The Detroit times., 1910-10-11
THE GOVERNMENT AT Work
1.-THE STATE DEPARTMENT
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIM

The government Is espaciaI,v oo,.-
sideTate OF the American seaman
abroad. II he Is stranded. his wav 1.
paid back TO the United States X Ia
IL ill-treated on the vessel az wbo.a
crew he y member. his interests
are carefully looked after. Wherever
there Is an American consulate the
nag OF Uncle Sam means protection m
the American seaman. This has led
others to presume that Uncle sam
pays the way or any stranded Amert-
can back to his home. and thousands
appeal for such aid. But the seaman
10 In class by himself In this re-
gard. and II aid be given to others. 4
must come out OF the consul's pocket
or from private charity. Women
whose husbands have left them.
others who have regretted their mar.
rage 10 foreigners. and thousands Of
DON sexes with varying tales of woe
annually appeal to the member OF
the diplomatic and consular service
Tor aid In getting back to their Amer1.
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 thu
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
neids or 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 I'm
England. He got II and Ia now carry.
Ing Goals TO Newcastle by sending
knives to Shenield Another manu-.
facturer asked for certain Information
and since the receipt OF 1t. has doubled
MS export trade. So successful has
been the consular service of the Uni
ted States that II IL being made thu
pattern after which Germany. Enr-
land and France are modelling theirs.
The secretary OF state handles many
things or 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 d.
partment. In the early years of the
government, Il was known as thu de-
partment Of foreign relations. but me
desire Of those In authority st
that time to make its activities In
| clude certain home affairs led Il 20
be called the state department The
secretary Of state Is the medium OF,
correspondence between the presi-
dent OF the United States and the gov
ernors OF the several states. He also,
has the custody OF the great seal Of
the United States which he afires to
all executive proclamations, to vari-
Gus commissions, and to warrants
Tor 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 or
the laws OF congress, so as to make
them accessible to the general public.
IL entrusted to tho state department.
The secretary also issues all pass
ports, promulgates amendments to the
constitution OF the United States. and
proclains the admission Of new states
Into the union. All matters pertain.
ing to the American end OF interna-
tfonal conferences and congresses are
arranged through the state depart
J ment. Various institutions, including
missionary societies. have their pro-
lection assured through its labors, a.
1 III tue Cu5c Vi the e6taDIlBum0nL OF
schools and hospitals in foreign lands.
A record is kept of all marriages OF
American citizens abroad, and also OF
all children born abroad. A register
Of all citizens Of the United States
residing In foreign lands II 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 q for.
eign country, the state departments
uses the diplomatic and consular ser.
vice as the medium for securing Il
When congress wants to know about
postal savings banks. the information
IL forthcoming through these chan
nels. When the status Of divorce laws
| in Europe II Of interest 10 m Inn
portant American society. the state
department ascertains what tho situar
ton H. In addition to all this . sort
of who's Who" n kept OF nearly
every citizen Of prominence In The
world For instance. q foreign gov.
| eminent appoints one Of its citissnsi
as minister to the United States Or n
citizen Of another country as . meuS1
Der Of q court OF arbitration In which,
American interests are involved ms
state department has q card iude1|
containing complete Information a6ouei
them. This shows whether u ~,
pointee 10 likely to be persona GTaes'
or whether his presence would - o.