27. GENERAL OF THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES.

The office of general of the army of the United States was established in 1799, abolished in 1802, and revived in 1866. The act reviving the office declares that he may be authorized, under the direction and during the pleasure of the President, to command the armies of the United States. The details of his duties are nowhere prescribed. acts under the President, and carries out his directions, given orally or in writing. In military matters he stands next to the President, who by the constitution is commander-in-chief of the army, and obeys his commands. He is authorized to select from the

regular army six aids.

28. COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS OF THE ARMY

He

The pay proper of officers in the army is not large, being a certain sum per month. But this constitutes only a portion of their income. They are allowed several rations, servants, fuel, lights, forage for horses, when mounted, etc., each, for which they commute and receive ready money. The general of the army, whose pay proper is forty-eight hundred dollars. per annum, receives, it is said, four times that sum. Civilians do not comprehend this system of allow

ances.

The amount actually paid does not appear in the Official Register, as in the case of civilians. The government also supplies them, as well as officers of

the navy, with surgeons, medicines, and attendance when sick, a thing unknown in the civil service. Hence, it is impossible to understand what expense an officer in the army occasions the government. We therefore have not attempted to give the compensation, direct or indirect, of any grade in the army.

CHAPTER XL.

I. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

In

THIS office was not created until the federal government had been in operation ten years. 1798, Congress became alarmed at the attitude of France, and commenced preparations for war. The office of lieutenant-general was established, and

Washington commissioned. As much of the apprehended conflict was expected to be on the ocean, the duties of the War Department were divided, and a portion committed to the Navy Department, then first established. The office of Secretary of the Navy was created, and his duties are thus described in the organic act: He is "to execute such orders as he shall receive from the President of the United States relative to the procurement of naval stores and materials, and the construction, armament, equipment, and employment of vessels of war, as well as other matters connected with the naval establishment of the United States."

No power is here conferred, except that of acting as the representative of the President, who by the constitution is commander-in-chief of the navy as well as of the army.

He furnishes biennially the Secretary of State with lists of officers and agents, civil and military, employed under his department, together with their compensation, pay, and emoluments, to enable him to prepare the register commonly called the Blue Book.

He lays before Congress, annually, statements of appropriations and expenditures under the department, and of the balances unexpended, and reports to the Secretary of the Treasury the estimates of expenses for the next fiscal year.

He reports annually to Congress a statement of the expenditure of the contingent fund of the department, and of the clerks employed in it.

He has a general supervision of the Naval Academy, and the appointment of naval cadets, and selects naval constructors and engineers.

The business of the navy department is, to a great extent, devolved upon bureaus established by acts of Congress, to aid it in the performance of its duties. At the head of these are officers of experience in naval affairs, and especially in the duties particularly committed to them. These bureaus greatly facilitate the business of the department and essentially contribute to their being properly performed. Where not directed by law, the secretary distributes to them. business as it arises. He exercises a general supervision over them. They are responsible to him for

whatever they do or omit.

2. Many of the duties performed by the secretary are without statutory authority, and rest on presumed

instructions from the President, and upon custom without his dissent. These extend to every subject not provided for by acts of Congress.

The marine corps are under the direction of the secretary. The regulations concerning the management of the navy and those providing for the government of all employed in it, as officers, agents, and men, are prepared by the secretary, and, on approval by the President, become legally operative and binding. No officer of the navy has ever been commissioned secretary of the department, and accepted.

There are fewer statutes regulating the duties of the secretary than of any other of the departments. Those passed during the late war are not referred to because they were special and temporary and only applicable to the then existing state of things, which is not likely to occur again. The duties dependent upon regulations are admirably systematized, and performed in a manner most satisfactory to those who have knowledge of them. In no department of the government is the responsibility more effectually concentrated than in this. The secretary has no subordinates performing special statutory duties independent of him. He is the legitimate head, and responsible for the whole action of the department. This secures efficiency and harmony in action, which never occurs where there is separate and independent action.

He is appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate, and receives a salary of eight thousand dollars.