Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12
WISH OF BUSINESS MEN
CONSULAR SERVICE REoRoANI.
EATON DESIRED.

Although the Hardware Manufacturers
Association. which has Just ended It's con-
vefiton. passed resolution recommending
the reorganization of the consular service
ION business lines" the association went
into no details as to the changes that 1t
wanted or the things 1t expected of the
government in the extension OF American
markets abroad. In speaking of the matter
to Star reporter. Mr.. c. w. Asbury of
Philadelphia. the first vice president of
the association, said that the resolution
was passed simply with the idea of showing
the government that the meeting was in
sympathy with the movement to get more
commercial good out of the consular service
and to stimulate the Association of Manu-
faetlrers, which is a much larger body than
the Hardware Association. to make some
concrete suggestion to the government.
Better Results Desired.
Mr. Asbury said that the hardware men
in general were pleased with the progress
that had been made in improving the con-
suIar service. At the same time. he said. Ii
was not yet UP to the point of giving the
best results. A good showing was made
in the daily consular reports, and they were
distributed to the manufacturing exporters
and read with great deal of interest, but
there were still a good many consular posts
commercial information. He did not think
IL unreasonable to expect accurate perlodi-
cal reports from all consuls on the COM
mercial possibilities of the localities where
they were stationed. He thought this much
should be exacted from all consuls, and
where 1t was found that the consul did not
produce the information 1t was only good
business to replace him with man who
would furnish it.
Mr.. Asbury's Observations
Mr. Asbury said that in travelling he had
seen good deal of the consular system,
and there were some instances where "A
change could be made with great advan-
tage, owing to personal unfitness and dissl-
patton. This, however, was being gradual
~ corrected, and he felt that the depart
ment was working along the right lines to
bring about a thorough reform.
AS to the shortcomings of American man.
ufacturers, Mr.. Asbury said he must admit
that in good many cases they were decid-
eddy remss, both in working up foreign
trade and in holding it after il was worked
up. There were a good many manufactur-
ers, he said, who packed for the foreign
markets as they would pack for a ship
ment from Philadelphia to New York
Goods arrived damaged and trade was hurt
Behind Germany and England.
He said also that American manufacturers
were decidedly behind German and British
houses in catering to the wants of foreign
customers. American merchants wanted to
sell what they had rather than to make
what the foreign customer wanted.
great deal of carelessness and ignorance
was also displayed in shipping, especially
for South American countries. where much
of the transportation had to be done on
mueback or hanback,. In such cases
goods had to be packed in small packages.
and, IL necessary. in the case of large ma
oh bod 70 lsa into antlU cd
down and packed to avoid great incOnven-
fence and expense to the consignee at the
other end.
The matter of commercial representatives
of the individual firms abroad was now, he
said, receiving more consideration than it
had done in the past Many of the first
class colleges and universities were estab-
fishing commercial courses.
But the number of competent foreign rep
resentatives was still limited In the case
of his own firm, he said, they still had to
pick up the best men they could. any way
they could, as there were very few properly
trained men turned out from the schools