The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-12-25
an UNJUST MEASURE.

marrying after the passage of the act
an UNJUST MEASURE.
Representative Hepburn, of Iowa,
has Introduced q measure providing
for new cabinet official to be known
as the secretary of commerce and in
dustries, to be at the head OF a new de-
partment of commerce and industries.
The new department. under the pro-
visions OF the, bill would have gen.
eral jurisdiction over the foreign and
internal commerce of the United
States. the extension of foreign mar
kets for the same and the increase of
trade and trade facilities with foreign
countries. The life-saving service. the
lighthouse board, the marine hospital
service, the bureau of steamboat in
spection, the bureau of navigation,
United States shipping commissioners,
the bureau of immigration, the United
States coast and geodetic survey, the
bureau of statistics. the department of
labor ard the consular bureau are un.
der the bill to be transferred to the
new department. Representative
Hepburn was very quiet about this
bill and poked it into the hopper with
out any remarks even personal ones to
friends on the floor. He is, however,
backed in the matter by a number of
the commercial organizations and
later In the session the bill will be re-
ported favorably by the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce, 20
which it was referred. The members
of that committee have had consider
able quiet work done with them, and
assurances have been given that the
bill will not be smothered. For good
many years the commercial organiza-
tions throughout the country have
complained that other governments
pay very much more attention to the
protection of commerce and extension
of trade relations than the United
States. They have protested some
times with great deal of vigor
against the Indifference of The average
United States consul, while the con-
sular repots are filled with criticisms
of the American manufacturers way
of doing business as compared with
the enterprise of the manufacturers in
other countries. Instead of working
together or cooperating towards build
ing up a foreign trade, the manufactur-
ers and exporters and the United
States consuls have long been at war
with each other. 1t is this condition
of affairs that has brought about the
demand for department that will
have this whole matter in charge, and
that will make special study of the
the necessities of the commercial and
Industrial interests. The bureaus that
are to be added to the department of
commerce and industries have always
complained of lack of proper apprecia-
ton and assistance upon the part of
the government, for the reason that it
has been difficult to determine under
which of the present executive depart
ments they properly belong.
This is one of these beautiful little
schemes on the part of the protected
industries to reap where they do not
SOW. No doubt department. of COM
merce and industries would be fine
thing for the manufacturers of this
country in building up foreign trade
not now reached, and it would be of |
interest to the owners of steamship |
lines plying between this country and |
foreign ports, but it is safe to say that
neither of these interests will volunteer
which if established will not be less
,han 2,500,00O year. If the revenues
Of the government were created from
In income or direct tax, there would be
nothing unreasonable in the demand
If the commercial organizations for
,he creation of such department as
hat outlined in Mr.. Hepburn's bill,
'ince the parties to be benefited would
,ear the greater part CT the burden.
But with the government revenues
coming from indirect taxation upon
tho demand is unjust.
The manufacturers who want this de.
,ar:ment, and for whose benefit 1t
Eould be established, wel the loudest
n protesting against the income tax
aw. because they would, under It's
7orkings, be compelled to pay por-
ion of the expenses of the govern
1ent; in other words for the protec-
ion granted them and their property
y the government. Now they ask in |
fr. Hepburn;s bill for additional fos-
ering care thrown around their busi-
ess in increased foreign trade after
aving been given a monopoly of
ONE trade by the enactment of the I
ew tariff law. but they will never con-
mt to submitting to tax for main d
lining a department for this purpose, I
: to any tax that will be anyway near II
Lual to the protection they demand. c