The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-24
HANDICAP TO TRADE.
Why America Does Not Sell More
manufactures In Europe

Frank d. Hiu. the United States Con
Svl at Amsterdam. has forwarded 90 the
State Department a copy of letter re-
ceived by him from an American trading
company al that city The letter says
"Ouc Of the reasons for the small sal,
Of American furniture and other manu-
tlctures in Holland and European coun-
tries in general is the slow delivery, ow-
ing 90 the absence u stock in the fac
tories.
We ordered on February Z OF this
year few gross of cots from "A Wiscuu-
sin firm, and sold out in the meantime
our old stock. expecting the new supply
20 the beginning of July As We did not
hear anything from the firm We cabIcd
in August and received a letter saying
that the company would start work on
oar order We had booked number OF
orders from here and from Germany and
France for those cots. and we cannot sup
ply them
The same happened with Office desks.
our desk man promised to ship the 900
desks ordered about August 10 to Is. At
the end Of August We received a cable
gram To instruct our banker TO pay
against shipment documents. We cabIed
our New York banker the same day. but
no desk has been shipped yet These mat
tiers speak for themselves.
As to European limitations Of Ameri-
can specialties. we can state that they
are not cheaper than American goods.
and are Of very bad workmanship. But
we are sure. if We showed this people
their faults and supported the home
trade, they would work as well as manu-
facturers in the United States. and We
would not need 10 send money three
months before We saw the goods; on tho
contrary. we would pay three months
after invoice
Again, We received 100 cash registers.
which we despatched directly from the
steamer 10 a customer in Germany Near
ly all arrived broken. SO that he refused
the shipment. The goods are warehOusCd
for our account in Germany; the German
duty is paid, and we do not know what
10 do. because the goods were paid for "a
long time ago in America. The Ameri-
can manufacturer VIII not give us any al
lowauce. and our German customer has
the right To refuse the registers This
means loss for us of about g. 400. and
il does not encourage Us TO do further
trade with that firm.
we have had an offer from a British
house to take goods on consignment The
To pay for all advertising That would be
the way for Americans TO do business.
United States manufacturers do not un-
dsrstand how TO treat European dealers
We never receive the goods al the right
time, We also think. If we give bankers
guaranty In New York. the manufacturers
could take the risk OF sending the goods
payable against shipment documents iu
Holland. instead of New York.
We do not think American exporters
VIII ever be- willing 10 send stock on con-
sigument. but IL would be 10 their inter
est to keep samples in Europe and Am
sterdam would be the right place. being
on the seac0ast and the centre of ueU-
tral country
We are sure. If We could keep a perma-
nent exhibition of American goods here
large buyers Of Europe would come TO
examine tn, IA. and much trade could be
done We would be prepared TO give
American manufacturers every security
Commenting on the letter. Mr. Hill
SAYS
The fact noted in this letter. that the
Netherlands is q neutral country. is
very Important There is no identity Of
interest between the Netherlands and any
other European country. consequently
her tariff system is not likely 20 be af-
tected 10y any legIslatfn1 on the part Of
her ueigEbOrS. and as she is not an indus
trial or manufacturing nation 10 any ex-
tent and her interests are almost eNcIu-
sively commercial. her policy is not eN-
pected - be unfaEOrabl- % the entrance
Of American or any other imports"