FISH COMMISSION BUILDING
The new department has a wide scope, and under efficient administration may exert a good deal of influence. It takes over practically the scientific and statistical work of the government, especially the Coast Survey, the Bureaus of Statistics from the Treasury and State Departments, and the Fish Commission, besides the Labor Bureau, the Immigration Bureau, and the enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and it has a new Bureau of Manufactures, with considerable duties. But undoubtedly the most important work it can perform is in the Bureau of Corporations, at the head of which Mr. Garfield is placed. The powers of this bureau extend to “diligent investigation into the organization, conduct, and management of any corporation, joint stock company, or corporate combination engaged in commerce among the several States and with foreign nations, excepting common carriers.” For this work the Commissioner is to have the “right to subpœna and compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence and to administer oaths.” One of the objects of this power is to enable the Commissioner to “gather such information and data as will enable the President of the United States to make recommendations to Congress for the regulation of” interstate and foreign commerce.
The Survey, Quarantine, Immigration, and Life-Saving bureaus are next in importance. Along the coast new harbors and coast lines are constantly being surveyed. When the quarantine officer boards your ship at the entrance of New York harbor, and scares you thoroughly lest he keep you in quarantine for the sake of some poor Italian baby in the steerage, he represents the Secretary of Commerce guarding a great nation from disease. When the immigrant lands he is interviewed by an agent of this department and his money changed into United States currency. Some of these agents recognize in the poor, frightened, lonely, and travel-stained foreigner a human being who needs a friendly word and helping hand, but others would scare even an American woman, who knows her own value, out of her wits; what, then, must be the effect of such men on the feelings of these strangers? Nearly a half million of foreigners a year enter our ports, and I have seen many of them treated like cattle.
The Life-Saving Bureau has charge of the continuous line of life-saving stations which guard our coasts. No braver men have ever lived than the devoted servants of the government who patrol our shores. There are 269 life-saving stations on the coasts of the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Great Lakes, and one at the Ohio Falls, at Louisville, Ky. The men of these stations were present last year at 693 disasters and saved 3,377 lives. Our government pensions soldiers and sailors who are hired to destroy lives; surely greater pensions should be awarded these heroes of the main for saving life.
XXVIII
THE EXECUTIVE MANSION
The President’s house is generally known as the White House. It is situated on Pennsylvania Avenue, one mile west of the Capitol building. It contains two lofty stories above ground and a basement.
MRS. ROOSEVELT
[Copyright by J. Schloss, New York]