Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-20
OF Investigation in the
Foreign Trade Relations.
President Sends Lengthy Mes
sage in Support Of Bill.
Notifications Of the General Scheme
of Aggressive American Trade.

Washington, Jan. 19.--The President
today sent n message 10 the Senate
recommending favorable action on a
suggestion made by Assistant Score
tary LoomiS for cooperation by the de-
partmentS of state AMI commerce ana
labor in collecting Information concern
ing trade conditions in foreign COun-
tries. The President recommends that
provision be made for the appointment
OF six special agents 10 be called com
irercial attaches who shall visit the diff
lierent countries and make a study Of
industrial conditions with view to
suggestion notifications in the exist
ing plans Of our foreign commerce
The text of the Presidents message
is as follows:
II transmit herewith n communal
ton from the acting secretary Of state.
accompanied by reports from the dip
lomatic and consular officers upon the
feasibility of regular cooperation be
tween the two branches Of our foreign
service for the better promotion of
American industry 1n1 trade. Easing
mis- conclusions upon the views express
cd in these reports tn" acting secretary
recommends that provisions BE- made
for six special agents with the diplo-
matte rank and title of commercial at
tache, to be sent abroad to make prac-
teal trial of the proposed plan; to re-
port 10 the d aoartment of the state
conditions existing in different cOun-
tries which might suggest notifications
or changes in the genera. scheme; to
prepare for the department of com
merce and labor reports upon COM
merce and mAnufa lures. or upon q
more exhaustive ami comprehensive
character than is ordinarily obtainabIc
at present; and to visit consulates. ex-
anime their workings and suggest such
changes, either to :ht consular officer;
or to the department of state as would
tend &c the general Improvement AMI
strengthening # tn" service.
1T is proposed thai these agents
shall he chosrl primarily for their eX-
pert knowledge, bat shall not be mere
~ specialists. except for particular in
vestigations that might, from time to
time be required, bur praC teal men OF
affairs with the exp-rienc" best suited
to fit them for their executive duties
It is suggested thar the consular ser
vice might supply the best type of
agents desired. and, that for this rea-
son. and also because of the incentive
to mci il which would thus be provided,
should be made prefer
ably from among those consular Off
GERS. who have demonstrated their
special fitness and capacity.
1T will. in my opinion, be found upon
rxam lation that. while the measure
is Il modest and more or less
attentive one Involving comparatively
slight expense. il promises important
and far-reaching consequences in the
iudicirus strengthening Of our Who'll"
foreign service in the interest Of trade
and gradual development of capacities
in it, but impc:fcrtly aVaiIs.b BILE as yet |
To make it fully ADEQUATE to the de
mandS Of our productive energy as a |
nation.
agriculture in the United States has |
long bcrI, dependent for its prosperity |
upon the demand from abroad for its |
surplus products and Of late years our |
Industries have found |
that they We're nutstlipping the capaCi- |
ty Of even our cnorn Gus market and |
are npW looking NOR" and more to
foreign CONSUMPTION for relief from ac-
,umulating stocks. According to an |
,Stmate Of the department Of COM |
me roe and labor our exports of manu-
features in the "alcnda" year, 1904. will |
not only exceed The highest figures of |
any earlier yea. hut nay probably pass
the 500. coo. 900 line as against $43i.000.- !,
D0O in III, high record. the fiscal year |
1000. S131 .00o.uoo III $500. sos .000.o 600 in |
1850. $GS, 900 900 in 1870 ana $40,O00,O00 III |
1860
The magnitude and growth of this |
export movement from our workshops |
and factories are such as to suggest |
the grave Importance of providing it |
with all the official apparatus neces- |
sary to its full and free development. |
II is generally admitted that in recent |
years. the consular service whatever |
may be its defects of system, has de |
veloped a commercial utility which has |
been Of great practical value. 1t would |
be most regrettable. however. if this |
which has been b: ought |
about by the zeal and energy of indl- |
Nidual consuls. rather than by the eff |
forts of the service as Il whole and |
also To a Large extent by the special |
direction Of The department of state |
should be accepted as fully satisfying |
even of the present requirements not |
to speak of the respective demands |
of the rapidly expanding commerce. |
For this reason. | cordially commend |
10 tie considerations of Congress. the |
recommendations of the acting secrc-
tary of state looking to the gradual |
systematiZing and equipment of the |
whole foreign service, by simple and |
in expensive means. as an auxiliary, |
responsive at all points to what may |
be expected Of it by the |
great industrial and commercial in
terests which are 50 deeply concerned