The sun., 1891-01-22
A Department OF Commerce.

A Department Of Commerce.
There are q number OF good souls In the
United States who are never happy except
when they arc trying to increase the
army Of ofaceholders. In the several States
they are always urging the establishment OF
boards, bureaus, departments. and commits
siops, whose chief business is to meddle in
ofYectually, to make more or less futile re-
ports, and to have . handsome salary &C.
count, and they are eager to have the United
States Government have a. many Depart
ments with big u as is possible. Their
urgency and the desire to throw hayseed
into the eyes of the grangers led to the
formation Of the Department OF Agriculture.
A Department Of Labor. Department OF
Manufactures, O Department OF Education.
and divers departments as numerous as
those In JOHN WANAMAKER's shop, have
boon proposed; and yet the Department
craze is In its mild and oarly stages, and
save tho always wondrous Wage Workers
Political Alliance, there is no association Of
cranks or eccentrics formally engaged In
promoting tho department industry. A De-
partment OF Commerce is the latest. Mr..
FRYE introduced into the Senate by request
last week bill establishing an Executive
Department Of Commerce, with Secretary
at It's head. There Ia to be an Assistant
Secretary at 5000 a year. The trainers Of
tho bill couldn't think Of anything for him
to do, and go they leave it to the chief Sec
rotary to prescribe his duties. A chief
clerk, disbursing clerk. and two ordinary
clerks are also provided for. The depart
ment is to have
ths supervstou Of public business relating TO trade
and commerce. foreign sud Domestic % FAR a. It 10 In
trusted TO the national Government BY the Constitu
tion OF the United states except much relates TO
the rsvsaua II shall collect preserve and disssminats
among the people Of the United ststss information
sardins In the widest OF the word re-
pert Coosrsss frsn tine to time the operations Of
the laws Affecting In the United stasss and
foreign eountfss and what legislation u required
to prsmsts the commercial interests Of the United
S,atss II shall prepare ana submit 70 ConErsss
osaiasAon Of Of Unissd States regulating
systsmAtiss tho eopsraons Of the marine aad CONNER
eial laws and b1fsaus Of the oovsrnment."
The Secretary would have no trouble In
finding plenty OF work for the Assistant
Secretary. The programme could not be
carried out without the aid Of regiment Of
economists, statisticians, and experts, and q
battalion OF typewf'ters; ana "hen tne IN
formation hsa Deem coileoted ana dissemi-
mated and put upon tho desk OF Congress-
who but the ouyefs OF oio bones, papers, bot
ties, and boots would ever regard IT. But
this Is only fragment OF tho work OF the
department.. Inc treasury is 10 transler TO
commerce tho execution OF tho laws regard
Ing theinspection OF steam vessels the Coast
and Geodetao survey. the L1e-saving ser-
Vice, the Bureau OF Navigation. the Light
house Board. the Marine hospital, part OF
the work OF the Bureau OF STATISTICS, and
partof tho work OF tho photographic ONCE.
Finally, subject to tho department OF Com
merce, shall be established tho United States
Board OF Commerce. composed OF tho follow
ing members:
-Ths Supervising I.spsesoro Of Steam vssss,s