Evening star., 1897-01-07

eO.
State of the United States, subject to ex-
aminations similar to those prescribed by
the rules of the United States civil service
commission. 1t was also provided that pro-
motions and dismissals shall be governed
by the same general rules, and the director
was deprived of all power in such matters.
In the words of one of the members. the
only appointments left to the discretion OF
the director are those OF janitors, messen-
gers, porters, etc.
An Executive Committee.
A permanent executive committee was
created, composed Of five of the represen-
tatives of the American nations constitut-
ing the union so created that the incum-
bency shall be rotative among all the MEM
bers, the Secretary of State of the United
States being ex-officio a member at all
times. This committee is to act as board
of supervision of the administration of the
bureau, and to have control OF all appoint
ments expenditures, etc. The committee
as at present organized consists of Secre-
tary Olney and the diplomatic representa-
tives Of Mexico, Brazil. Venezuela and the
Argentine Republic.
1t has been further ordered that the
monthly bulletins and handbooks or mono
graphs shall have reference especially to
commercial affairs, as customs duties,
transportation budgets, statistics and to
any matters relating to commerce and in
dustries in general of the nations forming
the union, and, besides, geographical in
and any subject that may extend knowl-
edge of the econ omic conditions and re-
sources of said nations
Authority for Advertisements.
The authority TO admit advertisements
to the pages of the publication of the bu-
reau is contained in section of the new
rules as follows: In conformity with the
practice of several nations, both in Amer
lea and Europe, the director of the bu-
reau, under the general direction of the
executive committee, is authorized to ar
range for the insertion of private adver-
tisements in the publications made by the
bureau. The rates paid for their inser-
ton shall be uniform for all the coun-
tries of the union.' This action was
taken on the stated theory that 1t would
serve the double purpose of enabling man
ufacturers to reach wide circle OF poss,-
lie customers and create revenues that
would go long ways toward meeting the
expenses Of the bureau.
AS a result of this action Director Fur
bish proceeded along the lines Of his orig
inal plans Of several months previous; ana
for the first time the October bulletin,
which was not published, however, until
a short time ago. contained several pages
of private advertisements. The practice
will be continued in the November and
December bulletins, shortly to be issued,
and in subsequent numbers.
A Post Office Ruling.
The delay in the issue of the current
bulletins Is due to the unexpected action
Of Postmaster General Wilson. Heretofore
all publications of the bureau have gone
through the mails free of postage, as Of
fetal matter, under the frank of the Sec
retary of State. In the case OF the Octo-
ber number. containing the private ad-
vertisements, the postal authorities have
decided that it is not a purely government
document and is subject to postage as sec
a1a ffnr fh0
journals. This ruling was based entirely
on the advertising features of the bulletin.
It was a decided set back to the projectors
of the scheme, but will not In itself prevent
its continuance. Time alone can tell
whether the advertising business OF the
bureau will justify the additional expense
entailed by the payment OF postage on It's
publications 1t is an interesting contro-
versy and the result will be awaited with
interest.
AS is generally known, the commercial
lished in accordance with the recommends
tions of the International conference adopt
ed April ii, 1890. The object of the bureau
was "a prompt collection % ana r. aistrlou.Gn sur VI On
organized under an association with the
title "The American Union OF American
Republics" The bureau was to be the ON.
cial representative Of the republics of
America in the city Of Washington. under
the supervision of the Secretary OF State,
and fits organ was to be publication en-
titled ''bulletln OI tHe VI <AiiciiSdi
Republics" These bulletins were to be
printed in English, Spanish and Portu-
guese. Their contents were to consist OF
the customs tariffs Of the various countries
belonging to the union, with such changes
of the same as might occur; official regu-
lations as to shipping and imports and ex-
ports OF the countries represented; instruc-
tions to customs officials: statistics Of COM
merce and domestic trade, and other in
formation of interest to merchants and
shippers of the countries represent
ed. The expenses of the bureau are
betrayed by the governments represented
in 1t. In a ratio based upon the population
of each. The cost. Of its maintenance was
originally fixed at $4,000 a year; but 1: is
understood that this Limitation has been
removed It is claimed by the opponents
of the present policy that although the
publications are fewer In number ana less
In extent, the clerical force now employed
is nearly twice as great and the expenses
much heavier than was the case during the
administration OF Mr.. William E. Curtis
the first director 81 the bureau.
Future Prospects.
There Is much diversity of opinion con-
cerning the prospects of Mr.. Furbish, the
present head OF this institution. It is
agreed on all sides, however, that his con-
tinuance IN ONCE depends entirely upon