The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-30
PRAISE Fer THE coNsULs.
The President and Secretary Hay on
Our Commerce..


Our Commerce.
The President esterday transmitted to
the Senate the fo lowing letter from Sec
rotary Hay. ace mpanying a publication
of Commercial iations of the United
States With Foreign Countries"
I'm accordance with section 20s of the
Revised Statutes l have the honor to
transmit the Commercial Relations of the
United States With Foreign Countries
During the Year 1900, being the annual
and other reports of a comprehensive
character from the consular officers, to-
gether with similar deports from some OF
the diplomatic officers upon the Gustries
and commerce of foreign countrit1 These
reports We're prepared under special in
structions from this department, with the
object of laying before Congress, with the
least delay, a practically contemporan-
eous statement of the trade, not only of
the United States with the rest of the
world but of the various countries WITH
each other. This object, | am happy to
be able to say. has been accomplished
the date of transmission to Congress this
year having been advanced over the usual
time by a month, and realizing the Utmost
conditions of promPtitude compatible
with proper analysis of the latest re-
turns for the year 1900. So gratifying a
result indicates continued improvement in
the activity and zeal of our consular Off
GERS, as we'll in the system OF publish
ing and distributing their reports.
1T may be said. indeed. that while a
variety of propositions have been under
discussion for the improvement of the
consular service. the service has, to a
very considerable extent. improved itself.
and in winning frequent expressions of
commentator from business interests
which have received substantial aid, not
only from the published reports, but also
from the individual efforts of consular
officers to meet the growing requirements
of American industry and enterprise. The
practical character of the commercial in
formation obtained by our Consuls and
the celebrity with which 1t is given to
the public continue to excite the emula-
tion OF foreign Governments, and during
the past year steps have been taken by
both Great Britain and Germany to en-
graft these features OF our consular work
upon their consular systems.
The general conclusion to be drawn
from survey OF the conditions in foreign
countries. as described in the reports
herewith presented, is that the United
states is approaching, even more swiftly
than vas expected, position of eminence
in the worlds markets due to superior
quality and greater .cheapness of many
lines of its manufactures. which must
work great economic changes and may re-
suit in shifting the centre not only of in
dustrial. but of commercial activity and
the money power of the world to our
marts. The trade Indications of American
supremacy during the past year have been
so marked that many foreign Industries.
according to the reports OF our Consuls in
Europe, are introducing American ma
chinery and labor-saving appliances and
Temodeling their factory methods, and We
may expect in the near future a more
strenuous competition for which it is i'm
portant we should prepare ourselves. AS
an aid to such equipment the study of the
great mass of information to foreign
industries and trade conditions which is
to be found in the two volumes of Com
mercial Relations will obviously prove
most useful to our manufacturers and eX-
porters, and | therefore recommend that
Congress be requested to authorize. as
was done last year. the printing OF spe-
cial edition of 1000 copies of the Review
of the Worlds Commerce and 5000 copies
of Commercial Relations
In his message transmitting Secretary
Hays request, the President called at
tention to the growing share OF the
United States in International trade.
which, he says, is even more marked this
year than last. Commenting on the gen
eral efficiency of the consular service, the
President said the promptitude with
which the reports of the Consuls are
printed and distributed; the generous
recognition which was being increasingly
accorded by the business interests of the
United States to the practical value of
their efforts for enlargng trade, and the
continued testimony of competent foreign
authorities to the general superiority of
their commercial work. had naturally had
stimulating effect upon the consular
corps as a whole, and experience in the
discharge of their duties added greatly to
their efficiency.
1t was gratifying 10 be able to state
that the Improvement in the service fol-
lowing closely upon the steady progress
in expediting the publication of reports
has enabled the Department OF state this
year to submit the annual reports
month in advance of the usual time. and
to make them as nearly as possible
contemporaneous picture of the trade OF
the world. In view of the great impor-
lance Of these reports to American pro-
ducers, manufacturers. exlarters, ami
business interests generally'she endorses
the recommendation OF Secretary Hay for
printing additional copies.