Visitors consult in the library such volumes as they may select. Counselors-at-law attending the Supreme Court and Court of Claims obtain books. from the law library to use therein.

It speaks ill of visitors, that many books have been robbed of their ́engravings while in their hands in the library rooms. The library is a favorite place of resort for literary people, travelers, and strangers visiting the capital. The librarian and assistants are always found courteous and obliging to those who call, and aid them in the selection of such books as they desire to see. They have arranged and keep their books in most excellent order, and all the appointments are neat and inviting. Although not the largest library in the world, it is believed to have been selected with unequaled care and attention, and has few, if any, useless books in any department.

The librarian keeps an account with those who are authorized to take books, and holds them to a strict accountability. He purchases, under the direction of the joint library committee of the two houses of Congress, such books as they direct. He appoints thirteen assistants, one of whom has sole charge of the law library. His compensation is four thousand dollars, and his assistants each receive twenty-one hundred and sixty dollars.

CHAPTER XXVI.

I. THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

UPON the executive department is devolved the execution of the laws. By the constitution,

The executive power is vested in the President of the United States of America.

Although under the control of a single individual, the operations of this department are more extensive than either of the others. It extends to making all appointments, both civil and military; to the management and control of the whole army and navy. It also embraces all the civil operations of the government. Among its duties are the collection of the revenue from customs, and, under the internal revenue laws, the sale of public lands and other property, and bringing the whole proceeds into the treasury, and the expenditure of all appropriations made by Congress for the public service. The settlement of these is often soon made known throughout the Union.

Each of the secretaries and post-master general is authorized to request the opinion of the attorneygeneral in writing on any question of law arising in his department.

Each member of the cabinet, as well as the President and Vice-President, has the franking privilege.

They rank next to the President and Vice-President. Members of both houses of Congress often resign to take these positions, which are exceedingly laborious when the duties are efficiently and thoroughly performed.

On the last night of a session of Congress, it is usual for them to attend with the President at the Vice-President's room in the Capitol, to advise him on the subject of signing bills which may then be passed.

2. When the President attends on any public occasion, some or all the cabinet accompany him; and especially at funerals of members of Congress or other distinguished persons.

Members of the cabinet call upon the President and each other without ceremony.

Their general duties are wholly distinct from each other.

It is through these officers that the President causes the laws to be executed. Each is charged, either specially or generally, with the execution of those which pertain to his own department. In the early days of the government, the President gave special directions to each department what acts it should execute. This appropriate and safe practice is now seldom resorted to. All the acts of the departments are, in theory and in law, in the name of

the President, whether so stated or not, except where Congress specially devolves a duty upon them, as Each receives a salary of eight

sometimes occurs. thousand dollars.

CHAPTER XXVII.

I. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THIS office is created and its most important duties prescribed by the constitution. Other duties have been imposed by statute under various powers conferred upon Congress.

The executive power of the government is in terms vested in him.

He holds his office for the term of four years, unless removed on impeachment.

No person not a native-born citizen, thirty-five years of age, and resident for fourteen years in the United States, can become president.

2. HOW THE PRESIDENT IS ELECTED.

Each State appoints, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors equal to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the State may be entitled in Congress.

Congress having the power to do so, has fixed the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as the time of choosing electors, and the first Wednesday in December as the time of casting their votes throughout the United States.