The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-21

| fore congress in one shape or another
for ten years past, but there is de-
cided reluctance TO increase the enor-
nous and oppressive weight Of official
ism at the federal capital.
The bill on this subject introduced by
Senator Frye of Maine, provides in
substance for another executive depart
ment of The government, to be equipped
with a secretary and assistant secre-
| tary of commerce and manufactures,
and with such clerks and employees as
might be provided from time to time
| by congress. To this department is to
be given supervision of the foreign and
internal commerce of the United States,
| and of all matters relating to the man.
ufacturing interests of the country, the
extension Of its foreign markets, and
the increase of trade and trade facil-
tiles with foreign countries. The new
department is also TO perform ell the
functions relating to commerce which
are now performed by the treasury de-
partment. 4 redistribution of bureaus
and offices is to be made by transfer
ring from the treasury to the new de-
parment the life saving service, the
Lighthouse board, the marine hospital
service. the bureau Of navigation, the
coast and geodetic survey, and the trea-
sury bureau Of statistics.
1t is only when it is proposed TO alter
or increase the machinery Of officialism
at Washington that the citizen gets an
occasional glimpse Of the enormous
ramiflcations of the government The
statesman who shall reduce and simpli-
fy the immense official machine by TAX
ing out the wheels and cogs of govern
ment will be better entitled TO public
recognition than he who prides himself
with office-making projects to Increase
the complexity, confusion and expen-
diture of administration.
In behalf of this bin it is urged that
as there is a department of agriculture,
with 4 cabinet officer, there should also
be department of commerce and man
ufactures. 1t may be suggested in
answer to this that it would be well to
reduce the agricultural department to
its former position of bureau Of the
government, with the humble function
of distributing garden seeds. There is
little doubt that the department of az
riculture is more intelligently admin
iStered now, and with greater regard
for the public interests, than at any
former time. But the department is
out of favor not only with the masses
of the farmers, but with large ma
jority in congress, and a strong i'm
preston prevails that it could be abol-
ished entirely without the least detri-
ment to the agricultural interests of
the country.
But it is said that the government of
the United States stands alone among
the leadings nations of the world in its
want of a department of commerce and
This is rather credit
able than otherwise. The American
nation did not start out to initiate the |
paternal governments of the Old |
World in their meddlesome supervision |
of the business affairs of the people. |
American merchants and manufacture |
ers have no need of a government to |
help them TO sell their goods and in |
form them in what markets they can |
buy materials of production and other |
most adYanta geouSly. |
There is not an important branch of |
industry that has not |
its trade journals devoted to its special |
interests. These journals, which are |
for the most part ably and efficiently |
supply their mercantile and |
readers with all the in |
that can be obtained in re-
gard to the increase of trade in home |
and foreign markets. The trade jour-
nOulS do this better than it could be
done by a great department of the
office, with it's chief
clerk occupying a seat in the cabinet,
and with its civil service clerks in lag
gard performance of their perfunctory
tasks.
AS for the trade departments of Eu-
ropean governments, their chief func-
tons consist in the supervision Of the
laws relating to commerce and indus
tries, to bankruptcy, mercantile eX-
commercial contracts and all
that. p These departments are not or
ganized to perform work which mer-
chants and manufacturers can best ac-
for themselves, nor do they
expect such work of their governments.
But the theory of the bill is that Amer
can merchants and manufacturers
nave not learned how they can extend
The markets for their commodities, and
hat the paternal government should
1irect their slow and lettering foot
steps There is no warrant for this
theory in the history of the commerce
ind industries of this country; but if it
lad been true, American merchants
md manufacturers would wait a long /
line before they could learn how best
20 conduct their business from an Of
icial machine in Washington. For the
,est, the proposition TO create a ninth
,abinet minister. with an official ret
nue., is only another manifestation of
he inordinate itch for office-making
hat is prevalent in this country.
HE MANUFACTURES AND FARMER
The interests of manufacturers and
armers are naturally bound up to-