The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-19
CORTELYOr,S PLACE.
Department ofCommerce Bill Soon to
Be Reported.


Washington, Dec. 19.-An agreement
has been practically reached to report
a bill providing for a department of
commerce Immediately. after the Christ
mas recess Inquiry among the mem
bers of the house committee on inter
state and foreign commerce indicates
that not the least reason for early action
lies in the desire of the members to see
Mr.. George B. CortelyOu a member of
the cabinet, and to have the distinction
of being the first man to occupy the
place The bill will be almost a new
measure, although the committee has
the bill passed by the senate covering
the same subject before it for consider
alton.
Col. Hepburn, chairman of the COM
nlittee, was the first of the members to
raise strong objection to the senate bill
He declared that casual investigation by
him had led to the conclusion that the
senate bill proposed to place in the new
department bureaus and divisions which
could not be taken from existing de-
partments without completely upsetting
the course of business in them, and Sc
riOuSly interfering with their usefulness.
He demanded that government experts
appear before this committee and give
their opinions as to the bureaus that
might well be spared. From the first
testimony offered it appeared as though
there was a disposition en- the part of
the department heads not to give up
any bureau. This impression was
speedily corrected when Mr.. Allies, as
sistant secretary of the treasury agreed
that two of the treasury bureaus could
we'll be placed under the new depart
ment, and suggested three more that had
not been considered either in the senate
or house.
Not only this, but Mr. Merriam. the direc-
tor of the census. who now does his work
under the direction of the interior depart
ment, told the committee that he was of
the opinion that the usefulness of his ou-
reau could be increased by transferring il
to department devoted entirely to COM
herce ana manufacturing he also made
some valuable suggestions as to the con-
Solidation of several other bureaus which
now gather and furnish statistics pointirg 9
out how the work they do could be cOnsol-
dated with his bureau and a saving an
nually of $4,000 effected. Mr.. Sargent the
chief of the immigration bureau, also
showed that his bureau was not so identi-
fed with the treasury department that its
operations would be seriously affected by
changing it to the new department.
Mr. Cortelyou has been privately con-
suited by some of the house members, and
it is learned that he favors a small and
He will be content with dozen bureaus,
and does not believe that the new depart
ment should start with work of such vol
ume as to compare with the existing pie
departments. The department of agrcul-
ture started as a new bureau and devel-
oped until 1t became the present 1nValua-
BILE part of the governmental system IT
will be the task of the new cabinet officer
to so develop the new department.
While senators who have studied the
question are noncommittal as to how the
amended bill will be received, 1t IS believed
that after a brief hard struggle in confer
ence the house bill will prevail Col. Hep
burn does not conceal the fact that he will
Immediately after the Christmas recess
AS indicating the confidence which is felt
at the White House in the passage OF the
bill within a short time, 1eta1 of the ar
rangement of the new executive offices is
told. In the new cabinet room a large
green chair placed at the head of the cab
/ inc tab has a MI re-
back bearing the inscription: 4'The prssi-
dent" Each of the other chairs has a SINH
lar plate, with the name of the present
cabinet officers. AT the foot of the table
is another and an extra one, without q
plate or inscription. Inquiry developed the
/ fact that it was for the new cabinet Off
! Ger. the Secretary of commerce"