The National tribune., 1903-02-19

The establishment OF u new EAcSuu's
Department in our Government is al
event SO rare and significant that it may
properly be elassed as Il milestone II
our National progress. The Republic hrs,
started out with only three Executive De
partmentS-the State, War and Treasury
In connection with these there were, lo'
administrative purposes, fostihasttel
General and an Attorney-General. neither
of whom, however, were members OF tne
Cabinet. A brief resume of the estapilsii-
ment OF all the present Departments may
be of interest.
THE ORIGINAL DEPARTMENTS.
Only three Departments existed during
the first decade of the operation OF the
United States Government under the Con
etitution The first was known as the
Department of Foreign Affairs, and was
created July %, 1859. but by act OF Sept.
* 1850. the name was changed to that
Of Department of State. Ihls depart
ment was originally vested, under the
direction of the President, with JurlSdlc-
ton over foreign, diplomatic, and consular
affairs. and was in 1893 given jurisdiction
over the matter of patents for useiui
Inventions. which it retained until lS49'
when the Interior Department was Great
ed. The next Department was the war
Department, which was created by the
g.,
vested with jurisdiction, under the dlree-
tion of the President, over both mill
tary and naval affairs. Its jurisdiction
over naval affairs it retained until April
80. 1898. when the Navy Department was
created: its. jurisdiction over land grants
was transferred to the Treasury pePart-
ment in 1TS9 and 1876, and its JurisdIr,
ton over Indian affairs was transferred
to the Interior Department in lSia l he
next was the Treasury Department. Sent.
2, 1889. 1t was originally vested with
Jurisdiction over the financial and fiscal
affairs of the Government. with the col
lection and expenditure of the pubic rev
enue, and also with jurisdiction over the
sale of public lands. which 1t retainea
until the Interior Department was created.
THE LATER DEPARTMENTS.
The next Department established was
the Navy Department, created by the
act of April 80. 179S, and vested with
jurisdiction over naval affairs. The Int
rior DEPARTMENT was established by the
Get of March 8. 1S49. 1t was originally
given jurisdiction over patents for IN
ventions. over the land-ofFice business OF
the Government. over Indian affairs. over
pensions. over the census over the ac-
counts of the officers of United STATES
Courts. and over public buildings In 1883
was established May 8. 1894. General
Post-ofIice was established. and, finally.
June S. 1872. the Post-office Depart-
ment was authorized as one of the EXecu-
tive Departments. BY the act OF June
% 1870. the Department of Justice was
created. with the Attorney General ut its
head. BY the act of May II. lSb2 the
Bureau of Agriculture WAS created, when
by the act of Feb. o. 1889. was CHANGED
n-t,,,a raf Will a
Secretary of Agriculture. who thus be-
came member of the Cabinet.
HOW THE ADDITIONS WERE MADE.
It will be seen from the foregoing state
ment that the Government in 1879 really
distributed its public business among five
distinct branches-practically five De
partments-the State, War, treasury
Post office, and Department of Justice.
It is true that in the cases OF the Post
Office Department and the Department of
Justice they did not become full-fedged
Departments until much later day; hut
the foundation of the postal business
was assigned to the Postmaster-General.
and the judicial business to the Attorney
General as separate and distinct branches
of the public service at that early day.
As practical question. then, there has
really been only an addition OF two De
partments-that of the Interior ard Agri-
cultnre-within a period of III years. 1t
will he noted that the Interior Department
naturally and inevitably arose from an eX-
traordinary accumulation of public bust
ness In the other Departments Of the
Government.
RESPONSE TO A PUBLIC DEMAND.
But there is a demand for more. In
none of these Departments have we any
bureau or division of the public service to
which is committed the supervision of the
manufacturing and mining industries of
the country-two very important branches
of our industrial life. In view Of our
great progress and development in manu-
featuring industries, which now far ex-
coed the ability to supply our own wants.
and in view Of the urgent necessity OF Sc
curing more extensive markets abroad, 1t
must be apparent to anyone who gives
the subject the least thought that there
IL an urgent demand for the establishment
Of Department Of the public ser
vice to have the charge Of and to aid in
our industrial development. and to secure
us better and more extensive markets
abroad. This fact is now. and has for
many years. been recognized by all the
principal commercial bodies throughout
fhe country. and there seems to be an
urgent demand throughout the in
dustrial world for such q Depart
ment. Most of the other great Govern
nents of the world have a Department
Of this kind. The United States. in order
to be on a footing Of equality and in order
to be fully equipped TO enter the competi-
tive field with the strongest nations. ought
TO take lesson from and be guided by
these examples.
WHAT THE BILL AccoMpLIsHEs.
The present bill is supposed to take
from various Departments, Bureaus and
Divisions whose functions concern the
commerce of the country and organize
them into a new Department. There are in
the Treasury. the Interior and some other
Departments. Bureaus whose functions
are not at all or only remotely connected
with the main purposes Of those Depart
ments. but which have been erected from
time to time and have had to be given
shelter somewhere. Unfortunately several
Of the existing Bureaus which properly
belong in Department of Commerce
were stricken from the bill In the course
their old moorings. In the course Of
time. however. they will undoubtedly be
transferred to the new Department. The
Bureau Of Labor will pominally become q
branch Of the Department Of Commerce,
but will In fact be practically as independ-
emit as heretofore. The. Interstate Com
merce Commission, also independent, will
remain so in spite of the desire OF the
House TO put It under the new Depart
rnent. This appears to be a wise If not
an entirely logical arrangement. at least
for the time being. The Department will
also include a Bureau OF Corporations. to
concerns as the Interstate Commerce
Commission exercises over characterization