of the United States, and
proclaims the admission OF new states
into the union. All matters pertain
ing to II american end OF interna-
| tional coh~Drences and congresses are
| arranged through the state depart
! ment. Various institutions. including
! missionary societies. have their pro-
| lection assured through It's labors. as
| in the case OF the establishment or
schools and hospitals in foreign lands.
A record is kept OF all marriages or
| American citizens abroad, and also OF
all children born abroad. A register
of all citizens Of the United States
residing In foreign lands Is MAIN
| tanned and inquiries are instituted for
those who go to foreign countries and
disappear.
When any branch Of the govern
ment wishes information from a for
eign country, the state department
uses the diplomatic and consular SER
vice az the medium for securing II.
When congress wants TO know about
postal savings banks. the Information
is forthcoming through these chan
nels. When the status Of divorce laws
| in Europe Is of interest TO an i'm
portant American society. the state
department ascertafns what the sitna-
| ton Ia. In addition to all this q sort
of Who's Who" Is kept Of nearly
every citizen Of prominence In tie
world. For instance, a foreign gov
eminent appoints one OF its citizens
as minister to the United States or
citizen OF another country as men,
Der OF court OF arbitration In which
American interests are involved. The
state department has card index
containing complete information about
them. This shows whether the APP
pointee Is likely TO be persona grata
or whether his presence would be OBJ
iectionable.