III. DIPLOMATIC BUREAU. 86. This bureau is similar in its organization to the one just mentioned. It conducts correspondence with and relative to our diplomatic representatives. The several subdivisions of correspondence correspond with the classification referred to under the head of Consular Bureau. 87. This correspondence pertains to all subjects relating to our relations with foreign governments, and all matters of information regarding domestic affairs which should be communicated to our representatives abroad. It also embodies whatever communication on foreign affairs our own Government may desire to make through our diplomatic ministers with foreign governments. The reports and communications of those ministers to the Secretary of State form an interchange of correspondence which is annually submitted by that officer to Congress for information as to the state of our foreign relations. IV. BUREAU OF ACCOUNTS. 88. The chief of this bureau bears a relation to the Department of State of the same nature as that borne by the disbursing clerks to their respective departments. 89. Under direction of the Secretary of State he disburses the appropriations made for payment of the expenses of the department, embracing compensation of the Secre tary, assistants, and all the officers, clerks, messengers, and laborers; also for the contingencies of the department, such as fuel, repairs, and furniture; for stationery, books, extra clerk hire, the editing, furnishing, publishing, and distribution of the laws of the United States, and for other objects of expenditure for the department proper. He has also the custody of indemnity funds and bonds deposited in trust, and the care of the building and property of the department. In these duties he is assisted by the several clerks assigned to duty in this bureau. The regulations of the department require from this bureau periodical reports to the Secretary showing the exact condition of each appropriation and account on the first day of each month, stating particularly the amount appropriated, the statute making the appropriation, the amount of the appropriation remaining in the Treasury, amount drawn during the month, amount of such draft remaining unexpended, amount expended during the preceding month, and the place of deposit of moneys remaining on hand. Also a report respecting any trust or other funds in his custody or control, stating the date of receipt, the origin of the fund, the original amount, the amount of interest received and date of receipt, the present amount of the fund, the nature of the investment, amount in his hands, and place of deposit of the same. V. BUREAU OF INDEXES AND ARCHIVES. 90. Upon this bureau the duty devolves of opening the mails; preparing and registering the same, making daily full abstracts of all correspondence with and from the department, and indexing the same, both by subjects and persons. It has also the charge of the files or archives of the department, and is engaged in answering calls of the Secretary, assistant secretaries, chief clerk, chiefs of bureaus, and others for correspondence, &c. By act of April 11, 1878, it is provided that the records and proceedings of the Electoral Commission, created by act of January 29, 1877, to regulate the counting of the votes for President and Vice-President, shall be deposited with the Secretary of State, who is required to preserve the same among the archives of his office. VI. THE LIBRARIAN. 91. This division performs duties formerly appertaining to the Bureau of Rolls and Library, now abolished. Accordingly, it has custody of the rolls of acts of Congress, orders, and joint resolutions of that body. It has charge also of the printing and publication of the same, and the distribution of such copies as the law requires to be furnished each Senator and Representative in Congress and the Executive of each State. It has charge also of the publication of the volumes of the statutes of the United States and their promulgation. It has also care of the library of the department, the public documents, the revolutionary archives, and the archives of international commissions. DIVISION OF STATISTICS. 92. This division has charge of the compilation of the numerous reports of United States consuls on the commercial relations of our people with the ports and countries to which the consuls are accredited. This volume is prepar ed annually, in accordance with law, for the information of Congress, and contains the specific data as to commerce, navigation, mining, agricultural products, &c., required by statute to be obtained, a reference to which is more particularly made in section 62, herein. THE EXAMINER OF CLAIMS. 93. This is an officer nominally connected with the Department of Justice. He is called by the statute the Examiner of Claims for the Department of State, and it is provided that he shall exercise his functions under the supervision and control of the head of the Department of Justice. The law, however, does not define what those functions are, or indicate of what his duties shall consist. He is, however, regarded as the solicitor for the Department of State. He is the law adviser of that department, and performs such duties and considers such questions of law arising in the administration of that department as may be assigned him by the Secretary. Among these is the investigation of any claims which may be presented to the department. 94. Outside these several bureaus and divisions there are duties performed in the department by assignment to individual clerks. Certain of these clerks are designated as Clerk of Pardons and Commissions, and Passport Clerk. The former prepares and issues commissions to persons who have received appointment to office, receives and files applications for office, and prepares pardons to be issued by the President, and the correspondence relating to these subjects. The latter, viz., the Passport Clerk, receives applications for passports to foreign countries, and prepares such passports for execution under the seal of the Department of State. He is authorized by law to administer and attest all oaths required by law or regulations to be taken by or on behalf of applicants. It is his duty to carefully examine each application for a passport and the accompanying proofs, and to satisfy himself that the applicant is under the law entitled to the same. A passport is prohibited by law to any person not a citizen of the United States. There is also in the department a translator, by special provision of law, who performs his duties under order of the Secretary, the assistants, or the chief clerk. CHAPTER IV. THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR. 95. The second in order, as regards the time of creation, was the Department of War, provided for by act of August 7, 1789. Until the Navy Department was established, about ten years later, the Department of War had charge of both army and navy matters. 96. The head of this department is the Secretary of War. A chief clerk is provided for by law, who has supervision of the other clerks of the department, and a general oversight of the distribution of business, and of the mode in which it is to be transacted. 97. In the absence of the Secretary the chief clerk may be authorized by that officer to sign requisitions upon the Treasury Department, and other papers requiring the sig nature of the Secretary of War; and in case of a vacancy in the office of the latter, the chief clerk is invested by law with the custody of all records, books, and papers of the department. (R. S., § 215.) 98. This department is divided by law into the following military bureaus, each having its chief clerk, and other clerks varying in number according to the appropriation act or to assignment by the Secretary, and being presided over by the chief officer of the appropriate military department, viz.: The Office of the Adjutant-General. The Office of the Quartermaster-General. The Office of the Commissary-General. |