Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-01
COMMERCE AND LABOR.

The wide and varied scope of the De-
partment Of Commerce and Labor, with
it's numerous important divisions and bu-
reaus. makes some account of It's work
especially interesting at this time. There
were number of important actions taken
during the year which give them promi-
nence in the worlds interest Towering
above the others, perhaps, was the action
taken at the instance of the department
to safeguard life at sea, following the IT,
tanic disaster.
April 49, following the strong express
sion of President Taft that there was
need to amend the rules for safety at sea-
the Department of Commerce and Labor
began its Investigations that eventually
led to the adoption of new and more
stringent regulations, not only for sea-go-
ing vessels, but for those on inland wa
tiers and craft that sailed along the coast.
Icebergs and Charts.
The bureau of standards June was d.
rected to study the iceberg problem. June
4 the photographic office issued iceberg
charts. June the bureau of navigation
began it's investigation and inspection of
local motor boats and June IA the acting
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor ap-
proved revised rules for sea traffic.
The executive board of supervising
steamboat inspectors met in September
to confer upon the subject of life-saving
equipment, and after the refusal of Secre-
tary Nagel to approve of certain matters
agreed upon by them. the new rules for
life-saving equipment went into effect
October I. The general subject is still
under consideration, leading up to the
worldwide adoption Of general regula-
tions which will make for the safety of
human life at sea.
National Commerce Chamber.
In April Secretary Nagel was largely
instrumental and assisted in the forma
ton of the new Chamber of Commerce of
the United States, which grew out of the
old and imperfect organization known as
the National Chamber of Commerce. In
August another big step was taken for
the betterment of conditions affecting
the nations commerce in the consOlida-
ton of the bureau of statistics and the
bureau of manufactures into what is
now known the bureau Of foreign and
domestic commerce.
Early in the month of January the de-
partment began to have trouble due to
the dismissal of its big force of census
clerks because of the failure of Congress
to provide the money to pay it. and jan
Uary - Inc star puDilSne0 an account OF
the efforts then being undertaken by the
business men of Washington in behalf of
the clerks. 1t resulted in special order
for their treatment from President Taft
The middle of February an important
conference on weights and measures was
opened by the department. The middle
of April the appointment of Miss Julia
c. Lathrop as chief of the new chill
dren's bureau in the department was
announced.
New Corporation Commissioner.
JUL II came rumors of the intended
resignation of Herbert Knox Smith, COM
missioner of corporations, under whose
supervision many important investiga-
tons and inquiries had been made into
trust conditions in the country. Doubt
was ended July II. with the announce
ment that Mr.. Smith had resigned to
work for the new progressive party. and
the nomination by President Taft Of l..
Conant. jr.. as his successor.
The latter part of August Secretary
Nagel ordered an inquiry into the rise
in prices of coal, and early in September
it was announced that the bureau Of
standards would issue a bulletin on the
gas question. The latter part of Septem-
Der the bureau Of labor reported it's find
ings in its investigation of the cost OF
living. The first of November came the
news that the department was seeking
and expected soon to occupy new home