Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-24

eompromise was effected by adding the
words and Labor to the original title.
II was first Intended to include the Inter
state Commerce commission in the new
department, but the fierce opposition
which the plan engendered caused the
men in charge OF the legislation to drop II
out This brought forth sarcastic re-
mark from Senator Hale 81 the time upon
the incongruity Of creating q department
Of commerce and leaving out Of It COM
mission dealing with the most important
commercial questions OF the country,
while including the Fish commission
which was as far removed from commerce
as any bureau could be. But there we're
reasons for leaving out the Interstate
Commerce commission That body was
supposed TO be a quasi-judicial body. sub
ject to no one and ought not TO be sub
ordinate TO a cabinet oficer. and in its
opinions and orders It was not even sub
ordinate to the president.
The Department OF Commerce and La
Dor was made n "catch ALL" Bureaus
necessary to the government which had
been attached haphazard to other de-
partments were given to the new depart
ment Bureaus which had nothing to do
with the collection and administration OF
the revenues Of the government, such as
the life saving service, the immigration
service. the steamboat inspection service
and the statistical service, were placed un-
der this department. and with satisfactory
results. The secretary OF the treasury was
relieved Of a large amount Of work which
had nothing whatever 70 do with the
collection and expanding the money OF the
government.
Growing Needs of the Country.
81, 1.fsuN
increases It will be found that additional
departments are necessary. No one man
can attend to all the important business
of a growing department, especially II
the business OF that department continues
to expand. Nearly every department was
relieved by the creation of the Depart
ment of Commerce and labor or course
there were no bureaus OF either the War
or Navy departments that could have been
transferred, nor was there any desire TO
take from either OF these departments any
of their functions But the growth Of the
government its expansion In the orient,
and the building and administration OF the
Panama canal would seem to necessitate
a separate department.
The Philippines and the canal are far
removed from the army. There is no re-
lation between them. The reorganization
of the Canal commission, giving all the
power to three civilians, was step to-
ward divorcing the canal from the mill
tary The whole tendency is toward
| nonmilitary administration and control.
The canal is under the War department
| for convenience and because the president
| wanted a man like William II. Taft to
| have immediate control of it's affairs. For
| a similar reason Taft was made secretary
! of war A man was wanted who could
| he DhilfnDipea Taft not
made secretary of war because he was
/ great warrior or was an expert in army
| matters, but because he had experience in
| the Philippines and was we'll fitted for
| the great civilian work that some cabinet
| oficer should perform.
| II new department of colonies was
| created, no doubt Secretary Taft would be
the best man for the place. The last de-
partment created takes the lowest rank in
the cabinet in all official and state func-
! tons. but 1t does not mean that IT is the
lowest in Importance by any means. No
one would think of saying that the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor was of less
| Importance than the Agriculture. Interior.
I Justice. or even the Postofflce departments.
II there should be department of colonies
to control the island possessions and the
Isthmian canal, 1t would reduce the inn
| portance of the war department, but the
new department would be second to none in
Importance. For years 10 come the Philip
pines and the canal will be great factors in
the history and politics of the American re-
public.
Creation of Cabinet Omces.
The first department created in the gov
eminent was that of Foreign Affairs. This
was later changed to Department of State,
but retained its place as the premiership
| of the cabinet The next to be created was
| the War department and then the Treasury.
The latter department has always ranked
the War department. and In the provision
for the presidential succession the treasury
follows the State department. Possibly the
Treasury department took second place be-
cause Alexander Hamilton was the secre-
tary. 1t was a case Of where McGregor sits
being the head of the table. Naturally
Washington, having been for eight years
commander n-chief OF the army. was his
own war secretary, and the man holding
that portfolio would not make It take a
front rank But with Jefferson az secre-
tary of state and Hamilton secretary OF the
treasury. it was certain that these depart
ments would take a front rank from the
first For eight years these men made the
State and Treasury the two important de-
partments of the government
Although in these times the ability OF
cabinet officers does not change the rank OF
the position, II does change the Importance
OF the place in the administration. Thus Il
happened that Whitney made the Navy de-
partment prominent in the first Cleveland
administration. Blaine naturally made the
State department prominent in the Harri-
son administration During Cleveland's
second term Olney made the Department
OF Justice well known until he was trans
ferred TO the State department. In the Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt administrations Root
made the War department the foremost
position In the cabinet and Taft has kept II
there. It is thus apparent that man OF
ability can make his own place In the ad
mlnstration. regardless OF the rank OF his
cabinet position. II II should happen thai
a colonial department was created and
man like Root or Taft placed at the heat
OF It. such a department would be the las
place only at social functions and in tn
rosters. Such a department would requir'
the best man to be obtained and he woulC
make himself figure even If precedent ant
the law should place him below all Others
SPANISH SLEEPER AWAKENS
Woman Who Has slept Thirty-On'
Years Has Returned to
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