The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-02-27
The Department Of Commerce.
(Charlotte Observer. }

The President has appointed his
| private secretary, Mr.. Geo. B. Cor.
telyou to be secretary of the new de.
partment of commence There might
have been a desire on the part of
some to have at the head of this de-
partment man more intimately as
sociated with the commercial and in
| dustrial activities of the country
than Mr.. Cortelyou has been, but he
is man of parts and will quickly
adapt himself to his new duties, and
no doubt make one of the most
efficient departmental officials of the
| government. He is a we'll balanced
man, aud both Mr.. Mckinley and
Mr.. Roosevelt have protited by his
fine Judgment at times.
The New Orleans Times Democrat
describes the essential features of the
Department of Commerce law as
follows:
"The most important features of
the bill arc the creation a bureau of
corporations, clothed with powers
which give it the right to investigate
the workings of trusts and combina
tions, and the grouping of various
important bureaus within the de-
partment.
"The provision inserted by the
House that the Inter State Com
merce Commission be included in the
department Of commerce has been
| stricken out in conference, and the
Inter State Commerce Commission
will remain an Independent bureau.
The Nelson antitrust amendment,
which has been accepted by the con-
ferees and will no doubt become law,
creates bureau of corporations en-
powered to make, under the direc-
tion of the secretary of commerce,
investigation into the conduct, condi
tion and organization Of any corpora
ton, joint stock company CT combina-
tion engaged in Interstate or for
eign commerce, except common car
riers, which, coma under ibc super.
vision Of the Inter State Commercc
Com mission. This information is to
be furnished ,he Prtsidaut, to be
used by him in making recommends
tions to Congress. The commission
ers of the bureau corporations pos
sess the same power Jn regard to
corporatio"s that thu Inter State
Commission POSSESSES il regard to
railroads.
"Anothcr bureau created hy the
bill ia that Of iuannfact ur"s, whose
duty it is 70 foster commerce. by
gathering ond publishing useful in
formation about foreign markets.
Consular officers are required to co
operate with the bureau, aud the
bureau of foreign commerce of the
State Department is transferred to
the Commerce Department. The
Department Of Commerce and
Labor will, under the provisions
Of the bill, include the bureau
of navigation and similar bu-
reaus; the Census Office, the immi.
grafton, labor, fish, statstical and
other bureaus and commissions.
1t seems almost strange that the
United States have not had such a
department before. We have grown
to be a trading nation hardly second
to any in the world. Great Britain,
Germany and France have become
afraid Of our commercial power in
foreign lands. We are building
bridges in Africa and Asia, and send |
ing locomotives, mowers and reapers
threshing machines, linotypes, type,
writer's, and every conceivable article |
of useful manufacture to the utter
most parts Of the earth Our con
snls are monthly gathering informa.
ton Of us to American makers of !,
things, and all this has come to pass
without the existence of ii Depart
saent OF commerce. 1t is we'll that
it has come at last.