The evening times., 1899-12-05
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
The Work OF American Agents
Abroad


noted in the work Of the diplomatic an
consular officers in collecting information
as to the industries and commerce of othe
countries and in the care and promptitud
with which their reports are printed ant
distributed, has continued during the pas
year, with increasingly valuable result
in suggesting new sources of demand fo
American products and in pointing out tht
obstacles still to be overcome In faci,i.
tating the remarkable expansion OF oul
foreign trade. 1t will be doubtless be graf.
flying to Congress to learn that the various
agencies Of the Department of Stata are
cooperating in these endeavors with q
zeal and effectiveness which are not on
receiving the cordial recognition OF oui
business interests but are exciting the EN-
ulaticn of other Governments. In any re-
arrangement of the great and complicated
work of Obtaining official ca. o. an econom-
ic character which Congress may undertake
it is most important, in my Judgment, tn.-t
the results already secured by the efforts
of the Department OF State should be care
fully considered with view to judicious
development and increased utility to our
export trade.
The interest taken by the various States
forming the international Union of Anne. l.
can Republics in the work of its organic
bureau is evidenced by the fat that for
the first time since its creation in 1850 all
the Republics of South and Central Amer
fca are now represented in 1t.
Union of American Republics.
The unanimous recommendation OF the
International American Conference, pro-
viding for the International Union OF
American Republics, stated that it siould
continue in force during a term OF ten
years from the date of its organization.
and no country becoming member OF tie
union should cease to be member uni
the end of said period of ten years. and un-
less twelve months before the expiration
of said period majority Of the members
OF the union had given to the Secretary of
State of the United States official notice
of their wish to terminate the union at tee
end of its first period. that the union
should continue TO be maintained for an
other period of ten years, and thereafter.
under the same conditions, for successive
periods of ten years each.
The period for notification expired on
July IA, 1899, without any of the members
having given the necessary notice or with
drawal. Its maintenance is therefore as
sured for the next ten years. In view Of
this fact and of the numerous questions
of general interest and common benefit TO
all of the republics of America, some OF
which were considered by the first Inter-
national American Conference, but not
finally settled, and others which have
since then grown to Importance, it would
seem expedient that the various Republics
constituting the Union should be invited
TO hold at an early date another conference
in the capital of one of the countries other
that the United States, which has already
enjoyed this honor.
The purely international character of
the work being done by the bureau and
the appreciation of its value are further
emphasized by the active cooperation
which the various governments of the
Latin American Republics and their di-
plomatic representatives in this capital are
now exhibiting and the Jealous eDdeayors
they are making to extend Its field Of use
fulness, to promote through it commercial
Intercourse and strengthen the bonds of
smity and confidence between its various
members and the nations of this conti-
nent.
The Pnn-American Exposition.
The act to encourage the holding OF the
Pan-American Exposition on the Niagara
frontier. within the county of Erie or
Niagara, in the State of New York, in the
year 1901, Was approved on March g. 1899.
This exposition, which will be held in
the great Niagara cataract, and within a
days journey of which reside 40. 000, 900
of our people, will be confined entirely to
the Western Hemisphere. Satisfactory
assurances have already been given by the
diplomatic representatives of Great Britain
Mexico, the Central and South American
republics. and most of the States of the
United States that these countries and
States will make an unique. interesting,
and instructive exhibit, peculiarly Illus
trative of their material progress during
the century which is about to close.
The law provides an appropriation of
100000 for the purpose of making an ex-
hibit at the exposition by the Government
of the United States from its executive
departments and from the Smithsonian
Institution and National Museum, the
United States Commission Of Fish and
Fisheries. the Department of Labor, and
the Bureau of the American Republics
To secure complete and harmonious ar |
rangement Of this Government exhibit |
board of management has already been |
created, and charged with the selection, |
purchase, preparation, transportation, ar |
rangement, and safe-keeping OF the articles |
and materials to be exhibited This board |
has been organized and has already entered |
upon the performance OF its duties as
provided for by the law
i have every reason to hope and believe |
that this Exposition will tend more firmly |
to cement the cordial relations between the
nations on this continent.
The Philadelphia EXPEDITION.
In accordance with an act OF Congress
approved December 81, 1898 and under the
auspices of the Philadelphia Commercial
Museum, a most interesting and valuable |
exposition of products and manufactures
especially adapted to export trade was held |
in Philadelphia from the 14th Of September
to the LIST OF December, 1899. The repre-
sentative character of the exhibits and the |
widespread interest manifested in the spe-
cial objects Of the undertaking afford re-
newed encouragement to those who look
confidently to the steady growth OF our
enlarged expectation of manufactured
goods which has been the most remarka-
BILE fact in the economic development Of the
United States in recent years. A feature
OF this exposition which is likely to be-
come OF permanent and increasing utility
TO our industries is the collection of sam
piles OF merchandise produced in various
countries with special reference to partic-
ular markets, providing practical object
lessons to United States manufacturers as
to qualities, styles, and prices of goods
such as meet the special demands of cen |
eumers and may be exported with ajvan-
tage.
In connection with the Exposition an In
ternational Commercial Congress was held, |
upon the Invitation of the Philadelphia
Commercial Museum, transmitted by the
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