The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
Too Little Community
of Interests, Says Sec
rotary Corte!you.
Tells Chicago Merchants
Club He Believes in
Organized Labor.
Has Faith in All Classes
of Workers in APP
preaching Crisis.


OF the Merchants Club tonight Secre- !
targ' Cortelyou discussed Some Prob
-lems and Policies of the New Depart
ment" He said in part:
Dir. Toastmaster and Gentlemen: The
committee through which you were
gooo enough 10 extend TO me an invita-
stlon to speak to YOU this evening was
exceedingly cOnsiderate in conveying
our wishes to me, for il gave me -
large latitude as TO the date of my com
inE and larger latitude as to my sub
5ect
IL is a pleasure to know that so many
Organizations are represented at your
bapQuet but 1 am not surprised at this.
Tor i have a very vivid impression OF
receiving numerous invitations and of
realizing the impossibility of respond
Ing favOrably to all of them. l am
particularly appreciative Of the sue
.cossful effort that was made to esta0-
lish a modus vivendi in the CAGE Of the
unfortunate head Of the new depart
rnent and that. following an altogether
lavdable effort at arbitration. result
satisfactory 10 all the interests was
reached and strife and possibly blood
sned averted.
Fifteen Bureaus.
in the course OF recent address. I
took occasion 10 say that the new de-
.partment consists OF fifteen bureaus and
l0.009 employees and that il disburses
annually over $4,000. 900. That viii give
YOU in a word some idea Of its size,
and. incidentally. Of the magnitude Of
the problems involved in its organiZa-
tiOn and management
IN a general way. its operations may
be divided into the problem Of corpora
tions, the problem OF labor. the problem
of statistics, the problem Of marine af-
fairs. the problem of the standards.
and the problem Of immigration. or
course. there are incidental questions
but in a large view. passing over Tor
The moment the problem Of Organiza-
fion itself these are the dominant
problems
In establishing the department, Con-
gTess provided for the transfer Of Ger
tain existing bureaus and for the crea-
tion and development of certain new
ones. the aim being to group together
in one department related subjects, with
i view TO their supervision under a cen
trial Federal authority. The commercial
and industrial interests Of the country
had received such Attentions as was pos
slble from various branches Aof the
Government, but with the extension
OF our trade. both domestic and foreign,
and with the great growth Of our IN
dustrial system. there became appar-
ent a real need for an organization
OF these related bureaus and Offices
which should have 10 do intimately
with American commerce and industry.
Throughout the Country.
our bureaus are not localized. but in
almost every instance extend to al parts
~ the United States. Under the law
& is the duty 81 the Bureau Of Corpora
lions TO gather information on the sub
5ect Of interstate and foreign commerce.;
10 Investigate the organization, conduct,
and mana cement Of corporations and
5oint stock companies engaged in such
commerce (other than common carriers
subject to the jurisdiction OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission: TO report
she results OF such Investigations 10 the
President through the Secretary OF Com
raerce and Labor. and 10 compile and
publish useful information concerning
Corporations engaged ia interstate and
foreign commerce. Including insurance
eompanies. AS an aid no investigation.
the Commissioner or Corporations Is
given like powers to those granted the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Some Of the Studies
AS this is z matter upon which there
s. stil considerable apprchenSion,
kt ire invite your attention 10 q few
6f the studies that have been under
taken "a the Bureau OF Corporations
since its organization:
J. A systematic study Of the law Great
ing the bureau.
. The general subject OF interstate
commerce and the powers OF the Fed
eral Government in relation thereto.
2. Tho decisions OF the Fedora, courts
relating TO corporations engaged n in
terstate commerce which are subject
70 the jurisdiction OF the bureau
Interstate Commerce Commission.
3. The decisions Of the Federal courts
So relation to trade consp.racies. monop-
olies. and combinations in restraint og
trade.
G. The corpora ton laws Of the various
States and Territories. particularly
those relating 10 the annual reports and
the returns for taxation purposes re-
quired from such corporations.
g. The methods Of taxing corporations
an each State and the decisions relating
"a the taxation OF interstate commerce.
The effect or Industrial combind-
tons upon the prices OF the commodi-
ties sold by such combinations. the ef-
feet of tariff duties upon the prices OF
commodities subject TO such duties. and
The reasons for the difference. III any
exist. between the domestic and for
elgn prices OF commodities manufac-
tIred by the protected industrial COM
binauous OF this country.
$. The powers Of the Federal Govern
nlent ir relation 70 insurance companies.
Analysed and Indezed.
That Is the groundwork the essential
and necessary foundation. upon when
any Satisfactory progress can be made
These preliminary steps have made Il
aprarent that the public records of
STATES and Territories, the reports Of
State or Federal authority, the files OF
Government Offices and various com
1ucrclal and Industrial publicat tons con
tain a fund OF valuable information on
the subjects To be investigated This
information is being brought together.
snalyzed. and indexed I'm order that the
facts already known may be utilized IN
planning more specific inquiries
Related at many points TO this prob
Inns Z al..a-