The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-05
COLONY SYSTEMS STUDIED.
An Investigation by the Treasury
Bureau of Statistics.
SIR Austin Returns From Europe,
Where He Made Extensive Enquiry
Into the Natter-iOyy Dependencies
Are Stimulated by Governments.

With the adoption Of a new theory as
TO the exercise Of sovereignty over PEG
pie not part of the United States prop
ct the Administration is 1.-auifesting a
deep interest in study of the system
Of European monarchies in the govern
meut Of colonies
O P Austin Chief Of the Treasury
Bureau Of Statistics. has Just returned
from q brief visit to London. Paris, Ber-
lin Arnste rdan, and Brussels, where ne
went to make some statistical studies
regarding the commerce Of European
countries. and especially their commerce
with and development OF their colonies.
i was greatly impressed said Mr..
Austin with the interest evinced in CO.
IoniaI questions at all the capitals which
/ have visited. Each of these five coun-
tries has its colonial department or di-
vision with d thoroughly equipped force,
largely made up of men who have had
long experience in the colonies of the
countries In England the Colonial Once
at the home Government interchanges,
at intervals, its employees, as far as
practicable. with the colony, thus obtain
ing practical and experienced men in the
home office and keeping corps Of men
in training in the colonies In the Meth
erlands whose colonial work is a mat
1
of that country, the head Of the Colonial
Department has mad long experience in
Java, the principal NetherIand colony
and one which has been eminently sue
cessfuL In France the Colonial Depart
rnent is extremely active, obtaining large
numbers of reports from It's colonial Off
GERS and distributing information by
specially organized bureau for that pur-
pose. and in Germany and Belgium equal
interest was manifested
Everywhere I found great public in
teresU in colonial matters outside Of Off
ciaI circles. In London, for instance,
| there is a Colonial Institute, composed Of
several hundred ex-officiaIs of the colonies
and others interested In colonial matters,
which has a library Of nearly $1,000 vol
umes. and which is in close working re-
!ation with the library of the Colonial
Department, also containing $1,000 vol
umes The members Of the institute hold
monthly meetings for the discussion Of
| matters pertaining to the management,
commerce, statistics and prosperity Of
the colonies and their commercial rela-
/ lions with the mother country At Paris
| there is a colonial organization, with
! about 5000 members, some of whom have
| had experience in the colonies, others are
merchants and business men desiring to
! keep in constant touch with business con-
/ ditions and opportunities in the colonies,
/ and still others who are students Of colo
! NAL subjects from an economic stand
point In Germany. although their colo
NAL system is young as compared with
| those Of England Netherlands, or France,
/ the Colonial Association numbers over 20
/ 600 members, scattered throughout the
/ Empire. some Of whom are officers and
| e1-Officials. others connected with the
| army and navy, and many others who
/ are interested in the commercial and ag-
rIcuIturaI development of the colonies.
The study Of colonial conditions and
! development Of the colonies both as to
| products and commerce IS encouraged by
/ all the Governments which control ter
! ritory Of this character. The French Gov
| eminent maintains an educational insti-
ton devoted exclusively to colonial stud
les and the training Of men for the colo
| NAL service: admission 10 its classes is
obtained through competitive examina-
lions, the Serm OF study is three years,