Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-05

state



The Department of state employs the
smallest force of any department of the
government. but II is first In rank, and its
official head is regarded as the premier OF
the cabinet AS a rule. when the president
makes up his official family. he selects the
ablest man he can get for the state port
folio. There have been q few administra-
lions in which the secretary Of state yielded
first place in influence to the head OF an
other department in cabinet affairs, but,
as rule, official precedence has carried
with 1t the actual premiership.
The state department has its official ex-
istence in Washington, but the larger of its
activities take place in other countries,
The diplomatic and consular serves repre-
sent the most important work of the de-
partment and while the plans are mapped
out in Washington they are largely exc
cuted abroad. 1t was found advisable from
the earliest history OF the American colon
led to have representatives among the ma
tons of Europe to look after the colonial
interests. Benjamin Franklin at one time
represented several of the colonies in this
capacity abroad
1he contingent fund Of the State depart
msnt is the one appropriation made by the
federal government that requires no ac-
counting TO the people This is a secret
fund established for the purpose of enabling
the secretary of state to keep close track
upon the secret doings of other nations, in
order that the government may at all
times be apprised of any foreign develop
ments which might affect Its interests. The
diplomatic representatives OF the United
states in foreign countries are supposed to
keep themselves in close touch with the
Of a,
ere accredited, and to sd conduct them
selves in the discharge of their duties that
they will be on good terms with those for
eign officials with whom they have to deal
This has in a measure brought about q de.
mand for wealthy Americans to fill the i'm.
portant foreign posts. AS the personal rep.
resentAtive Of the president of the United
States, the American ambassador Is sup
posed at all times to have access to the Of
fices of the ruler of the government to
which he Is accredited. II he Is to make the
most of his position he needs to be well
fitted for taking part in the social affairs
Of the capital, and this calls for expendI.
| lures far in excess of the emoluments OF
the office. 1t is said that Ambassador Reid
In maintaining the Amedioan embassy al
| the court of st. James, spends S250,O00 g
| year-more than ten times his income from
| the Enthusiastically.
Many rules and regulations are prescribed
to govern the conduct of Americas diplo.
matte representatives abroad. They are re-
CURED to be charry in the matter of givinl
out interviews or making speeches involv
ing questions at issue or questions which
might be raised between their government
and the ones to which they are sent. The,
are forbidden to become responsible To-
debts Of fellow Americans or to allow thei
names to be used as references. Neithe
can they endorse bills or exchange 70
American tourists abroad In all importan
correspondence between the Department .
State and its diplomatic representative
abroad, mail is not entrusted to the ordi
nary channels of communication. Specia
locked and sealed pouches are used, an
wherever possible these are entrusted t
American citizens in the International mai
service, In times of threatened war be
tween our government and any other ma
ton, special messengers are often employs
to carry the dispatches Secret ciphe
! codes are used in correspondence when wa
threatens. In case of a declaration Of wa
the American representatives abroad ar
afforded a safe conduct to the frontiers o
the country at whose capital they are sta
| uOneu anu Ino representatives Oh boIl
} other nation undertake to look after Amer
can interests, pending the conclusion O
: hostilities.
The consular service is in many ways tn
most interesting part of Americas repre-
] sentation abroad. The oonsuls bear tn
!. same relation to American business inter
ests in foreign countries that the diplC
, matte service sustains to governmental In
. terests abroad. Their duties are many an
varied, and even in remote cities the cor
sui finds much to do. There are invoice
to be made out on all shipments Of good
= to America, and such a consulate as tht
at Hong Kong will make out as many q
9 10, 600 in a year. The days routine in
. consular office is as varied as that of
q newspaper office. There are passports
7 be looked after, calls OF war vessels to
e made, complaints of American tourists
= be heard, stranded seasmen to be provide
for, a miniature postoffice to be kept, pei
d sion payments to claim attention, notarii
service to be performed, trade reports
o be written, extradition papers to be acte