BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

This year of 1910 is drawing to a close. The records of population and harvests which are the index of progress show vigorous national growth and the health and prosperous well-being of our communities throughout this land and in our possessions beyond the seas. These blessings have not descended upon us in restricted measure, but overflow and abound. They are the blessings and bounty of God.

We continue to be at peace with the rest of the world.

In all essen

tial matters our relations with other peoples are harmonious, with an evergrowing reality of friendliness and depth of recognition of mutual dependence. It is especially to be noted that during the past year great progress has been achieved in the cause of arbitration and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

Now, therefore, I, William Howard Taft, President of the United States of America, in accordance with the wise custom of the civil magistrate since the first settlements in this land and with the rule established from the foundation of this Government, do appoint Thursday, November 24,1910, as a day of National Thanksgiving and Prayer, enjoining the people upon that day to meet in their churches for the praise of Almighty God and to return heartfelt thanks to Him for all His goodness and loving-kindness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed."

Done at the City of Washington this fifth day of
November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine

From "Government and Politics in the United States," by William B. Guitteau. Houghton, Mifflin Company.

Department of State. This was the first cabinet office created by Congress, being called for a time the "department of foreign affairs." Though the name was changed, the chief duty of the Secretary of State is in connection with foreign affairs.

The Secretary of State is charged, under the direction. of the President, with the duties appertaining to correspondence with the public ministers and the consuls of the United States and with the representatives of foreign powers accredited to the United States; and to negotiations of whatever character relating to the foreign affairs of the United States. He is also the medium of correspondence between the President and the chief executives of the several states of the United States; he has the custody of the great seal of the United States, and countersigns and affixes the seal to all executive proclamations, to various commissions and to warrants for the extradition of fugitives from justice. He is regarded as the first in rank among the members of the cabinet. He is also the custodian of the treaties made with foreign. countries, and of the laws of the United States. He grants and issues passports and exequaturs (see Glossary) to foreign consuls in the United States are issued through his office. He publishes the laws and resolutions of Congress, amendments to the Constitution and proclamations declaring the admission of new states into the Union.*

The principal bureaus of this department are the diplomatic bureau, consular bureau, bureau of appointments (has custody of the great seal), bureau of citizenship (issues passports), bureau of indexes and archives, bureau of rolls and library (has custody of treaties and laws).

The statements of official duties are quoted, with slight changes, from the Congressional Directory for December, 191

Department of the Treasury. The head of this department is called Secretary of the Treasury.

The Secretary of the Treasury is charged by law with the management of the national finances. He prepares plans for the improvement of the revenue and for the support of the public credit; superintends the collection of the revenue and directs the forms of keeping and rendering public accounts and of making returns; grants warrants for all moneys drawn from the treasury in pursuance of appropriations made by law and for the payment of moneys into the treasury; and annually submits to Congress estimates of the probable revenues and disbursements of the government. He also controls the construction of public buildings; the coinage and printing of money; the administration of the life-saving, revenue-cutter and the public health and marine hospital branches of the public service and furnishes generally such information as may be required by either branch of Congress on all matters pertaining to the foregoing.

The principal officers of this department are assistant secretaries, six auditors (who audit and settle all accounts with the other cabinet departments), the supervising architect, the comptroller of the treasury of the United States (having general charge over the public moneys that may be deposited in the treasury at Washington and in the subtreasuries at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans and San Francisco, and in the national bank United States depositories), register of the treasury (look for the names of the last two officers on paper money), comptroller of the currency (having supervision of national banks), director of the mint, commissioner of internal revenue and superintendent of the life-saving service.

Department of War. The duties of the Secretary of War are as follows:

The Secretary of War is nead of the war department and performs such duties as are required of him by law or may be required of him by the President concerning the military service.

He is charged by law with the supervision of all estimates of appropriations for the expenses of the department, including the military establishment; of all purchases of army supplies; of all expenditures for the support, transportation and maintenance of the army and of such expenditures of a civil nature as may be placed by Congress under his direction.

He also has supervision of the United States military academy at West Point and of military education in the army, of the board of ordnance and fortification, of the various battlefield commissions, and of the publication of the official records of the war of the rebellion.

He has charge of all matters relating to national defense and seacoast fortifications, army ordnance, river and harbor improvements, the prevention of obstructions to navigation and the establishment of harbor lines; and all plans and locations of bridges authorized by Congress to be constructed over the navigable waters of the United States require his approval.

Department of Justice. The Attorney-General is the head of the department of justice and the chief law officer of the government. He represents the United States in maters involving legal questions; he gives his advice and opinion, when they are required by the President or by the heads of the other executive departments, on questions of law arising in the administration of their respective departments; he appears in the Supreme Court of the United States in cases of especial gravity and importance; he exercises a general superintendence and di