Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-06

facturers OF such articles and the COM
parative cost Of living and all kinds or
trusts or other combinations Of capits
and what effects such control have upon
production and price.
Into this bureau went two former hu-
reaus or the Department OF Commerce
and l.abor-tha bureau OF manufactures
and the bureau OF statistics. The bureau
OF manufactures had been in existence
for a decade. Its work had been chiefly
a study Of foreign markets and Ameri-
can production. IL purported TO be the
connecting link between the markets
abroad and the producers at home.
Through the State Department II worked
in conjunction with the consuls scattered
all over the world These consuls re
ported on trade opportunities and those
reports were anaiyZed by the bureau
Of manufactures. We're reported IN the
daily trade and consular reports and I'm
this way conveyed TO the manufacturers
AT home. Likewise were the productions
of the factories studied and set over
against the demands of the outside world
and the information needed TO bring the
two together supplied Aside from the re-
ports from the consuls the bureau OF
manufactures employed a limited num-
Der of special agents that girdled the
bureau considered most important
AS chief of this bureau was aAl-
bertus III. Baldwin. When the fusion or
the two bureaus took place Mr.. Baldwin
became chief OF the bureau OF foreign
and domestic commerce, position he
still holds
The bureau Of statistics had long car
ried on an important work with reference
to commerce. Its chief duty consisted IN
the compilation OF statistical statements
showing exports and imports of the
United States At the head Of this bu-
reau had long been O. L. Austin, a vet
eran newspaper man. who long ago earn
ed for himself the sobriquet Of .'Old Fig
ures' because of his fondness for reduc-
ing all matters TO that element where
there is no lying. When the two b1I-
division and Mr.. Austin remained at ITS
head.
An additional duty that devolved upon
this new bureau through the act OF 1872.
which created II, was that OF reporting
upon particular subjects when required
to do SO by the President or either branch
Of Congress. This is a very sweeping
authority. and under IL the indications
are that the government intends TO make
this its investigation agency VIII enever
occasions arise that require exhaust
i've looking into. 1t will not merely per-
form such duties as have been proposed
for a tariff board. but will be called IN
for similar work along any line.
Since the bureau has been thrust into
the spotlight there has been considera-
BILE alarm as to the results or Its IN
vestigations. II has been the impress
sion that they were made with the idea
of prosecutions. This is entirely aside
from the facts The bureau of foreign
and domestic commerce has nothing more
to do with prosecutions than has the as
sayer who analyses an ore sample Win
mining. Its only duty is TO report facts
Irregardless of its findings in any in-
dustry. 1t will initiate no prosecutions
It will simply issue an uncolored state
ment of the facts as Ii finds them. IL
quires prosecutions these latter must
be initiated by some other agency en-
tirely apart from this bureau.
That this new bureau, created ana
given vast power by the republicans ana
Just now being set to perform its pur-
poses by the democrats. may have the
sinews of war with which to turn the
searchlight into American industry the
President and the Secretary of Com
merce, Mr.. Redfield. are asking the pres
ent Congress to supply an additional
100000 AS Congress is following pretty
closely the administration lead. IL Is
most probable that the money will be
provided and the new bureau Will I'm q
few weeks find itself in a position TO stir
about right merrily among industries.
good and bad, that it may be considered
to the public interest to investigate.
Copyright. 1913. by ". A. Du Puy)