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The Commoner
OCTOBER, 1916
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visions and employ additional experts. These
appropriations have steadily increased and the
facilities for assisting the growth of American
commerce abroad have increased accordingly.
Tho last republican appropriation (1913) for
the bureau was $176,242. The democratic ap
propriation for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1017, is $505,640,
TIDE DEPARTMENT OF IjABOR
The department of lalJor, which came into
existence on March 4, 1913, and has been or
ganized under the present administration, has
been endeavoring, in a systematic and sympa
thetic way, to assist in the solution of the prob
lems confronting the wage-workers of the
United States. ,
The children's bureau has been dealing with
problems of child life. It began with a study
of pre-natal care of mothers and Its bulletin on
that subject, written In plain, homely language,
has been invaluable in tens of thousands of
homes. Its practical demonstrations of the
proper method of caring for babies which re
sulted in setting aside the week beginning
March 6, 1916, as Baby Week for practical in
struction of mothers in the proper care of in
fants, has awakened a universal interest in the
conservation of child life. Its investigations of
sanitation, safety, hygiene and allied subjects
has made available for the legislative bodies of
the various states and municipalities the very
best practical thought upon the subject.
The bureau of labor statistics, in addition to
keeping the people of our country advised upon
tho fluctuations in wholesale and retail prices,
has made a number of investigations covering
almost the entire field of industry and sympa
thetically administered the federal compensation
law, and has for the first time In the history of
the government been called upon by other de
partments to investigate the prevailing rate of
wages in the vicinity of government plants In
order to determine accurately tho rate of-wages
which should be paid to various' classes of me
chanics .and laborers employed in government
works.
BUREAU OF NATURALIZATION
The bureau of naturalization has very ma
terially broadened the scope of its activities. It
is not believed to be good policy for any gov
ernmental agency to attempt to induce any
alien resident in' the United States to renounce
his allegiance to the country from which he
comes. Such action might lead to international
complications which would be serious in their
consequences, but when an alien has signified
his desire to become a citizen of this country by
formally declaring his intention to do so, not
only the welfare of the alien himself, but the
welfare of all of our citizens, native and natur
alized, Tequires that in the interim between his
declaration of intention and his naturalization
he should be iven n opportunity to become as
thoroughly familiar as possible with our lan
guage, our customs, our form of government and
the fundamental principles underlying it. The
bureau of naturalization has -consequently in
terested school authorities all over the United
States to provide school facilities in English and
civics at night for those wlio work in the day
time and similar facilities in the day-time for
those who work at night. To accomplish that
end it arranged' a series of mass-meetings from
the Pacific to the Atlantic coast, one of which
was addressed by the President of the United
States which resulted in the Americanization
movement being inaugurated by a number of
public-spirited citizens to promote the education
in civics of aliens seeking citizenship in th'e
I nlted States.
The bureau of immigration has administered
the immigraton and Chinese exclusion laws with
tact and discretion and has utilized Its division
of information to organize a nation-wide system
f f labor exchanges and labor distribution with
tho purpose in view of reducing unemployment
to a minimum. The co-operation of the post
office, interior, agriculture and commerce de
partments has been obtained with a view to
inking the system as effective as possible and
contact is rapidly being made with municipal
and state labor exchanges, thereby broadening
the scope of their activities and adding to the
effectiveness of the federal system. Realizing
that there may still be unemployed workmeir
under certain industrial conditions even after
every available Job has been filled by competent
w,?.8,tf "nre.keInS effected for a real
?,ii arid luoycm(?llt a "asis which will
utilize, personal character plus communitv
character as a basis for credits to those who
otherwise would be unable to go upon tho land:
First, ' because they have not the means to ac
quire it, secoud, because they .havo not the
means to equip it, and, third, becauso they have
not the means to live until they get returns
from it.
In the consideration of tho plan, it is proposed
that the department of agriculture will play an
important part in providing soil surveys to de
termine tho class of crops which can bo most
profitably raised, tho kinds of fertilizers which
can be most effectively used and tho best meth
ods of tilling tho soil and marketing the crops.
MEDIATION IN TRADE DISPUTES
While the general purpose of the department
of labor is to promote the welfare of wage
workers, and to increase their opportunities for
profitable employment, the one great specific
duty devolving upon the secretary is to act as a
mediator in trade disputes, or to appoint con
ciliators when, in his judgment, it is wise to do
so. During the brief timer the new department
has been in existence, It has been called upon
to intervene and use its good offices in adjust
ing scores of trade disputes, involving many
thousands of workmen, and very extensive prop
erty rights. In handling these cases, it has been
the policy of the department not to, undertake to
impress its viewpoint, or tho viewpoint of its
officers upon either of the contending parties,
but rather to seek some common ground upon
wkichboth can stand, and which they, in the
heat'of 'the controversy, may have overlooked.
In over ninety per cent of the cases wo havo
been successful in bringing about a mutual un
derstanding between employer a'nd employee,
thereby promoting their welfare and the wel
fare of the people at large.
In handling trade disputes, our efforts have
been centered in endeavoring to bring employ
ers and employees together in order that they
might mutually work out their own difflcultie.s
to a successful conclusion. That Is by far "the
best method, if it can be accomplished. Em
ployers and employees have a mutual interest,
not an identical interest mark the distinction
in securing the largest possible production
with a given amount of labor. The more there
is jointly produced, the more there is to divide
between them. Their interests ' only diverge
when it comes to a division of their joint pro
duction. When that state is reached, how much
better it would be for both sides and for all
parties concerned, if instead of strikes and
lockouts?- thereby cutting off all production and
leaving nothing to divide, they would , like
sensible businessmen, sit down around the coun
cil table together and work out on as nearly
correct., a mathematical basis as possible the
shargT Uiat each is entitled to. If we fail to get
them', fo undertake to adjust their own diffi
culties themselves, our next step is to appoint
a mediator to pass between the different par
ties, getting their various propositions and mak
ing such suggestions as may qccur to us in an ef
fort, to find a basis of settlement. Feeling in
that',-our next step is to propose arbitration,
mutually entered into, with a basis of arbitra
tion laid down in advance. Either of these
methods is preferable to strikes. Our indus
trial and commercial supremacy Is not so much
dependent upon the cheapness of our labor as
it is dependent upon its efficiency. If cheap
labor was responsible for commercial suprem
acy then China and InJia would bo the com
mercial masters of tho world. The most effi
cient labor existing anywhere is in the mind
and muscle of the American workingman. Yet
you can not reach the highest standards of effi
ciency unless you have a spirit of co-operation
existing between employer and employe. And
you can not have a real spirit of co-operation
when one skip endeavors to impose its w.111 upon
the other without the other's consent and par
ticularly when it carries with it the Imposition
of injustice.
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THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
The United States treasury has been freed of
Wall street control under President Wilson and
Secretary McAdoo. Its powers and its labors
bave been devoted wholly and solely to the pub
lic interest. Here follows a brief survey of the
The deposit of funds with national banks in
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theagrloultural states J&r r.'io purpose of as
sisting in tho raovomenJro&uropB Instead ot In
New Y6rk banks. T ,
Tho enactment of a lffJr prizing tho Pres
ident to t'ffll a Pnn-AmericT. Financial confer
ence, and the holding ot such conference on
May 24, 1915, under tho direction of Secretary
of tho Treasury W. G. McAdoo.
Tho adoption of a consistent and economical
system in regard to the acquisition of sites for
public buildings and the construction of such
buildings which will lend to increased economy
and better service.
Tho enforcement of tho oleomargarine law
whereby the receipts from taxes of oleomargar
ine havo been Increased many fold.
Advantages of now financial system Increased
by tho crusade of tho comptroller of the currency
against banks which have been charging usuri
ous interest rates.
Sales of opium, cocaine and kindred habit
forming drugs reduced 75 per cent under the
Harrison Anti-Narcotics lav .
New- war risk insurance bureau operated at a
profit to the government and to tho great assist
ance of American shipping.
The consolidation of the revenue cutlor and
life saving services, witll an Increnso In economy
and efficiency in operation.
The amendment of tho so-called Aldrich-Vree-land
act which converted a dead letter into a
practical instrument of relief to the banks and
the public generally during troublous days that
followed tho outbreak of tho European war. ,
Tho direct assistance rendered by the secre
tary dfUho treasury to tjh banks ..and business
interesls of the United Stafc'liUttfiJ. crisis fol
lowing the outbreak of thjfEuropoan war.
The relief of thousands of Americans who
otherwise would have been stranded In tho
countries at war,
Charging interest on United States deposits
with, national banks at the rate of two per cent,
per annum, thereby making the national banks,
for tho first time, pay for the use ot Uncle Sam's
money. , .
TTteexnanSion of thc public health service
jnlcoa public welfare enterprise of the highest
value. This servfeo has been made not only the
instrument of effective protection against the
entry of contagious diseases into the country
but a valuable practical means of combating
rural, industrial and vocational diseases
throughout tho country.
Tho establishment of a system of shipping
government moneys and securities by mall, in
sured, instead of by express as heretofore, re
sulting in large savings to the government as
well as to tho banks of the country.
The reduction of tho charges for assaying
ores at the Philadelphia mint and the minor as
say offices, thereby making the mint service a
real help to the man whwmlnes for precious
metals. 6b
The purchase of 4,3750ftftOunceH of silver
between August 3 and Sept ucr 17, 1915 tho
largest in a similar period ftice the repeal of the
purchase clause of the Sherman act, approved
July 1, 1890, at the average price of $0,487 per
ounce. This transaction resulted in a marked
advance in tho price of Hjl.Ver and so stimulated
the market that the production of this metal
has continued without abatement, whereas op
erations In a number of mines were about to
cease.
POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT
The story of postal administration under tho
Wilsori administration is a story of the adminis
tration for the first time of the largest govern
mental business enterprise In tho world on a
strictly business ljasfs.
A total surplus of $12,500,000 has been paid
into the treasury during the present postal ad
ministration up to June 30, 191C. This hag
been accomplished through a more efficient man
agement of the service, and at the same time Uiq
postal service has been greatly extended and im
proved. The net surplus of postal receipts and expendi
tures for the four fiscal years 1913-16 under
President Wilson is more than $1,800,000.
During the four fiscal years 1905-8, during
Roosevelt's second term and under Postmasters
General Cortelyou and Meyer, the postal deficit
amounted to $48,739,639.34.
During 1909-12, during Taft's adminlstratloa
and under Postmaster General HJlicock, this
postal deficit aggregated $24,937,057.40.
(Continued on Pago 20)
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