San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-16

lars $500 shall be paid for the
complete organization of post OF
fifteen new members. 3. The claim
for payment OF expenses against
the National association must be
accompanied by a list of fifteen
new members actually secured.
Transfers of members to new posts
are not to count in claims for ex-
penses, though they can join new
posts il they so desire. Fifteen
new members must be secured for
the post. 1t is deemed by this
plan that organization can pro-
coed at many places at the same
time and on throughout the coun-
try, whereas an organizer can only
be present In few localities dur
ing the year."
A bill known as house resolution,
4447, of the Fiith-fourth congress,
has been introduced by Congress
man Seth w. Cobb, of Missouri.
The bill was introduced at the es-
pecial request of the Travellers
Protective association of America.
Hon. John s. HARDWOOD, OF Rich
mond, Va, chairman Of the Ma.
tional legislative committee Of that
association, framed the original
draft of the bill and proceeded to
place it in the hands Of Hon. Seth
w. Cobb for introduction. The bill
has been changed in few respects
since first introduced, the present
draft OF it being as given below. 1t
is very appropriate that the bill
should be introduced by Mr.. Cobb,
as he is a representative business
man of the west and was himself,
so we understand, for some time, a
commercial traveller. Mr.. Cobb
introduced the bill on January 81.
The proposition was favored by
the Commercial Mems congress,
which met at Atlanta, Ga, on
November ID, IA, 1895, which
congress passed a resolution advo-
eating the addition OF secretary
of commerce to the presidents
cabinent. Nothing was done, how
ever, toward following up the
work, and, as usual, the Travellers
Protective Association Of America
was left alone to do the actual and
practical work. The resolution
passed by that congress represent
ed, however, the sentiments OF
10000 commercial travellers belong
ing to the various associations, and
members of congress should under
stand that the promotion of the
measure will be backed up by that
influence. The bill is as follows:
A Bill to Create an Executive De-
partment to be Known as the
Department o. Commerce.
Be it enacted by the senate and
house Of representatives OF the
United States in congress assem-.
bled, that there shall be at the seat
OF government an executive de-
partment to be known as the de-
partment of commerce and a Sec
rotary Of commerce, who shall be
the head thereof, and who shall be
appointed by the president, by
and with the advice and consent OF
the senate.
Sec. 2. That there shall be in
the departm ent of commerce an as.
sistant secretary Of commerce, who
shall be appointed by the presi-
dent, by and with tn, advice and
consent Of the senate.
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty
M nf n
carefully guard the domestic and
foreign commercial interests of the
United States; to collect informa-
tion and statistics Of the domestic
and foreign commerce of the Unit
ed States and foreign countries; to
promote commercial intercourse
and relations between the Unit
ed States and all the for
eIgn countries; collect and
compile information pertaining
to the conditions, both advanta-
geous and restrictive, surround
ing the extension of the trade Of
the United States into foreign
markets; prepare special reports
from time TO time upon such in
dustries or commercial features Of
foreign countries as may be Of
value to the United States, and
perform such other duties as may
be required by law.
Sec. 4. That the assistant Sec
rotary of commerce shall perform
such duties in the department Of
commerce as shall be prescribed
by law.
Sec. 5. That the secretary of
commerce shall receive the same
salary as Is paid to the secretary Of
each Of the executive departments
and the salary Of the assistant Sec
rotary Of commerce shall be the
same as that now paid to the first
assistant secretary Of the depart
ment OF the interior.
Sec. 6. That there shall be in the
department of commerce: One
chief clerk at a salary Of So, 200 a
year, one disbursing clerk, one pri-
vate secretary to the secretary at a
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