Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-10-12
TRADE CONGRESS OF NATIONS.


Commerce of the Whole World Will
BE Represented at Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, Otc. 1.-THE I4terna-
tional Commercial congress-, composed
of delegates from most Of the civilized
governments of the world and repre-
sentatives from most of the important
chambers of commerce of all trade
centefs, will convene in the auditorium
of the National Export exposition here
on Thursday
Assistant Secretary Of State David
j. Hill will preside at the opening
ceremonies, which will begin at $3.50
o'clock. Mr.. Hill will deliver an address
of welcome to the foreign delegates.
The full diplomatic corps at Washing
ton will be present to give eclat to the
occasion and several members of the
cabinet will accompany Assistant Sec
retary Hill and take part in the days
exercises. The address of the assistant
secretary will he followed by speech
by Mayor Ashbridge, of this city, who
will welcome the members of the con-
gfess to the city and extend to them
the courtesies of the municipality.
In the morning, prior to the as
sembling of the congress, reception
Will be held at the city hall to the dele
gates and dignitaries gathered to par
ticipate in the opening exercises,
which will be of an elaborate charac-
ter and be attended by the leading
citizens of Philadelphia At the audi
forum. upon the conclusion of Mayor
Ashbridge's address, Charles III.
Cramp, president of the Philadelphia
Commercial museum, will formally
open the proceedings in an address eN-
planning the purpose and scope of the
congress. His address will be followed
by speech by Director w. p. Wilson,
who will enter into general an
nouncement of the future meetings of
the international gathering. President
Mckinley, who will be detained i'm
Chicago on account of his previous en-
gagement in that city, will, however,
personally participate in the opening
OF the congress by sending a message
Immediately upon the conclusion of
the other proceedings of the day, an
nouncing the sympathy of the United
States in the movement and extending
en- behalf of the government from its
executive head cordial greeting to
the delegates.
Curiously enough, among the dele
gates at the opening of the congress
will be a large number of representa-
tives from Spain. And one of the
most interesting figures among the
delegates will be the president of the
chamber of commerce of Manila
The congress will enter into a gem
eral discussion of the worlds trade,
with view to suggestions for the reg
ulation of foreign commerce in such
way as to provide for its greatest de-
velopment, consistent with native in
terest. The following general scope
of the discussions will convey a fair
idea of the purpose of the conven-
ton:
Foreign trade in general, including
questions of the establishment of in
ternational arbitration from a com
mercial standpoint and the establish
ment of international boards of arbi-
tration for the settlement of trade dis
putes.
The advantages of an extension of
international post facilities.
The discussion of the interoceanic
canal projects and the advantage to
nll nations of an isthmian canal.
international banking and currency.
including international banking in its
relation to trade and the need of in.
ternational laws concerning bank
rupts, patents and trademarks.
A discussion of the new spheres of
influence of the United States sug-
gested by the results of our recent wa1
with Spain.
Also inquiries into the future of the
British West Indies and the applica-
ton of the Monroe doctrine to Ameri-
can republics.
The question of an open door policy
in China, of the South African situa-
ton, of tariff policies, of shipping
subsidies, of trade prospects and of
the commercial outlook for the coming
century will be features of the meet
ings. The deliberations of the congress
will be in English, but no modern lam
guage will be excluded.
The congress will be absolutely dis
interested and the discussions will be
entirely free and unchecked.