The times., 1898-12-27

Aid in Japan-Russia Very Active.
The State Department has just pub
iished number OF interesting reports
from various consular officers in refer
ence to the policies adopted by differ
ent governments to extend foreign COM
merce. These reports come from the
consuls general In France. Belgium.
Great Britain, the Netherlands. Germany.
Austria Hungary. Switzerland. Russia
and Japan.
France, England. Hungary, and, above
all. Germany, have experienced marked
development and improvement during the
last three years. Austria. on the other
hand, mas a crippled trade, and moves
slowly, without good prospect for L
ter times. Hungary, however, though be-
longing to the same empire, is deve.op-
ing its resources and industries rapid y,
and becoming more and more self-re-
liant and enterprising state.
In reference to the subject, Consul Cen
eral Hurst at Vienna says: THE chief
management OF commerce, industry, ship
ping, post, telegraph and telephone is in
the hands of the imperial and royal min
istry of commerce. The chambers Of
commerce encourage industry by support
ing technical schools, granting scholar
ships, substituting museums, institutes
and associations. The statistics of ex-
ports from Austria-Hungary are Oh
tanned by law which provides that all
shipments for export by rail, mail. or
otherwise must be accompanied by dec
larations as to their contents, nature.
quantity, origin and destination. All
ships belonging to the merchant marine
receive for Il term OF fifteen years an al
lowance. amounting for the first year 10
s2.4i per registered ton for steamships.
sl.S3 for iron or steel sailing vesseis, and
sl.22 for wooden sailing vessels. Further,
all ships passing to and from Austrian
ports receive, In the interests of home
trade. cents per registered ton and
trip allowance for every lV) marine miles
for term OF ten years.
The Belgian Policy.
Consul General Lincoln, at Antwerp.
Belgium, writes as follows: There is
not, In this country, a department devoted
solely TO the interests of commerce and in
dustry. The minister of finance issues
mon,nly an official bulletin, furnishing all
the particulars of the country's foreign
business and once a year a summary of
the commerce of Belgium with all foreign
countries. The Belgian government has
abandoned the policy OF granting subsidies
to the merchant marine. The government
has instituted. two schools for the study
of navigation. The economic policy OF
Belgium. highly protective from the year
of its emancipation, was changed to that
of the so-called "tariff-for-revenue-on
system In 1861 and so continued until 1854.
when the government. while disavowins
any change OF policy, laid an import duty
upon cattle and meats. Two years ago
an import duty was imposed on oats. but
ter etc. In regard 10 our country the feel
ing Is diversified in accordance with the
manner in which individual interests are
or have been affected by our economic
policy. Apparently the average foreigner
resents the idea that our nation should
be permitted TO leglslate In its own inter
est The facts that our Government levies
no direct taxes. that the greater part of
its income is raised by the collection of
duties on imports. and the average work
man enjoys a measure of prosperity un-
known elsewhere, seem to be wholly ig-
nored''
Consul General Gowdy, at Paris, says:
The French government, being protec-
ZIONIST to an extreme degree. extends re-
markabe support not only TO its COM
merce, but to its merchant marine Tech
nicai education has probably received
more attention in France than In any
other country with the exception, per-
haps of Germany. In many cases these
technical schools have received substan-
faI ut
There Is no question as TO the beneficial
Influence and the stimulus produced upon
technical schools and industries by the ac-
ton of the government. Although the
existing United States tariff is "A cause of
great complaint TO the French, their tariff
is in many cases absolutely prohibtive
TO American products or goods. Any in
crease in the United States is quickly
noted and is met by an immediate in
crease on something of Importance to the
United States"
Progress I'm Germany.
Former Consul General Julius Gold
schmidt, of Berlin, says: THE establish
ment and constant improvement of tech
meal and trade schools have revolution
led the scientific Industries of Germany,
which have outstripped even those OF
Great bTltaln anu FTduCe lue WOTh-
man in Germany is now in most cases
a scientifically, as well as a practically
educated man. The great increase in the
amount of German exports in this field
can be ascribed in a large degree to the
technical and trade schools. The senti-
ment in Industrial circles is one of faith
in the ability of Germany to compete
successfully for foreign commerce"
Consul General Osborne, of London,
says: THE board of trade is the statis-
tical department. 1t issues each month
a return of trade and navigation. 1t may
be said of British statistics, on the whole
that they are admirable in fuilness and
clear in arrangement. The competition of
the United States has not reached the
volume of that of Germany, nor has it
that, up to now, England has considered
peculiarly her own. 1t has not, therefore,
attracted quite the same attention; but
it is regarded with serious concern and
with a conviction that 1t is destined to
develop, in the near future, into impos-
ing dimensions. The subsidies granted to
ships by England are not called by that
name. They are known as payments
made for carrying the mails. Notwith-
standing the free-trade policy of Great
Britain, the competition of the United
States and Germany has become so keen
that the British government has been
pressed to take steps to protect home in
dustries."
The Success of Japan.
Consul General Convey, of Yokohama,