New-York tribune., 1902-02-03
A NEW CABINET MEMBER.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BILL
LIKELY TO MEET APPROVAL
SOME DISCUSSIONS OVER BILL-MAN WHO
MAY BE NAMED FOR THE OFFICE
rBY TELEGRAPH TO rH1 TRIBUSE.l


Washington Feb. 2-There is little doubt that
the bill creating the Department of Commerce
will pass the House as easily as 1t passed the
Senate and that therefore. President Roosevelt
will have to make an addition 10 his CABINET
within a few months. 1t is considered not I'M
probable however, that the House may amend
the bill in one of it's most important features,
and in this there is likely to be hitch with
the Senate the final scope and character
OF the new department. The Senate, by an un-
usually large vote, amended the bill as origi-
nally framed by Senator Knute Nelson. so as to
make 1t the Department of Commerce and La
Dor instead Of the Department of Commerce
and Industry. Senator Hanna was one of the
leaders In the fight for this change of the de-
partment's name and scope
Now comes Samuel Gompers, president Of the
National Federation OF Labor. and other labor
leaders. who declare their opposition to the de-
partment being known as the Department Of
Commerce and Labor They say that the labor
interests of the country already very we'll
looked after by the Bureau Of Labor which is
a separate and independent affair. not dependent
for it's policies or activities upon any Cabinet
officer. While. OF course. the present bureau
does not entirely meet their expectations, chiefly
because the labor leaders did select its chief,
still they fear that il the bureau is made a part
of or In any way subordinated to any executive
department IT sooner later will degenerate
into a political machine and in the end the best
interests Of the labor cause would suffer. These
complaints Will be presented in the House when
the Nelson bill comes UP in that body for action.
and IT is expected that the House will restore the
original title Of the measure-the Department of
Commerce and Industries.
CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE.
If. however this change is not made by the
House. it is believed Carroll D. Wright, OF Mas
sachusetts chief of the Bureau of Labor. will
he strongly urged for the head OF the new de-
partment No man prominently identified with
the public service is held in higher esteem by
the better element of labor leaders. The Presi-
dent knows him we'll and regards him highly.
The Senate leaders. also. notably Mr.. Lodge.
look upon him with great favor. Then, too,
Mr. Wright comes from section OF the coun-
try that probably will be without Cabinet rep
resentation when Secretary Long retires from
the Navy Department. This is regarded as an
other factor favorable to his selection
If the GOmpers idea of eliminating the labor
feature OF the bill prevails. IL is generally
thought the President would put at the head OF
the new department some one more ConSplcu-
ousy identified with party affairs than Mr..
Wright has been. In this connection the names
of Joseph H Manley. Of Maine, and Ex-Governor
Merriam. of Minnesota now Director OF the Cen
suS are more frequently mentioned in Wash
ington than any others
Should the President decide TO confne the list
of eligible persons TO men more intimately iden
titled with business than with politics, II is con-
sidered likely that he would select some We'll
known merchant. manufacturer or nnancier
from New York. Philadelphia. Chicago or other
large centre. The only name in this class that
is heard here in connection with the new Cab
met portfolio is thar OF Theodore c. Search. OF
Philadelphia. who presided the National
Reciprocity Convention held IN Washington just
before Congress met.