Evening star., 1902-01-21
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE..
Senator Nelson Fails to Obtain a Vote
on the Bill.

After The Stars report Of the Senate pro-
ceedings closed yesterday Mr. Nelson
(Minn.) replied to the criticisms which had
been made Of the bill for the esta blishment
of department Of commerce, particularly
those which related to the transfer of bu-
reaus from other departments to the pro-
posed department. The departments prin-
cipally affected by the measure were those
of the treasury and the interior The for
mer had on its rolls 4,414 employees in
Washington and the latter 4,SS1-each hav-
ing greater number Of employees than all
the other departments combined.
Many Of the bureaus of the treasury and
interior departments really had no rele-
yancy to the general purpose Of the de-
partments, and one of the purposes of the
pending bill was to relieve them of such
bureaus and place them where they prop
erly belonged.
In conclusion Mr.. Nelson said he believed
there was strong public sentiment In the
country in favor Of the establishment Of a
department Of commerce.
1--WE need it," said he, "to put ourselves
on a parity with other nations of the world
We need 1t to put our commercial and in
dustrial development under governmental
control"
Mr.. Platt Comm supported the pending
measure as - whole, but offered an amend
ment striking from the bill the PROPOSE
ton to transfer the patent office. 1t was
accepted by Mr.. Nelson and agreed to by
the Senate.
During the consideration of the bill, the
Presidents message transmitting the sup
Elemental report Of the isthmian canal COM
mission was received and referred to the
committee on interocanic canals.
Consideration of the department of COM
merce bill was resumed and an amendment
relating to the officer in the State Depart
ment to take the place of the chief of the
statistical bureau, transferred in the bill,
was agreed to.
a mr. n cd cfn
chiefly explanations of minor points of the
bill, Mr.. Nelson requested that vote on
the measure be taken at o'clock TODAY
To this Mr.. Pettus (Ala) objected, Insisting
that no definite time now be fixed for a
final vote.
Mr.. Cockren (Mo) then offered an amend.
ment eliminating from the bill the PROPOSE
ton to transfer to the new department the
census office. He made an argument in
support of the amendment
Mr.. Allison favored the amendment Of Mr.
Cockrell, and after considerable discussion
1t was adopted.
Mr.. QuarIes ONis.) made an argument in
support Of placing the census office under
the proposed department and gave notice
that he would move reconsideration Of
the vote by which Mr.. CockrelPs amend
ment to eliminate the census office from the
pending bill was adopted. He pointed out
that it would take four to five years to
complete the work Of the twelfth census
and then at least three years to prepare
for the thirteenth census. He argued that
all such statistical work should be done by
one great bureau.
Mr.. Allison made an extended speech
dealing principally with the formation un-
der the department of commerce of a great
bureau of statistics as suggested py Mr..
Quarles. He said he favored the establish
ment of the proposed department. but ne
did not think it wise to transfer so many
large and important bureau without Ine
most careful consideration
The bill then was laid aside and the Sem
ate on motion Of Mr.. Teller at 4:2O pm
went into executive session
At 5:35 pm. the Senate adjourned