The evening times., 1900-02-10

Senator Nelson. in his report on the bill
20 create an Executive department, TO be
known as the Department of Commerce
and Industries presents a brief history
OK the inception, growta. and jurisdiction
OF the different Executive departments of
the Government
Senator Neis~S :" his report, says that
the first department established was
known as the Department OF Foreign Az
fairs. and was created by the act of July
p. 1889. BY the act OF September Is, 1883,
the name was changed to that OF Depart
ment 1f State. This department was orig
inalIy vested, under the direction of the
President. with jurisdiction over for
eign, diplomatic and consular af-
fairs, and was, in 1923. given jurisdiction
over the matter Of patents Tor useful in
ventiOns. which it retained until 1S49.
when the Interior Department was Great
ed. Il was also given supervisory and aP-
pellate Jurisdiction over the acts OF mar
shals and others in taking and returning
the census of the United States. which 1t
retained until the Interior Department
was created, in 1919
The War Department..
The next department established was
the War Department. which was created
~ the act Of August Z. 1893 and was
originally vested with jurisdiction. under
the direction OF the President over both
military and naval affairs. over land
grants for military services. and over In
dian affairs It's jurisdiction over naval
affairs it retained until April 30, 1873, when
the Navy Department was created, its
Jurisdiction over land grants was trans
ferred to the Treasury Department in
17S9 and 1896. and its jurisdiction over In
dian affairs was transferred 10 the Interior
department In 1919.
L 1898 the department was given juris-
diction over the matter Of military pen
siOns. which il retained until 1S49. when
the Interior Department was established.
During part OF this time the War De-
partment and Navy Department Jointly.
exercised jurisdiction over military and
naval pensions. and il still retains the so
called Record and Pension Office.
The next department established was
the Treasury Department. by the act Of
September >. 1859. II was originally vest
ed with jurisdiction over the financial and
fiscal affairs OF the Government with the
collection and expenditure OF the public
revenue, and was also vested with iuTis-
dietlon over the sale OF public lands
which &c retained until the Interior De
Qartment was created in 1S49.
Other Departments.
Tho next department established was the
Navy Department created by the act OF
April 30. 17aS. and vested with jurIsdic-
tiou over naval affairs. This department
had also for time jurisdiction over the
matter of naval pensions. until the same
was transferred to the Interior Department
in lS4a
Tho Interior Dsnartr,ent was establish
cd by the act OF March 3. iSi9. 10 was
originally given jurisdiction over patents
for inventions. over the land Office bust
ness Of the Government over Indian af-
fairs. over pensions over the census. over
the accounts Of che officers cf United
States courts. and over public buildings.
It's jurisdiction over public buildings was
abolished in 1857 and it's jurisdiction over
the accounts OF judicial officers was trans.
ferred TO the Attorney General in 1870
1888 a pOstufiiCc. with Postmaster Gen
eral was established and given jurisdiction
over the postal affairs of The Government
BY the acts Of February 20. 1922, and Nay
8, 1894, a General PostOfiice was estdb-
lished. with a Postmaster General ar the
head. and finally on June S 1872 the Post
Office Department was established as one
OF the Executive Departments with iuris-
diction over all the postal affairs Of the
Government
on September a. 1889. the Office OF At
tOrncy General was created. whose duty il
was to conduct all suits on behalf Of the
Government In the Supreme Court OF he
United States. and to give advice and Cpiu-
son upon questions OF law when required
b. the President or The heads Of any Of
the departments BY the act of June 22
1870. the Department OF Justice was ere
dted. with the Attorney General at its head.
By the act of May l5. 1862. the Depart
ment Of Agriculture was created. with q
Commissioner Of Agriculture at the head.
This was afterward changed into an EXecu-
tive Department. with Secretary OF Ag-
Iicu.ture al the head. by the act OF Feb
Tuary Q. 1889. This department has iuris-
diction OF an advisory character over the
agricultural affairs or the country
Various Classes of Business
Il is said by Senator Nelson that il we
look at the duties assigned to each OF these
departments we find that. outside Of The
Treasury and Interior Departments. the
other departments are mainly charged with
n single distinct class OF public business
the state Department with foreign affairs
Department Of JJStice with judicial af-
fairs. Navy Department with naval af-
fairs. PostOfice Department with the pos
tai business Of the country. War Depart
ment with military affairs and the inn
DrOvCment of rivers and harbOrs. and the
Agricultural Department with agricultural
matters. But when we come to the Treas
ury and the Interior Departments We find
each OF these departments vested with q
large number OF separate and distinct pub
lie matters disconnected with eaCh other.
The Interior Department has today
charge OF the General Land Office. Indian
Ofilce Pension Office. Patent Office Bureau
of Education. Census Ofice. COMMISSIONS
of Railroads. Architect OF the Capitol
Geological Survey. Government Hospital
for the Insane and the Columbia Institute
for the Instruction 90 the Deaf and Dumb.
The Treasury Department stands charg-
ed with a still greater variety Of diversi-
fed duties and subjects. j has charge Il
all the fiscal and monetary affairs Of the
Government Including the Issuance and
maintenance Of safe and sound cur
rency. the collection and disbursement Of
the revenues of the Government the audit
ing and paying OF all public accounts and
claims in the several departments OF the
Government, the public debt. and the coin
age.
senator Nelson's Argument.
In support Of the contention that a De
parJment or Commerce should be estaD-
lished Senator Nelson says;
Tine need FOR such a department has
for many years been recognized by all the
principal commercial bodies throughout the
country and there seems to be an urgent
demand throughout the industrial world
RUR~ ~,