Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-20

Hearing on the Bill Providing for n
Com an issiOn.

Hearing on the Bill Providing for n
COmmissiOn.
The Senate committee on commerce today
gave a hearing upon the bill introduced
by Senator Gallinger providing for COM
mission to study and make full report
upon the commercial and industrial condi-
ton of China and Japan. with view of
incl easing commerce of the United States
in those countries.
John Barrett, ex-minister to Siam, and
George F. Page of Boston made arguments
yesterday in favor Of the bill. Prof. Wilson
made an argument in favor of the bill in
troduced by Senator Penrose for adding
to and completing specimens of productions
to be exhibited in the museums of Phila-
delphia.
Mr. Barrett urged the Gallinger bill on
the ground that all European countries
were now bending their energies as never
before to develop and control the Asiatic
markets. All other important commercial
nations had sent commissions whose re-
ports had admittedly been most beneficial.
While our consus were doing good work
each in his sphere a careful collective and
comparative report was needed on China,
Japan. Siam. Corea, Siberia and the Phil
ippines, showing specifically just what the
Asiatics want and will buy, and under
what conditions such trade can be best
developed The entire far east is in a
mood now to buy Of US in vast quantities
IL we improve the situation. While our
total exports there do not now exceed $780,
5000, the work of the commission should
show the way of increase in ten years to
at least s258.o08.000. II the demands Of
China are met as her interior ia opened,
the United States should in the course of
the next thirty years provide the major
portion of China's possible imports of $780,
00o000, for If the ratio per head Of the
foreign trade of Japan. SO, is applied to
Chinas population at q most conservative
astir 70 of har itrr,
exchange of commerce exports and i'm
ports should eventually reach $500. 900 $50,
half of which would be imports. AS to the
text of the bill, Mr.. Barrett suggested that
there be three or four instead Of five COM
missieners as too many. from experience
OF European commissions. would be cum
bersome: that there be a chief commits
sioner with associates instead OF four or five
CT equal rank, with no responsible head,
and who would surely disagree as to allot-
ment and conduct of the work.
Mr.. Page, in the course of his argument
said: 1.-THE expansion Of our commerce. Is
platform upon which all parties may
stand. Next to our home markets, those
now rapidly opening in China hold, by far
the largest promise. The American manu-
facturers and merchants are greatly lack
Ing in their knowledge of the men with
whom and the conditions with which they
have to deal; and until the needed infor
nation is acquired the columns of figures
must continue to show against US. Among
the mistakes that result from ignorance
are the sending of goods that, in kind or
in some defect of manufacture, are not
suitable to that market. There are also
improper methods of packing and wrong
shipping. In the mismanagement of our
business, many of the American goods are
not brought properly to the attention of
the Chinese merchants. nor kept before
them in a persistent, business-iike fashion
First, we need a complete knowledge. in
detail, of the demands, conditions and the
possibilities of our trade in that empire
There is SO much at stake that this knowl-
edge cannot be too comprehensive: the
danger lies in superficiality.'