Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-19
Mr.. METCALF'S REPORT.
Years Work Of Department Of Com
merce and Labor.

Washington. Dec. 1S.-Secretary Met
calf's first report of the Department of
Commerce and Labor. and the second OF
that branch of the government curing the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1904. the total
disbursements reached the sum of $lo,36l.-
S75 This included the expenses of all the
many branches of the department. which
includes the census office.
November 10, 1904, there were in the de-
partment 9,210 regular positions. OF these.
1,S12 were specifically authorized by law,
and 1898 We're provided for under general
appropriations that do not create specific
positions.
The foreign commerce of the United
tistics as reported by the bureau OF sta
earlier year. While the exports were sur
passed by those of a single year 1901. and
the imports were also surpassed by thos.
of a single year, 1905. the aggregate of
imports and exports for the year is great
er than that of any preceding year in the
the year were s99l. 0S7 81 and the exports
81 .iiU. A2I,2.1 ma king the total foreign COM
merce of the year $2.45l ,9l4.6i2, which eX-
coded by sto53,72G the high record estab-
lished by the year 1903. The imports
showed a reduction of s3i. 63l .S66 as COM
pared with 1903. but exceeded those OF any
other year. and the exports We're S-bG'.' 30
below those of 1901 but exceeded those OF
any other year. OF the 81. 4tD, S2..2Il of eX-
ports. $l,435. 1907 we've Of domestic pro
duction, the exports of products of as5ri-
culture being sS53 6i3,0.3 and of manuiac-
lures $i5.. il5.92l
The value Of the commerce of the
United States with its nOncontiguous ter
ritorics-Porto Rico. the Hawaiian Is
lands. the Philippine Islands. Guam. Mid,
way: Tutuila and ask:'-Was SLID ,svf
ment 6.:22S.Je4 of gold received in the
United States from the mines of ALASKA
The Secretary. referring to the work oi
the bureau of Corporations, says that this
branch of the department has mace eH-
haustive examination of judicial decisions
for the purpose of aScertaining fullH those
constitutional powers and restrictions on
which present conditions are based. ana
also those which must necessarily De IN
volved in any future legislation Tor tne
| improyement OF present legal corporate
conditions. go.
For the purpose" the report says; 9f
| q scertainiug and presenting in aVallaDie
| form the legal conditions under when
corporate business is being carried on III
| the various states material optalntn i,U,
thirty states has been compiled ana taDu,
lated In each of these states Win reSaIu
| to all the more important corporations "
ganiZed in the state and ensagea III III,
ferstate or foreign commerce. typlcal
either of the states industries or OF lea
| laws. every paper OF document filed or re-
corded concerning each corporation ZION
examined separately, and all intorn,'ito '
relative 10 each corporation dlScloSeu "
| the otficial records has been COLLECTED anu
COMPLIED. There have been n cnuS t ot over
| { IN corporations which include the
| larger part of the more important in .atI7.
| trial and conmeIcldi coi P ~ nor, bina-
stock companies and corporate coii
lions in the United States: A., .o,d,-
| For the purpose of laying the Ioul'ua a.
| t;on upOn which direct investisatlon Tr
III corporatior can be inteliigently
| Conducted the bureau has complieu' . .iun
sources other than the corporations .ne-
| selves. ali available informa ton reE ,rnu,
ing certain leading combinations. - ban
| a careful analysis of this materiai y aa
| %aen nossible to form preliminary 9uus
| n,ents regarding the economic ana n HAL
riaj practices and effects OF coiIip nir ~
| in general, and to determine tne ME of
| f,rther special inquiry. On the rasls ~
tris General study preliminary outlines ,t oa
| ;nn,,iries to be addressed direct'y u inc
nl,nmunanies are being prepared IS .,s
The result of the lnxes,g bv resoutions
of congress, will be made the subject Vi
spTr he most important work of the census
bureau performed during th 'ne spp as,t reports
has been the tabulation OF the census v
the Philippine Islands ,,s . tribute
In closing the Secretary pays Under
to former secretary rs 1T1te,ff;T% of the
W noSt was effected. His words arr ,,;
os slT find that the work OF organiHins a .m
| aanartment has been as thoroush al, all
complete asr xss pess ana that the men
| apie hara heen selected to I'll! the imPo n,t
WIZ IN pos.tions are especially enc nar
and in every way iyyonaortant d duties OF their
| f0rma T,,,e credit for the organization ~
c enn denartment is due. N my luoEn anrnc
tne the first Secretary. tne non shfi-
r Cortelyou. whose g,;,iar;tv with gov
ity ana .nV mostters enabled him IN SO
ernmenti time 10 organize and equip d ~
snutn,ant of the government Te aoppreent
Ises so much for tne and ai'h Industrial inter
/ VI 80 no country.