Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 25.djvu/229

 FIFTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 389. 1888. 183 Sec. 7. That the Commissioner of Labor, in accordance with the .D*‘“*" 0* Commisgeneral design and duties referred to in section one of this act, is SUM specially charged to ascertain, at as early a date as possible, and whenever industrial changes shall make it essential, the cost of producing articles at the time duitable in the United States, in leading countries where such articles are produced, by fully—Specified units of production, and under a classification showing the diderent elements of cost, or approicimate cost, of such articles of production, including the wages pa1d in such industries per day, week, month, or year, or by the piece; and hours employed per day ; and the profits of the manufacturers and producers of such articles, and the comparative cost of living, and the kind of living. “It shall be the duty of the Commissioner also to ascertain and report as to the effect of the customs laws, and the effect thereon of the state of the currency, in the United States, on the agricultural industry, especially as to its effect on mortgage indebtedness of farmers ;" and what articles are controlled by Trusts, or other combinations of capital, business operations, or labor and what effect said trusts, or other combinations of capital, business operations, or labor have on production and prices. He shall also establish a system of reports by which, at intervals of not less than two years, he can re ort the general condition, so far as production is concerned, of the lgeading industries of the country. The Commissioner of Labor is also specially charged to investigate the causes of, and facts relating to, all controversies and disputes between employers and employees as they may occur, and which may tend to interfere with the welfare of the people of the different States, and report thereon to Congress. The Commissioner of Labor shall also obtain such information upon the various subjects committed to him as he may deem desirable from different foreign nations, and what, if any, convict made goods are imported into this country, and if so from whence. Sec. 8. That the Commissioner of Labor shall annually make a Reports. report in writing to the President and Congress, of the information collected and collated by him, and containing such recommendations as he may deem calculated to promote the efficiency of the Department. He is also authorized to make special re orts on iarticular subjects whenever required to do so by the Presidlent or either House of Congress, or when he shall think the subject in his charge requires it. He shall, on or before the fifteenth day of December in each year. make a report in detail to Congress of all moneys expended under his direction during the preceding fiscal year. Sec. 9. That all laws and parts of laws relating to the Bureau of mggngler B¤¤·¤¤ Labor created under the act of Congress approved June twenty- K ‘. seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, so far as the same are applicable and not in conflict with this act. and only so far, are "•>1-¤3-v-60- continued in full force and effect, and the Commissioner of Labor appointed under said act, approved June twentyseventh. eighteen hundred and ei ghty-four, an all clerks and employees in the Bureau of Labor authorized to be appointed by said act or subsequent acts. shall continue in office and employment as if appointed under the provisions of this act, and until a Commissioner of Labor. other officer, clerks, and employees are appointed and qualified as herein required and provided; and the Bureau of Labor, as now organized and existing, shall continue its work as the Department of Labor until the Department of Labor shall be organized in accordance with this act; and the library, records, and all property now in use by the said Bureau of Labor are hereby transferred to the custody of the Department of Labor hereby created, and on the organization of the Department of Labor on the basis of this act the functions of the Bureau of Labor shall cease.