Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-17

tribution Of commercial information" At the
suggestion of Mr.. Romero, minister from Mex
leo to the United States. it WIS further recon-
mended that the international union be repre-
scented by n bureau to be established in the city
of Washington, under the supervision OF the
Secretary Of State OF the United States, and to
be charged with the care OF all transac tons and
publications, and with all correspondence per-
tanning to the international union, this bureau TO
be called "The commercial bureau OF the Amerl-
can republics" This bureau is therefore an |
international bureau and represents the Cen
trail and South American republics, Mexico and
the United States.
According with the recommendation OF the
conference. Congress advances annually the
sum necessary for the support Of the bureau.
and at the end Of the fiscal year the various re-
publics pay their share Of the amount. in pro-
portion to their population. In the first year
Congress appropriated the sum OF S3G. 600. the
amount estimated as necessary by the confer
ence. but this appropriation was reduced In the
following year to $50 600.
GOVERNMENTS IN THE UNION.
The following table contains a list Of the gov
ernments comprising the international union:
Hayti. Peru, Uruguay. Argentine. Paraguay,
Honduras, Bolivia. Venezuela Salvador, Nicara-
qua, Guatemala, Colombia. Costa Rica, Brazil,
Mexico, United States, Chile, Ecuador. This
union is to continue in force for term OF ten
years, dating from the day Of Its organization.
and If the members agree at the end OF that
term that the union snail be extended for
another ten years it shall be con.
the republics is necessary to change or modify
any OF the rules or plans which have been
agreed upon for the guidance and proper con-
duct Of the bureau. As the bureau has become
such an important factor In the extension OF
commercial relations between the republics. it
il likely to be permanent organization. en-
couraging commerce and trade. and dssemi-
hating knowledge of the condition and pros
poets OF the countries concerned.
CODE OF COMMERCIAL NOMENCLATURE.
One of tine most important branches Of work
which the bureau has undertaken. tho idea OF
which was suggested by Mr. Romero, the Next
can minister. is the preparation OF code OF
commercial nomenclature, list OF articles OF
merchandise in common use which are desig-
mated in alphabetical order in equivalent terms
in English Spanish and Portuguese; this list is
to be published in each Of the three languages
and to be used respectively by all the American
governments. This will greatly facilitate COM
merce among the republics, for common ar
ticles of every day use are known by different
names in nearly every one OF the South Ameri-
can governments. So much confusion and loss
has arisen from this cause as to impede COM
merce most seriously and 1t is hoped
that this code OF nomenclature will simplify the
present difficulties and will promote and facil-
| suits and mutual benefit.
The work of the nomenclature was begun i'm
| mediately after the organization OF the bureau
| in 1880. and has since been carried on without
| cessation by Messrs. J. X. Chandler and j. c.
| Redmau. The English portion OF the nomen-
claturc has been practically finished, ana the
Spanish and Portuguese parts are being pushed
| TO completion rapidly. There will be not less
than 40, 900 words in the completed code In
addition to the appropriation granted for the
support of the bureau Congress, in view Of the
| Importance Of the completion OF the nomencla-
ture. voted special sum Of o.. 900 in 1891 and
$40. coo in 1892 for the carrying forward OF the
| work.
Instances are numberless in the great import
ing cities OF costly errors and exasperatins de-
Laws occasioned by want OF a commercial
nomenclature officially recognized. Here is an
instance Of the case in point: A recent United
States consul in Venezuela mentions curious
| case Of mistransation which resulted in a Sc
rious loss to Laguayra importer. The latter
had sent to "a New York commission house for
100 dozen 'azadas, and the merchant having
no Spanish clerk in his house sent the order fol
TRANSLATION to a young clerk in the vicinit!
whose knowledge OF English photography wa
somewhat defective. and who TRANSLATED
'.azadns" as ''hose" instead Of "hoes." The
order was filled accordingly, and tho Venezuela
importer was deluged with 'azadas" Of n kline
he had not looked for and forced to pay
heavy duty on 100 dozen stockings which h
had not ordered.
PUBLICATIONS ISSUED.
Since January, 1891, there have been pub
lished by the bureau three hand books of
general character, each one replete with map:
and illustrations, and full Of valuable informa
ton concerning all the nations and colonies il
America Among the interesting contents o
, these hand books may be found a complete lis
} OF the diplomatic and consular representative
OF the United States and the American repub
lies: also a graphic description Of each of tn
, republics, including facts about their govern
, ment, population, army and navy. religion, ed
v ucaton resources and products. railways ant
' telegraphs, banking commerce, money, weight
and measures, patent laws, port charges, con
sular fees and regulations, travellers guide
steamship lines cable and freight rates an
postal guide. Tho index is full and complete
The appearance OF the hand books is attractive
8 the paper il good and the type large and clear
8 The hand book on Brazil contains twelv
: chapters, descriptive and historical, includin
the constitution of Brazil and the reciprocal ar
: raugemeuts with the United States; also
o directory OF all the merchants and manu-
y facturers of Brazil and table Of tariff duties
~ map and numerous illustrations add to til
. interest Of the book. The hand books o
. Mexico. Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala an
Costa Rica are modeieo alter the sam
. pattern.
y Commercial directories Of all the countrie
II have been compiled and published and til
l. bureau deserves no little credit for this wOrl
o though in many. respects incomplete.
n necesstated an enormous correspondence an
% the classifying in alphabetical order b
o countries and occupations OF all the names
q merchants contained therein. These directorit
9 are constantly being improved and enlarge
and are in great demand by merchants an
g shippers they being furnished FREQ Of cost.
/ Appended to the commercial directory
= Mexico is a newspaper directory, and an offici
n directory containing a list of the executi,
n officers and the members Of congress, with the
~ addresses.
a Among other interesting publications Of Il
y bureau NAV be mentioned 'Breadstuffs
Latin America" "Mnes and Mining Laws
Latin America" Commercial Informatit
Concerning the American Republics and CO
onies," Newspaper Directory Of Latin Anne
ica."
Bulletins as soon as published are sent to
the prominent commercial organizations, boar
of trade, produce exchanges, merchants al
manufacturers. Tho reports Of the bureau a
sent to the libraries and educational bureaus.
MANY of these bulletins have been translate
into the Spanish language for the convenien
of those who do not understand English, Al
tho tariff duties in force i'll the republics ha
been published in English and Spanish In p;
allel columns
VALUABLE LIBRARY.
The front room on the first floor OF the off
Of the bureau is the reception room, wht
IL ~