New-York tribune., 1903-03-02
TO AID BRITISH TRADE
Proposition to Hare Ministry Of
Commerce Created.

Washington March | (SpeciaD.-The creation
of a Department of Commerce in the Cniteo
states has awakened great interest in other
countries. and especially in Great Britain. where
our active but friendly rivalry in the "orIds
markets is a subject of much attention, and the
appointment of q Minister of Commerce for the
United Kingdom is being urged. The LONDON
Chamber Of Commerce Journal" the Official Or
gan of the London Chamber OF Commerce. IN
a recent issue says:
In this country the opinion was for long held
that the best way to assist trade was to IeaTe
If severely alone and to rely upon the foresight.
skill and energy OF our merchants anu manu-
facturers to maintain our pre-eInlnent plo posIuon
in the worlds markets. LatteriY. however
there has been a tendency to direct the aiten-
ton Of Parliament more and more to CONNER
cial matters. 1t is unquestionable that the Idea
Is rapidly gaining In strength that IN many oi'
rectiops considerably more attention ana aS'
aistance might be given BY the State to e1tenains
trade than Is at present accorded. In Saying
this the fact is not overlooked that OF recent
years commercial questions have received III
creasing attention from the government Out
the feeling is rapidly growing i'll intensity that
what is really wanted IS that they shouIu Dc
intrusted to a minister with fuH Caolnet @ rSlA1
who must himself be a business man, and whose
sole duty shall be to watch over, roster anu
support the vast trading and Industrial inter-
tense rivalry in trade: our merchants and manu-
facturers face to face with the keenest com COM
petition that has ever been known ana 'l'''
competition is daily developing.
Is it not remarkable, in view or the nagniIuoe
Of the interests involved, that the United hlng-
dom-the greatest manufacturing and CONNER
cial nation in the world-has not in the Cabinet
a minister Of commerce? In the United states,
which may be looked upon as our most formida-
bic competitor, and whose people are keenly
alive to the necessities of modern commerce. the
need for such minister has already been fully
recognized. Surely, Great Britain cannot az
ford to lag behind. It rests with the business
men of this country to present a united front IN
through their commercial organizations. in such
manner TO command the support OF the
government and the nation. That the conyic-
ton Of the need for this appointment Is Steadily
gaining ground appears to be undoubted- Sew
eral chambers of commerce have already ex-
pressed themselves in unmtstakable terms in
favor of the proposal while the London and
Halifax chambers have decided TO move reSolu-
tions in support thereof at the annual meeting
of the Associated Chambers, to be held IN Lon
don next March. Thus will be afforded an OPP
portunity OF obtaining definite pronouncement
Of the views Of the eneral body Of commercial
men throughout the kingdom, which cannot fail
to materially influence the end in view.
Those who ask for the appointment of a min-
lister of commerce do not do so in any spirit OF
complaint animosity against the Board OF
Trade. but because they believe that the in
terestS of the country would be best served by
the establishment of the desired ministry. There
is no inclination to disparage the good work
performed by the department.. which has rem
dered great services to commerce. Few people
are aware of the varied duties intruSted to the
care of the Board OF Trade: but If mention Is
made Of some of the most important, such as the
regulation and control of shipping. fisheries and
harbors, labor and arbitration in labor disputes
the safeguarding of the public interest In re-
gard to railways, the conduct of bankruptcy
laws the collection and dissemination of par
ticulars as to tariff alterations and other COM
mercial information some idea will be gained OF
the magnitude OF the interests with which IL
deals: and yet the department which has charge
Of ali these important commercial matters Is
not on an equality with other government de-
partTuents, like the Home ONCE and the Foreign
once. It's head only receiving remuneration
amounting to about two-fifths Of that OF 4
principal Secretary Of State. What is wanted
for connmerce ia = department. which shall be In
a position to give its undivided attention to the
furtherance OF commercial interests only, so
that the distinction between board OF trade
as now existing and q ministry OF commerce az
proposed, IL not a mere matter Of words, but
constitutes vital difference in principle.