Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-20
FOR FOREIGN TRADE
Major Carson, Chief Of Blu
reau of Manufactures,
GIVES HIS VIEWS ON IT
WHAT IS PLANNED BY SECRE-
TARY METCALF.
Valuable Information to Manufacture
ers and Exporters to Be Obtained
Through Special Agents.
GIVES HIS VIEWS ON IT

"The securing of foreign trade by any
country Is akin to war" said Major John
M. Carson, chief of the bureau Of manu-
features of the Department OF Commerce
and Labor. whom Secretary Metcalf re-
Gently placed in charge of the work Of
that important office. 1T Is struggle on
the part of every country to obtain the
greatest possible advantages In presenting
their wares In the best possible form In
all desirable markets. 1t Is necessary for
our people in securing foreign markets to
organize and maintain in the field perma-
nent force of competent men. We must
have our outpostS in every desirable for
egn field with base for supplies for IN
formation in such field and the whole sys-
tenn buttressed behind a general base or
bureau of information here in Washing
ton. 1t is the purpose OF this bureau 10
organize along such lines.
The bureau has just prepared and
placed in the hands of manufacturers and
exporters in various parts of the country
a circular letter calling upon them for de-
tailed information regarding their COM
modities for export, their capital, output
and system of doing business, all of which
information it is proposed to arrange in
the form of card indexes for reference pur-
poses. A practical utilization of this index
system will be to file them in the consular
offices of the United States in foreign coun-
tries, the cards to he printed in the Ian
guage of that country.
Thus. when a foreigner desires Informal
ton regarding American goods our consuls
will be supplied with Information directly
at hand. This system, taken in connection
with the fullest possible extension of the
present plan of publishing daily through
this bureau information which we receive
from cOnSuls and commercial agents, will
produce a close connection between the
foreign field and our exporting producers.
Secretary Metcalf's Object.
ultimately, of course, additional legis-
lation will be required from Congress to
make this bureau what Secretary Metcalf
hopes to see it become-an effective agency
for the promotion of our foreign trade. The
plans of the Secretary have not been per-
fected. 1 understand it is contemplated to
create division to be devoted to the tariffs
of all countries.
In such a division would be collected the
customs laws of all countries which would
be compiled and tabulated so that inquiries
for rates of duty upon any commodity in
any country and methods of administra-
ton could be promptly furnished. 1t Is
believed that such a bureau would be of
fnestimable value to Congress as well as
to the executive departments of the gov
eminent, and certainly to exporting pro-
ducers. 1t Will require some Legislation by
Congress to carry out the project but
have no doubt that with such presentat ton
as Secretary Metcalf will make ultimately
there will be granted the facilities for eff
fective work in this branch of the densrt
ment."
Maj. Carson Is much impressed with the
good results to be obtained through the
policy adopted by the department of main
tanning special agents to be sent in all the
foreign fields. Within the past two months
rev special agents have been appointed
and the bureau of manufa ctures will soon
be able to lay before the American people
Interesting collection Of fac 10
ures CLEANED in South and Central America
the British possessions in North America
and in oriental countries covering details
that are highly essential to producers and
exporters.
The facts already collected by our agents
and consuls, said Maj. Carson, but Illus
trate how advantageously 1t will be to ex-
porters to have before them specific In
formation regarding trade customs, credits,
preferred methods of packing goods, proper
times for shipment and kindred subjects
which the seller of goods In a foreign field
must of necessity know in order to cover
successfully foreign fields. The bureau ha 9
already been advised by the special agents
how important it is to our exporters to
study methods of packing goods destined
for particular markets, the system of cred
it's and payments which obtain in those
markets and the most effective way of in
Producing goods whether by sample or 9TH
erwiSe.
We find that a number of private ind-
viduals and companies have.already entered
this field to aid in extending trade and the
bureau has been urged to take part In or
aid in some way these private projects. OF
course this the Department of Commerce
cannot do. This is government institu-
ton. and while sympathize with all eff
fective individual effort and gladly avail
ourselves of all sources of informatio our
work must proceed on government lines
and for the benefit of everybody, just as
all government work is done"