The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-14
Department of Commerce
and Labor Growing in
Importance.
GREAT PROBLEMS
IN IMMIGRATION
American Toilers More Insistent
Foreign Tide Be Kept
Down.
By JAMES HAY. TR.

BY the Department Of Commerce and
Labor assuming a greater importance
and power than any other executive de-
partment with the exception OF State,
and. possibly. Treasury.
This is due 70 the tremendous phases
Of two questions, corporations and i'm
migration.
So important are these subjects con-
sidered by the President and his ad-
viSers that from the very outset OF tie
Administration activities. Charles
Nagel, Secretary Of Commerce and Ia
Dor. VIII have 10 handle, either single
handed or in cooperation with one or
two other Cabinet officers, the most
delicate and far-reaching problems.
immigration Questions
immigration is fixed by Congressional
legislation. Congress determines 10
what extent foreigners shall be ad-
mitted 10 this country. But the youngest
department of the Government is
charged. first with administering the
law in such a manner a. 70 cause TO
friction with foreign countries; and.
second with calling 10 the attention
of the legislators needed changes in. the
Law The recent dispute with Japan
over the immigration OF japanese labor
ers into the United States was a striking
example OF how great q part the agents
OF the Department Of commerce and
Labor may play in such situation.
Organized labor is steadily AID surely
tending TO a mental attitude which viii
result in even greater demands than
have ever been made before for stricter
limitation Of the coming in OF foreigners.
There are eminent statesmen today
who claim that the vast hordes Of for
eign born people. pouring into this
country every year, VA in a short time
result in injurious complications.
Send Money To Europe.
As things stand today, every country
OF Europe sends a large percentage OF
its adult population to the United
States These people have tina ides
that America is a vast gold mine and
that here is the place for them 70 rive
long enough 10 make enough money 10
enable them to be in plenty and com
fort the rest Of their lives in their ns-
tive cities and towns. In great ma
jOrity OF cases they make good on their
ambitions 10 a certain extent and SEND
large sums Of money from this country
10 their homes.
Aside from the drain eutailed on tie
wealth Of the United States BY this
practice, American born Iaborers have
claimed and, if the present indications
can be relied on, will claim N the future
with greater insistence that che COM
petition Of foreign labor with theirs
has become so serious as to mean great
loss to the Americans.
Immigrants Not Wan ed.
On the other hand. there :,-e sections
Of the country where immigrants are
not desired. The anti-Japanese sensi-
ment in California IS one instance OF
this Another IS the report recently
received from several Southern STATES
that, unless Scandinavians were sRnt In
the South from New York and other
immigrant stations the people pre-
ferred that none be sent.
Thus, public sentiment Is becoming
more and more directed 20 the whole
subject of immigration. Members OF
the House and Senate are receiving
more and more comment and inquiries
as result Of IL, and If can easily
be seen that, in some aspects at least
the present rules and regulations gpv-
erning immigration viii De changed
When this is done. much of the re-
SponSl biiity for the work will fall on
the Departments OF State and Com
merCe and Labor. 1t win be a grave
Will find itself confronted with tbs ne
ceSSity Of taking steps which may well
offend many of the countries OF the
civilized world unless the utmost dfDlo-
macy and tact are employed
On Departments Shoulders.
Congress will make the change
wheU they become Necessary. but
Commerce and Labor. through the i'm
migration service. will have to enfs7ee
them, and the Department Of State viii
have to explain them Incidentally.
Congress will turn to the Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor for counsel as 10
how the changes can best be effected.
Since mis- Inauguration the Presided;
has become assured that there will he
little trouble in having Congress pass
the legislation necessary 70 put Into
force his plan TO increase the powers or
the Bureau Of Corporations in the De
paTtment of Commerce and Labor
This will be done as the keystone o.
his plan 70 have a better and more
effective control of the corporations by
the Government. and. when IL is accom-
DliShed, the Bureau OF Corporations viii
investigate and collect the evidence In
all cases wherein il IS charged that
there have been heterogeneous by TIE
corporations against the statutes OF the
United States.
Great Regulator.
What effect viii be exercised on the
business Of the country by a depart
ment which exercises this power Of
preparing cases against any interstate
corporation charged with wrongdoiuE,
has 10 be imagined II means that the
department will be the chief factor in
preserving a healthy moral tone in the
business life OF the country
Entrusted with the immigration PROB
lem. which touches vitality the labor
question. and the corporation invesfi-a-
tons, which may wreck or save Great
enterprises, II IS easy 70 see that the
Department OF Commerce and Labor
stands upon the threshold of its career
and that il viii WELD a tremendous