United States Department of Commerce and Labor

The United States Department of Commerce and Labor was a short-lived Cabinet department of the United States government, which was concerned with controlling the excesses of big business.

Seal of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor

It was created on February 14, 1903, during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt. Investigations were the province of its Bureau of Corporations. The department was renamed the Department of Commerce on March 4, 1913, and its bureaus and agencies specializing in labor were transferred to the new Department of Labor. In 1915, the Bureau of Corporations was spun off as an independent agency, the Federal Trade Commission.

The United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor was the head of the department. The secretary was a member of the President's Cabinet. Corresponding with the division of the department in 1913, the Secretary of Commerce and Labor's position was divided into separate positions of United States Secretary of Commerce and United States Secretary of Labor.

In 2011 and 2013, in response to federal budget-cutting efforts, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), sponsored S. 1116, a proposal to re-combine two departments as the "Department of Commerce and the Workforce".[1] To date, no action on this proposal has been taken beyond referral to committee.[2]

List of Secretaries of Commerce and Labor
Secretary of Commerce and Labor of the United States of America
Seal of the Department
United States Department of Commerce and Labor
StyleMr. Secretary
Member ofCabinet
Reports toThe President
SeatWashington, D.C.
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
FormationFebruary 14, 1903 (1903-02-14)
First holderGeorge B. Cortelyou
Final holderCharles Nagel
AbolishedMarch 4, 1913 (1913-03-04)
SuccessionSecretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Parties

  Republican (4)

No. Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office President(s)
1 George B. Cortelyou New York February 18, 1903 June 30, 1904 Theodore Roosevelt
2 Victor H. Metcalf California July 1, 1904 December 16, 1906
3 Oscar S. Straus New York December 17, 1906 March 5, 1909
4 Charles Nagel Missouri March 6, 1909 March 4, 1913 William Howard Taft
See also: United States Secretary of Commerce and United States Secretary of Labor

See also
  • United States Bureau of Fisheries, a component of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor

Notes and references
  1. "Burr Cuts Wasteful Spending, Improves Efficiency by Combining Dept. of Labor and Commerce | U.S. Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina". www.burr.senate.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  2. "S.1116: Actions & Votes". Retrieved November 10, 2011.
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