The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-02
Department Of Commerce is
Nov Ready for Business
CEREMONY IS INTERESTING
Many Distinguished People Are In At
+. tendance and Secretary Root Makes
Talk on the Work of the
New Department.

washington, July 1.-The transfer OF the
various bureaus which are to be assem-
bled under the act creating the depart
ment of commerce and labor to the new
department took place today. The trans
fer was attended By pleasant ceremony
in the office of Secretary Corteiyou. The
chiefs Of all bureaus, the control Of which
passed to the new department, gathered In
the secretary's office and In addition there
were a number Of distinguished people
present including Secretary Moody of the
navy department.
Secretary Cortelyou made brief ad-
dress concerning the objects and aims of
the department and there we're several
responses In addition to the bureaus Of
corporations and manufacturers created
by the new law the department OF COM
merce beginning today embraces control
of the following:
Business Transferred.
The census bureau, formerly under con-
troll of the interior department.; the light
house establishment, steamboat inspec-
tion service, bureau OF navigation, United
States shipping commissioners, national
bureau of standards, coast and geodetic
survey, bureau Of immigration and bureau
of statistics from the treasury depart
ment, the bureau of labor, Ash commits
sion and the bureau Of foreign commerce,
the latter being transferred from the state
department.
Secretary Cortelyou in his address
called attention to the fact that on Feb
ruary IS the entire personnel Of his de-
partment, consisted Of a single official,
himself. Today because of transfers made
the departments personnel consisted Of
1899 persons in Washington and 5SS6 in
the country at large, with total appro-
priation for the coming fiscal year OF
So s7s4,s47. He recalled the fact that in
17ss Commodore John Paul Jones, writing
the Marquis of Lafayette concerning the
federal constitution, strongly advocated
the creation of a ministry of commerce
on the grounds that commerce must be
the great reliance of the country in the
future.
Divisions Are Ready.
IT shall not at this time attempt" con-
cluded the secretary, ito describe the
steps that have been taken In the varied
and in the necessary features of the or
ganization beyond saying that so far the
several divisions of the secretary's Of
flee have been made ready Tor their new
business. The bureau OF corporations is
laying careful foundation for the work it
is to do. When the commission on statis-
tical work, recently appointed. makes Its
report, prompt attention will be given the
provision OF law relating to the proposed
bureau Of manufactures, and as rapidly
as may be consistent with buslness-like
administration, every other feature OF
the organic act will be taken up and
acted upon.
mo other department has wider field,
If the just expectations of the trainers
of the petition are realized. We have
closer relations with the people aud
greater opportunities for effective work
While we cannot dedicate a new and
imposing structure to the uses of this
department we can at least, and l am
sure we all do, dedicate ourselves to the
work which our chief executive has re-
commended and congress In its wisdom
has set apart to be done"
Director North Responds.
Director North of the census bureau, on
behalf Of the bureau chiefs, responded,
pledging the hearty support of his asso-
ciates and expressing the opinion that
Secretary Cortelyou had before him per-
haps the greatest opportunity that ever
fell to the lot Of a cabinet officer In time
of peace. Secretary Moody said few
words on behalf Of the cabinet. A teie-
gram from the President was read as fol-
lows:
Hearty congratulations to you and the
new department which starts In full oper-
alton today
DR.. D. J. Stafford of this city closed the
exercises with prayer and benedlction.