The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-17
NELSON MUST FIGHT
HARD AND LONG BATTLE THREAT
ENED ON DEPARTMENT OF
CoMMERCw BILL
SHAFTS OF SHARP CRITICISM
Are Aimed at Various Provisions OF
the Measure as BEING Cal.
cuIated to Create Too
Powerful an Official.

WASHINGTON, Jan. s1ea4 The senafa
today for brief tine ha a aaider consid-
Grafton the bill creating hxEepartTnent Of
commerce and the discussion tended to
show that the measure VIII have TO be
amended in many particulars before il
can receive the appr1xal OF the senate.
Serious objections we're raised to the
transfer to the proposed department OF
several important bureaus, now a rart
Of other departments Of the government.
The bill was called up by Mr. Nelson
(Minnl. After some minor amendments
had been offered by Mr. Nelson and
adopted, Mr.. Lodge offered an amend
ment to- section Il of the bill providing
that the secretary Of state should desig-
nate an official in mis- department to fur
nish instructions to consular officers sup
Piled by the secretary of commerce and
to prepare the dispatches of the consular
officers for Transmission to the secretary
of commerce
The amendment aroused considerable
comment, all of it being favorable to Mr..
Lodges proposition.
Hall Sharp Critic.
Mr.. Hale sharply criticised the bill.
He said the measure so suddenly flashed
Upon the senate created the largest de-
partment in the government. 1t did not
begin in modest way, but ransacked
every department of the government for
important bureaus to dump into this new
department. The new secretary Of COM
merce would become the most important
member of the cabinet. He would be
even more important official than the
secretary of the treasury with all Of his
great administrative duties. Many bu-
reaus had been included in the proposed
department that have no, more relation to
commerce than light has to darkness
At the instance of Mr., Teller the sec
ton providing for the transfer of the
geological survey to the department of
commerce was strickens out.
After Mr.. Plat Comm had criticised
the bill and urged that mo action be TAX
en- at this time, the measure went over.
In introducing a bill to exclude Chinese
from coming to the United States, Mr..
Mitchell (Or.J said the policy and gen
eral provisions of the measure were APP
proved by the Pacific coast senators end
representatives, but that it had been
agreed that this approval should not af-
feet the privilege of any narnher to offer
amendments when the bill was consid-
cred. The bill was referred to the ccm-
nittee on immigration,
To Take Our Telegraph Lines.
Senator Harris introduced a bill provid-
ing for the government ownership of tele-
graph lines.
Senator Mason said that lie expected to
address the senate on a5Question of per-
sonal privilege next week to deny the re-
port circulated in Illinois and elsewhere
to the effect that he is opposed to rural
free delivery. He added that as mem
Der of the postoffice committee for the
past four years he has consistently ad-
vocated the extension Of the free delivery
system, and as chairman OF the commit
tee he proposed to advocate q liberal in
crease of the appropriation for an ex-
tension of the service.
Upon request of Mr.. Hoa7 tile, resoIu-
ton adopted yesterday in reference to
supplies sent to Beers in Bermuda was
recalled, the senator saying the United
States had not adopte6 the par salar
provision of The Hague treaty covering
this question. The resolution Went to the
foreign relations Committee for Inyestiga-
ton. 40 So III,
The house concurrent resolution pro-
yiding for memorial services H'a6. 81. in
honor Of the 1atesPresident Mckinley, was
adopted.