The New York herald., 1922-10-15
Our State Department.

The average citizen has only hazy
knowledge of the functions and re-
sponsibilities of the several Executive
departments of the Government.
Some of the Cabinet officers are
charged with duties, or with the
responsibility for duties intrusted to
divisional heads, of which no hint is
given in their titles. To meet the
public desire for information in the
case of its own vast establishment
the Department of State has wisely
issued a brochure relating briefly
its history, its organization and the
functions assigned to it.
It's growth reflects accurately the
tremendous increase in public busi-
ness which has taken place since
1889, when the First Congress made
provision for what was known at the
founding of the nation as the De-
partment of Foreign Affairs.
The first Secretary Of State,
THOMAS JEFFERSON, took UP his
duties with a staff of five clerks.
There were then four foreign Minis
ters resident in the United States.
Our own diplomatic corps was COM
posed of three heads Of missions.
There were not more than sixteen
consuls of the United States resident
in foreign countries. To-day there
are forty-four heads of foreign mis-
sions in Washington, and we have
diplomatic representatives in fifty
foreign countries. The principal
consular officers alone number 800.
There are a large number of subor-
dinate diplomatic and consular Off
GERS. More than 700 officers and
clerks are employed in the D,part-
ment at Washington.
In the Secretaryship Of State were
combined from the beginning the two
Offices, usually separated in other
governments, of Minister of Foreign
Relations and Chancellor, or keeper
of the great seal. Some duties which
in the early days were assigned to the
Department Of State have since been
transferred. These include the grant
ing of patents and the management
of the affairs of Territories, later as
signed to the Department OF the In
terror, and the census, now under the
Department Of Commerce.
The official brochure directs atten-
tion to the multifarious duties per-
formed by consular agents. The reg
ulations which prescribe a consuls
duties comprise upward Of 1900 para
graphs. 1t Is his special function to
promote American commerce, but he
must also take charge Of the estates
of American citizens who die abroad
without legal representatives; care
for stranded American seamen; GER
tify to the correctness of the prices
of merchandise exported to the United
States; aid in the enforcement Of the
immigration laws and give advice
and protection to American citizens
This gives only the barest outline OF
a consuPs job.
The pamphlet should help to eradi-
cate the impression that because the
Department of State deals prfnci-
pally with foreign affairs its business
is far removed from the immediate
and ordinary daily interests of the
man in the street. II aids and pro-
tects him when he goes abroad; it as
sists him in finding new markets fol
American products; 1t maintains the
peace and friendship upon which
peace OF mind and security OF home
depend.
Much dissatisfaction with the proc
esses of government rises from the
fact that busy men and women havt
no time to inform themselves as t
the functions, responsibilities and
limitations Of public officials. Such
publications as the one issued by the
State Department should serve G
highly useful purpose in educating
the public In these respects.