The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-01-18
SENATE SHOWS PLAINLY THAT 1T
WILL NOT ACCEPT
1T.
HAS TOO EXTENDED 4 SCOPE
WOULD CREATE LARGEST DEPART
MENT OF GOVERNMENT.
Secretary Would Have More Power
i'm the Cabinet Than the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The senate
today for a brief time had under con-
sideration the bill creating a depart
ment of commerce and the discussion
tended to show that the measure will
have to be amended in many particu-
lars before it can receive the approval
of the senate. Serious objections were
raised to the transfer to the proposed
departure Of several important bureaus
now part of other departments of the
government.
1t was pointed out that If the bill
as reported became a law, it would
create the greatest department of the
government, and that the secretary Of
commerce would have more power
even than the secretary Of the treasury.
Notice of several important amend
ments was given.
A large number Of uncontested bills
and private pension measures were
passed, after which the senate ad-
journed until Monday.
The house concurrent resolution pro-
viding for Mckinley memorial exercises
by Congress in the hall of the house
Of representatives on Thursday, Feb
ruary q, was adopted.
Nelson's Bill Called Up.
The bill to establish the department
Of commerce was called up by Mr.. Mel
son, Minnesota. After some minor
amendments had been offered by Mr..
Nelson and adopted, Mr.. Lodge offered
an amendment to section IL Of the bill
providing that the secretary Of state
oh no{4 nj i>@ 1,Se u
partment to furnish instructions to
consular officers supplied by the Sec
rotary Of commerce and to prepare the
dispatches of the consular officers for
transmission to the secretary Of COM
merce.
The amendment aroused considerable
comment, all of it being favorable to
Mr.. Lodges proposition.
Mr.. Hale sharply criticised the bill.
He said the measure so suddenly flash
ed upon the senate created the largest
department in the government. 1t did
not begin in a modest way, but ran
sacked every department Of the gov
eminent for important bureaus to
dump this new department.
Would be Too Important.
The new secretary of commerce would
become the most important member of
the cabinet. He would be even a more
important official than the secretary Of
the treasury with all of his great ad-
ministrative duties.
Many bureaus had been included in
the proposed department that have no
more relation to commerce than light
has to darkness He referred particu-.
larly to the transfer to the new depart
ment OF the coast and goedetic survey
and urged that if that bureau were
changed at all it should be placed under
the navy department. He referred to
various navies in the several depart
mentS.
Tillman Has a Say.
This brought Mr.. Tillman to his feet.
II would like to add another navy to
those enumerated by the senator" he
said, that is, the army transport SER
vice. That is assuming great proper
tons and about it I have heard some
scandal
At the instance of Mr.. Teller the Sec
ton providing for the transfer of the
goedetical survey to the department of
commerce was stricken out.
Mr.. Hale gave notice OF an amend
ment providing for the transfer of the
coast and goedetic survey to the navy
department.
After Plat, Connecticut, had criti-
cised the bill and urged that no action
be taken at this time, the measure went
over.