Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-12-15

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rual report of the secretary of COM
merce and labor, submitted to the pres
ident today by Secretary V. H. Metcalf
shows that the work of that recently
created cabinet department has null
tiplied wonderfully. Additional ap-
preparations are urged Tor Almost every
bureau or division in the department.
The report covers period when the
department. was presided over by Sec
letary Cortelyou and the new secretary
says none of the work covered came
Under his personal observation. The
report in part is as follows:
Finances.
The total disbursements during the
fiscal year We're $10,361 S75.56
Recommendation is made that, as
far as practicable, the disbursing of,
fees authorized by law and now exist
ing in some of the subordinate bureaus
be consolidated with the disbursing
office OF the department of commerce
and labor.
The estimates for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1906, have been prepared
after most careful consideration of
the 2CtU,, needs of the department
and its .arious bureaus, offices, and
services. In the aggregate there was
G material reduction from the amounts
first submitted by the bureaus, it being
my desire to eliminate for the coming
year all increases that might, without
injury to the proper growth of any
service, be postponed to future time
Special Investigations,
In the estimates are included a pro
vision for an appropriation to be ex-
pended under the immediate direction
of the secretary for the investigation
of trade conditions at home and
abroad, with the object of promoting
the domestic and foreign commerce of
the United States, and for other pur,
roses. a similar request, made in
the first annual report, was denied by
congress, but the result of the years
work concusively demonstrates that
the main investigation contemplated
will be Of great value to the CONNER.
Cial interests of the country. The
growth of our foreign trade can be ma
terially and Immediately helped by
sending skilled and trained men to
study and report upon special condi-
lions in the great world markets.
In addition to the main purpose the
appropriation is needed also for other
purposes, 1t is of the utmost import
ance that a fund be available for ex.
penditure under the immediate drec-
ton of the secretary for the employ
ment of special agents for the inspec.
ton and examination of the services of
the department. On account of the
limitations which the law very proper.
iy imposes with reference to the ex-
enditure Of funds, it is impossible
without such fund to promptly meet
such emergencies as frequently arise.
Of the $50 employees of the de-
partment Of commerce and labor out
side Of the district of Columbia. 6754
are connected with bureaus and offices
formerly under the jurisdiction of the
treasury department In order to
continue the efficiency of these ser
vices it is imperative that provision
he made for special Investigations and
inspections either as herein recon-
mended or as maintained while the
branches of the service referred to
were part of the treasury department.
Personnel of the Department.
On November 10, 1904, there were
in the department 9,2lO regular posi-
lions. OF these, 1,S12 were specifical
ly authorized by law and 1898 were
provided for under general appropria-
tions that do not create specific posi-
tions.
Persons employed temporarily IN.
der general appropriations, except IA
persons engaged on the Philippine
census, 80 persons paid from the I'M
expended balance of the twelfth cen.
sus appropriation, and $50 special
agents engaged in the collection of the
statistics of cotton production, are not
included in these figures. This class
Of temporary employments Is very
large in some of the bureaus. More
than 5000 special agents have been
employed for various periods during
the present calendar year in the bureau
of the census. There are also en-
ployed in that bureau special agents
for the collection Of the statistics Of
the quinquennial census authorized in
section Of the act of March G. 1902,
that are not included in the above total
OF 9.210.
Printing.
During the past year the depart
ment has assumed the conduct Of the
relations Of its bureaus with the sin.
gle exception Of the bureau Of the
census with the government printing
Office, for the purpose Of promoting
Eromptness and uniformity in it's print
ing and q securing accuracy and com.