made to the United States by Germany for losses incurred and expenses by this country during and following the war with that country.

When this matter first came before the allied and associated governments there was much friction, some of the allied governments going so far as to hold that the United States was not entitled to anything because she was not a signatory of the Treaty of Versailles. As the new year of 1925 was opening an agreement was reached through the persistent and steady efforts of Secretary Hughes. By this agreement the total sum the United States was to receive was fixed at approximately six hundred million dollars, payable in annual installments of twentyfive million dollars.

Few if any American premiers stood as high in the estimation of foreign countries as did Secretary Hughes. Referring to his anticipated retirement the Paris Temps, the leading paper of France, spoke of him as a man of the first rank, whose personal influence has been very large. It was due to him, the Temps said, more than to any other, that serious complications were avoided between the United States and Japan. The New York Times, an independent newspaper, gave voice to what it believed to be the popular verdict on Mr. Hughes' achievements as follows:

The time is not come fully to review and appraise the achievements of Mr. Hughes in the State Department. That he has displayed high qualities is the verdict of all impartial-minded men. His enormous industry, facility in grasping a large body of complicated facts and tearing the essential heart out of them, had been previously exhibited on so many occasions that their reappearance in his work as Secretary of State was only what was looked for. But, in addition to his insatiate energy, he has shown frequently the capacity of the true statesman in dealing with foreign questions new to him, and an ability to walk steadily and securely in paths which were for him untried. His career in the Department of State will yield fresh material for the arguments of those who hold that a man of first-class abilities can do one thing as well as another, if he only applies to each new task the full strength of his mind.

No one is a perfect Secretary of State. An ideal diplomat in that office would doubtless not have been able to do the work which Mr. Hughes has got through. A wholly tactful diplomat may please without putting things through. Mr. Hughes has put through some very big things, and will be ranked in the first class of American Secretaries of State.

FRANK

FRANK BILLINGS KELLOGG

RANK B. KELLOGG Secretary of State from March 4, 1925. Born at Potsdam, New York, December 22, 1856. Son of Asa F. and Abigail (Billings) Kellogg. Educated in the common schools. Married, in 1896, Miss Clara M. Cook.

1917-United States Senator.

1924-Ambassador to Great Britain.

1925-Secretary of State.

Mr. Kellogg is best known to the general public by the designation of "Trust Buster," given him when acting as a special assistant to the Attorney General in prosecuting the paper and Standard Oil trusts, and in the suit to dissolve the merger of the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads.

While he was still a lad in knickerbockers his parents removed from Potsdam to Minnesota, where he continued his studies in the common schools of Rochester. Later he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He almost at once reached a leading position among the lawyers of the place. He served for three years as city attorney of Rochester, following this with five years as attorney for Olmstead county. In 1887 he removed to St. Paul and entered into partnership with Cushman K. Davis, acknowledged as one of the ablest lawyers in the country.

He acted as the attorney for the Interstate Commerce Commission in its investigation of the Harriman railroads. He quickly made for himself a national reputation as a successful lawyer. All the time he was thus engaged in the practice of his profession he kept largely interested in politics, and in 1917 was elected to the United States Senate. In that body he soon reached a place among the leaders of the Republican side. His services in the Senate were no less distinguished than those when he acted as the nation's "Trust Buster." He was a candidate to succeed himself but was defeated by Mr. Shipstead, the candidate of the Farmer-Labor party.

Not long after his retirement from the Senate President Harding gave him the appointment of ambassador to Great Britain. This appointment was at first received by his party associates with some trepidation and fears, as to his being temperamentally qualified to meet the requirements of that position just at that time, as many of the questions brought to the front by the war would require the most delicate handling. He surprised everybody by his success and made himself respected by all the contending countries. In the United States the people, regardless of political belief, quickly acquired a profound respect and admiration for him. He is a lawyer of long experience and sound judgment, and his experience in conducting the negotiations with other countries have no doubt ripened him for a place at the head of the cabinet. His selection for that place by President Coolidge has met with warm commendation. Of him the Boston Herald said:

The ability of Frank B. Kellogg nobody can dispute. He has in a little more than twelve months established himself solidly in the esteem of the British public and of his fellow-diplomats. In the Senate he enjoyed the respect of all his colleagues. Yet, he is qualified for the place to which he has been invited.

The general attitude of the incoming Secretary is well enough known to warrant the opinion that such matters, at least, as the world court and reduction of armaments by international agreement will have hospitable consideration in the notdistant future.

was clothed with ample powers to provide for all the wants of the treasury. Under the committee an auditor general and a number of clerks were employed.

The treasury board was hard put to it to raise money. Efforts were made to effect loans in Europe and at last a lottery was decided upon. The depreciation of the Continental currency was so rapid and so great that the lottery scheme was abandoned finally. On February 13, 1779, Congress resolved that a Secretary of the Treasury be appointed and Mr. Robert Troup was chosen for that position in May following. Early in 1781 another change was made. This time Robert Morris was made "Superintendent of Finances." A few months later he was invested with the powers and duties of "Agent of Marine," or Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Morris resigned these offices in 1784 and Congress once more adopted the commission plan. This plan continued until the first Congress under the Constitution created the Department of the Treasury.

By an act of Congress approved September 2, 1789, it was provided there should be created an executive department to be known as the Department of the Treasury, with the following officers: A Secretary, a Comptroller, an Auditor, a Treasurer, a Register, and an assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury, the assistant to be appointed by the Secretary. It was made the duty of the Secretary "to digest and prepare plans for the improvement and management of the revenue and for the support of the public credit; and to prepare and report estimates of the public revenues and of the public expenditures; to superintend the collection of the revenues," and to generally perform all duties relative to the finances as he shall be directed to perform. It may be noticed that in providing for the creation of the other executive departments, the principal officer of the department is required to perform such