The times., 1897-08-01

There S an air of new life and industry
about the Bureau Of American Republics,
even III the oppressive atmosphere Of mid
summer. The splendid publication whose
compilation began nearly seven years ago,
"The Code of Commercial Nomenclature"
which includes more than 5000 words
and terms used in South and Central
American trade, is nearing a successful
completion. The Spanish English AMI Por-
tugese-Euglish, volumes Q and 3, have al
ready been issued by Mr.. Joseph p. Smith,
the neY director, and revised edition or
the English-Spanish-p Portuguese part vel
une l, is now III pIoss and Will be ready
for distribution on September L. The work
VIII undoubtedly be promptly recognized by
MI the countries OF the American Interna-
tional Union as the standard and official
guide in making bills OF lading, invoices
and other important trade papers. Al
though the tariff bill has been In opera
ton for less than four days the bureau
has ready for distribution copies of the
bill III feui languages English, French,
Spanish and PortuGese and is busy send
ing them to the South and Central Amer
lean countries, where there is a large
demand for them. There s also q demand
for the law printed i'll foreign languages
in this country, and the bureau is filling
numerous orders for them.
Mr. Smith, the director OF the bureau,
also has in preparation two valuable new
handtooSs and hopes TO have them ready
for delivery within a few weeks. These
are on Hawaii and Alaska. A this time,
when the excitement over the klondike
region is SO great, there have been many
inquiries atout ALASKA, and the issuing OF
the handbook ON Alaska viii not only
answer these questions, but give much val
Uable information about the entire Terri
tory.
Director Smith, In an interview about
the new tariff as it affected the work or
the bureau, said that il was naturally n
subject TO which he had given some thought,
but that he disliked to appear as airing
his personal opinions on any matter. u
am too new in the business" said he, "to
have graSped the details Of so important
subject but ! have 10 objection TO giving
my views of the Importance of the work
OF this bureau, If you think the readers of
The Washington Times will be at all in
terested in them. We are making good
progress, and am both inspired by the
opportunities for Icod service 10 the peo-
pie of Pan America and the encourage
ment we meet On every hand"
What is the policy you have mapped
out?'' was asked.
'Well, / could hardly claim originality
in that regard, but on taking charge OF
tine bureau, / became satisfied, at once
that the proper course to pursue for the
successful development OF its work was
TO adhere closely TO the wise reconlInen-
dations of the international American
conference, popularly known as the Pan
American Congress, which created it In
1890, and TO the general policy since
outlined by. the executive committee
representing the United States and tha
eighteen other governments that are
parties to the interna tional union. This
conference, il will be recalled, owes its
inception, inspiration, and much of its
wonderful success to James e. Blaine,
then Secretary OF State, who justly attached
the greatest Importance to tile cultivation
Of closer commercial and fraternal rela-
tions among the republics of the American
hemisphere Mr.. Blaine believed that the |
policy of reciprocity was the necessary
complement of protective tariff: and
that such reciprocity would reap for US
the largest results in the Latin American
countries producing food supplies and raw
materials which we need, and having no
manufactures to send us to enter into
competition with our own. He regarded
the countries to the south of us az our |
natural markets, and believed that fuller
and freer intercourse with them would |
result in securing to US a large share |
of the trade which, for many years, has |
been SO profitable to Europeans
What do You think of the outlook"
1T is most promising; trade In Pan |
America is greatly on the increase. The
operations OF the bureau in the past have |
undoubtedly been productive of much good !
but the measure of success achieved has |!
been more i'll the direction OF pointing |
out what might be accomplished in the |
future than in obtaining for US a great |
and striking increase of trade. The time |
has now come, in my opinion, when the |
bureau can be made Immediately and |
practically useful, not only to our own |
manufacturers and exporters but to the |
business interests of all the countries con- |
cerned. 1t should be remembered that un-
til very recent. period the Industries of |
the United States have been content with |
the home market, and the recent tariff |
legislation will probably have the effect |
OF securing the control of the home mar |
ket more exclusively to them, than here
tofore.
But the great increase in the productive |
capacity of our manufactures has resulted |
in the creation OF surplus of goods beyond |
the requirements Of our consumers which !!
must be disposed of in foreign markets. 1t |
is hot L