The Washington herald., 1908-03-16
PLAN BUREAU UNION
Consolidation Recommended
by Special Committee.
OPPOSITION WILL DEVELOP
Manufactures and Statistics Bureaus
Cannot BE Combined without Act
of COngress-Represen DaIZell
says Proposition Does Not Merit
the Attention of Congress.

Rumors concerning the forthcoming
consolidation OF the Bureau OF Statistics
and the Bureau OF Manufactures in the
Department Of Commerce and Labor, led
TO inquiry yesterday. which has brought
out the fact that something of the kind
is IN contemplation.
These rumors asserted that the two bu-
reaus were to be combined into one,
called the Bureau OF Commerce"
a committee was appointed by Secre-
tary Straus some months ago which has
been considering the subject and has
reached a report In favor of combining
these two bureaus although this subject
was not referred TO the committee when
created
Secretary Straus indicated his purpose
TO carry the recommendation into effect
at a hearing before the Committee. on
Appropriations Of the House concerning
his appropriation bin.
Views OF Representative Tawney.
Chairman Tawney. Of the Appripria-
tlons Committee. says on the subject:
The Secretary made some indirect ref
erence TO the subject when before the
committee and that is all 1 know about
it, The two bureaus could not be COM
bined without an act Of Congress, as the
Bureau Of Manufactures is not a stats
teal bureau, and was not transferred to
the department, but created after the
department was in existence.
Both the bureaus are doing good work
in different fields. I do not know of any
reason why they should be combined.
Congress would. of course. listen 10 any
thing said on that subject which was
worthy Of attention"
Representative John Dalzeu, OF the
Ways and Means Committee. when spoken
TO on the subject said:
1 have heard some talk about this con-
solidation Of the Bureau of Manufactures
and the Bureau Of Statistics. but / do not
think that there is anything serious in it.
or any occasion for such action. A com
mittee appointed by the Secretary OF
Commerce seems 10 have originated the
proposition as a way of escaping from
another question. But II is not a PROPOSE
ton that merits the attention of Con-
gress."
Consideration by Committee.
Director North. of the Census Bureau
thought the Bureau Of Statistics should
be combined with the Census Bureau. as
both were statistical bureaus. The act
creating the Department Of Commerce
provided that the Secretary should have
the authority Ito consolidate any of the
statistical bureaus and Offices transferred
to the department"
1t was that provision which led Mr..
North TO suggest the consolidation.
The committee appointed TO consider the
subject consisted of Mr.. Willis. a New
York journalist; a professor in Columbia
University New York City and another
professor IN Cornell University, and As
sistant Secretary Murray, and Messrs.
North. Smith Neill. and Austin. heads of
different bureaus in the department.
Mr.. Austin strongly opposed the promo
sition TO combine his bureau, the Bureau
OF Statistics. with the Census Bureau.
maintaining the work was entirely diff
ferent. Many appeared before the COM
mittee. and the majority opposed the COM
bination of the Bureau Of Statistics and
the Census Bureau but favored the con-
sohdatiOn Of the Bureau Of Statistics and
the Bureau of Manufactures.
Mai. Carson Not Informed.
No one from the Bureau Of Manufac-
lures. excepting Maj. Carson. was heard
by the committee. He was not invited 10
appear until the hearings had been prac-
tically closed, and was not then aware.
II appears, that the purpose was 10 re-
port in favor Of a combination of the
Bureau of Manufactures with that Of the
Bureau Of Statistics.
As a result of the opinions expressed
before the committee four members. in
Guiding the newspaper correspondent.
agreed 10 report in favor OF the proposed
combination. The Cornell and Columbia
professors did not come to this city to
take part in the proceedings. but the
testimony taken was sent to them. and
they agreed to the report
Il see the British government speaI,s
highly OF the Bureau OF Manufactures.
says Representative Tuwney. He re-
forred 10 an extract from a British blue
Dook, referring 10 the Bureau of Man
ufactures in the following words.
The most important commercial serv-
ice in Canada is that Of the United
States. both in number OF persons en-
ployed and IN the service rendered. The
issue OF daily and monthly Consular and
Trade Reports or the Department Of
Commerce. Bureau of Manufactures. at
Washington, dealing not only with Cam
ada but with every conceivable economic
subject all the world over is an ad
mirable undertaking. and IS, without
doubt. of great assistance TO the ex-
tremely alert American. who ayails him
self very fully of the valuable informa-