Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-07


substantial reduction in the expense
OF operation can be brought about.
Consolidation of Bureaus.
I request congressional authority to
enable the secretary of commerce and
labor to unite the bureaus of manu-
features and statistics. This was rec
commended by a competent committee
appointed IN the previous administra-
ton for the purpose of suggesting
changes in the interest of economy
and efficiency and is requested by the
secretary
The White Slave Trade.
l greatly regret TO have to say that
the Investigations made in the bureau
of immigration and other sources of
information lead to the view that
there is urgent necessity for addition
al legislation and greater executive
activity to suppress the recruiting of
the ranks of prostitutes from the
streams of immigration into this coun-
try-an evil which. for want of 4 bet
ter name. has been called 1.-THE white
slave trade" l believe it to be con-
stitutionaI to forbid under penalty the
transportation of persons for purposes
of prostitution across national and
state lines, and by appropriating
fund of $4,000 to be used by the sec
rotary OF commerce and labor for the
employment of special inspectors it
viii be possible to bring those re-
sponsible for this trade to indictment
and conviction under federal law.
Bureau of Health,
For a very considerable period a
movement has been gathering strength,
especially among the members OF the
medical profession, in favor of con-
cenuation of the instruments of the
national government which have to do
with the promotion of public health.
In the nature of things the medical
department Of the army and the med
zeal department of the navy must be
kept separate. But there seems to be
no reason why all the other bureaus
and Offices in the general government
which have to do with the public
health or subjects akin thereto should
not be united in bureau to be called.
the bureau of public health" This
would necesSitate the transfer of the
marine hospital service to such a bu-
rcau. 1 am aware that there is a wide
field in respect to the public health
committed to the states in which the
federal government cannot exercise jul
risdiction, but we have seen in the
agricultural department the expansion
into widest usefulness Of a department
giving attention to agriculture when
that subject is plailly one over which
the states properly exercise direct ju-
risdiction. The opportunities offered
for useful research and the spread of
useful information in regard to the
cultivation of the soil and the breeding
Of stock and the solution of many of
the intricate problems in progressive
agriculture have demonstrated the
wisdom of esta blishing that depart
ment Similar reasons of equal force
can be given for the establishment OF
4 bureau of health that shall not only
exercise the police Jurisdiction of the
federal government respecting quaran-
tine, but which shall also afford an OPP
portunity for investigation and re-
search by competent experts into Ques-
lions Of health affecting the whole
country or important sections thereof,
questions which in the absence of fed
eraI governmental work are not likely
70 he promptly solved.
The work OF the United States civil
service commission has been perform
ed to the general satisfaction of the
executive officers with whom the com
mission has been brought into official
communication. The volume of that
work and its variety and extent have
under new laws, such as the census
act and new executive orders, greatly
increased. The activities of the com
mission required by the statutes have
reached to every portion Of the public
domain.
The accommodations Of the commits
sion are most inadequate for its needs.
l call your attention to its request for
increase in those accommodations rs
will appear from the annual report for
this year.
Political Contributions.
urgently recommend TO congress
that law be passed requiring that
candidates in elections of members of
the house of representatives and COM
Inittees in charge of their candidacy
and campaign file in a proper office of
the United States government a state
ment of the contributions received and
of the expenditures incurred in the
campaign for such elections and that
similar legislation be enacted in re
spect to all other elections which are
constitutionally within the control of
congress.
I urgently recommend to congress
that a law be passed requiring that
candidates in elections of members os
the house of representatives. and CON-
mittees in charge of their candidacy
and campaign. file in a proper Office
of the United States government "A
statement of the contributions received
and of the expenditures incurred IN
the campaign for such elections. and
that similar legislation be enacted in