Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-12
He Will BE Secretary of the
Department of Commerce
Just Created
SCOPE OF THE NEW DEPARTMENT
The Act Takes Effect as Soon as 1t Be-
comes LAWS Awaiting Presi-
dents Signature, Which Will Prob
ably Be Attached Today-Terms of
the Measure. ..

Washington, Feb. 12.-The depart
ment of commerce bill has been fin
ally agreed to by both house and SEN
late, and awaits the presidents sigma
ture to become law. 1t will reach the
president today, and be signed at once
earnest recommendation. The new
member of the cabinet thus to be
made necessary will, without doubt
be George B. Cortelyou. secretary to
the president.
There have been bills for the crea-
ltion of department of commerce be-
fore congress for more than dozen
years, but they We're not seriously con-
sidered until President Roosevelt took
/ up the subject in his first message q
year ago.
The senate passed the Nelson bill
/ for the creation of department OF
commerce and labor at the first session
of this congress, but The house commit
ttee on Interstate and foreign commerce
Il
+ %. When congress assembled in De-
|cember there was Still much indiffer-
ience to this proposed legislation. The
house managers had no intention Of in
Guiding it in the legislative program.
The committee on interstate and for
| eign commerce had no plan TO report
lat.
/ But President Roosevelt gain recon-
mended the legislation In his second
message, and followed this formal rec
ommendation with earnest effort to
convince members of the house that it
should be enacted To him 1t suggested
| the ground work for trust regulation
!! by providing the machinery for inves-
| LEGATIONS.
The addition OF bureau of corpora
tons to the department by the house
committee suggested the Nelson
amendment defining the work Of that
bureau and the method of securing
publicity in regard to trusts. This
was the presidents first and most earn
est recommendation regarding the
trusts. He has secured it and under
the new department. which he has
sought to have congress create. While
the bill bears the name Of Senator
Nelson and had its inception years ago,
the creation of this new department
is due to the earnest efforts of Presi-
dent Roosevelt
F. According to the terms of the meas
ure the act takes effect Immediately,
and the new department is formed with
the various bureaus transferred from
other departments, the only exception
being the transfer of any additional
office, bureau. or division, which the
President is authorized ITO make. Such
transfers are not to take effect until
July /. or thereafter. The bill did not
reach the president today, but will be
presented tomorrow, and there is no
doubt that Mr.. Roosevelt will prompt
~ attach his signature and make it
law.
1t is understood that there will be no
delay in naming the new secretary. 1t
seems to have been settled for many
months that Mr.. Cortelyou should be
promoted to this position. Mr.. Cortel-
You was selected by the late President
Mckinley for secretary of the depart
men of commerce and labor, il con-
gress had authorized the department
during his life. President Roosevelt
VIII not only carry out his distin-
guished predecessors wishes as q mat
ter OF sentiment, but because in his
judgment Mr.. Cortelyou is eminently
qualified for a cabinet position, and to
De the executive head of this new de-
partment The work of organizing the
department will fall upon MIR. Cortel-
you, who can be depended upon for
IT'S thorough and efficient establish
ment
The adoption by the house and senate
OF what is popularity known as the
publicity amendment, makes the bn-
reau of corporations in this new de-
partment one of the most important
branches of the public service. The
chief of this bureau, who is to he an
pointed by the president and to be
known as the commissioner of corpo
ratlons, shall receive salary of $4,000
per annum. His duties and authority
are scarcely second in Importance to
those of the secretary Of the depart
ment
While the secretary directs and con-
trols the head of this bureau, 1T is the
commissioner who is to make diligent
Investigation into The organization.
conduct and management of the bust
ness OF any cooperation, joint stock |
company or corporate combination en-
gagged in commerce among the several!
states and with foreign nations, except |
ing common carriers
He is given the same power and au-
thority in respect to corporations that
the interstate commerce commission
possesses in respect to common carri-
ers. He will report direct to the presi-
dent and the information he gathers is |
to enable the president to make recon-
mendations to congress for legislation
for the regulation of corporations.
1t is known that President Roosevelt |
is diligently seeking The proper person
to place at the head of this powerful
bureau. He desires q man thoroughly |
equipped in knowledge OF the corpora
ton law and of business in general. The
field Will be much larger than that COW
cred by the interstate commerce COM
mission, and the head of this bureau +
will have to be a man of wider general
and experience than a /
member of the interstate commerce
commission.
So far no one has been discussed as
this important place. but Mr.. Roosevelt.
has in mind several men whom he be-
lieves are specially qualified for this
work. AS this new officer will conduct T
Investigations and collect data of the
highest value to the department of t
il,Stica i'm its reinforcement of the anti.