Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/499

Rh —cont.

By a law which came into force Jan. 19, 1886, in case of removal, death, resignation, or inability of both the President and Vice-President, the Secretary of State, and after him, in the order of the establishment of their departments, other members of the Cabinet, shall act as President until the disability of the President is removed or a President shall be elected. On the death of a Vice-President the duties of the office shall fall to the President pro tempore of the Senate, who receives the salary of the Vice-President.

The administrative business of the nation is conducted by nine chief officers, or heads of departments, who form what is called the 'Cabinet,' They are chosen by the President, but must be confirmed by the Senate. Each of them presides over a separate department, and acts under the immediate authority of the President. The heads of departments are (March, 1913):—

1. Secretary of State.—William Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska, born in Illinois, 1860; educated at Illinois College; admitted to the bar, 1883; Member of Congress, 1891-95; Candidate for President of the United States, 1896, 1900, 1908. Present appointment, March 5, 1913.

2. Secretary of the Treasury.—William Gibbs McAdoo, of New York, born in Georgia, 1863; admitted to the bar, 1884; Organizer and builder of railway tunnels under the Hudson river. Present appointment, March 5, 1913.

3. Secretary of War.—Lindley M. Garrison, of New Jersey, born in New Jersey, 1864; admitted to the bar, 1886; Vice-Chancellor of New Jersey, 1904-13. Present appointment, March 5, 1913.

4. Secretary of the Navy.—Josephus Daniels, of North Carolina, born in North Carolina, 1862; State Treasurer of North Carolina, 1887-93; Chief Clerk Department of the Interior of the United States, 1893-95. Present appointment, March 5, 1913.

5. Secretary of the Interior.—Franklin Knight Lane, of California, born in Prince Edward Island, 1864; Corporation Counsel of San Francisco, 1897-1902; Democratic candidate for Governor of California, 1902; Member (and since 1912 Chairman) of the Interstate Commerce Commission, 1905-13. Present appointment, March 5, 1913.

6. Postmaster-General.—Albert Sidney Burleson, of Texas, born in Texas, 1863; admitted to the bar, 1884; Member of Congress, 1899-1913. Present appointment, March 5, 1913.