§ 4. — Duties of Commissioner in general.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 29USC4]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER 1--LABOR STATISTICS
SUBCHAPTER I--BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Sec. 4. Duties of Commissioner in general
It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to
ascertain 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. He shall also establish a system of reports by which, at
intervals of not less than two years, he can report the general
condition, so far as production is concerned, of the leading industries
of the country. He 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. He
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.
(June 13, 1888, ch. 389, Sec. 7, 25 Stat. 183; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350,
Sec. 1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, Sec. 3, 37 Stat. 737; May
29, 1928, ch. 901, Sec. 1(110), (111), 45 Stat. 994.)
References in Text
The customs laws, referred to in text, are classified generally to
Title 19, Customs Duties.
Codification
Section is from act June 13, 1888. Act June 13, 1888, also contained
other provisions relating to duties of former Commissioner of Labor to
ascertain cost of producing, in leading countries, articles dutiable in
United States, comparative cost of living, etc., which have been omitted
from this section because of act Aug. 23, 1912, transferring those
duties to Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Act Aug. 23, 1912, transferred the duty of former Commissioner of
Labor to ascertain the cost of producing, in leading countries, articles
dutiable in the United States, the profits of the manufacturers and
producers of such articles, the comparative cost of such articles,
comparative cost of living in such countries, what articles are
controlled by trusts and the effect they have on prices and production,
to the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Text of said act is set
out as section 172 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
Act Mar. 4, 1913, authorized the substitution of ``Commissioner of
Labor Statistics'' for ``Commissioner of Labor''.
Amendments
1928--Act May 29, 1928, repealed provisions requiring reports to
Congress on investigations required by this section, and is authority
for omission of ``and report as to'' after ``ascertain'' in first
sentence and ``and report thereon to Congress'' at end of third sentence
relating to information from foreign nations, and convict made goods.
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies
of Department of Labor, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor,
with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, Secs. 1, 2, 15
F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government
Organization and Employees.
