The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-20
SIX SPECIAL, AGENTS
APPOINTMENT URGED IN INTER-
 EST OF TRADE.
In Message to the Senate President Roosevelt Endorses the Plan of Assistant Secretary of State
 LoOmia.

Loomis.
 Washington, Jan. 1s.-The Presi- dent today sent a message to the Sen-l ate recommending favorable action upSa a suggestion made by Assistant Secretary of State Loomis for co-op- eration by the Departments of State and Commerce and Labor in collecting information concerning trade condi- tions in foreign countries. The Presi- dent recommended that provision be made for the appointment of six spe- cial agents to be called commercial at- taches who shall visit the different countries and make a study of indus trial conditions with a view to sug gesting notifications and changes in the existing plans of our foreign com merce.
 The text of the Presidents message Is as follows:
 I transmit herewith a communication from the Acting Secretary of State &C., companied by reports from the~ diplo- matic 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 and trade. In con- curing in the conclusions expressed in this report the Secretary suggests that provisions be made for six special agents with the diplomatic rank and title of commercial attaches to be sent abroad to make practical trial of the proposition: to report to the Depart ment of State conditions existing in diff ferent countries which might suggest notifications or changes in the general scheme; to prepare for the Department of Commerce and Labor reports upon commerce and manufactures or upon kindred topics of more exhaustive and comprehensive character than is or dinarily obtainable at present, and to visit consulates, examine their work ings and suggest such changes either to the consular officers or to the De- partment of State as would tend to the general improvement and strengthen ing of the service.
 "Tt is proposed that these agents shall be chosen primarily for their eX- pert knowledge, but shall be not merely specialists, except for particular in vestigations that might from time to time be required, but practical men of affairs with the experience best suited to fit them for their executive duties. It is suggested that the consular ser vice might supply the best type of agents desired and that for this req son and also because of the incentive to merit which would thus be provided, Appointments should be made prefer ably from among those consular off, cers who have demonstrated their spe- cial fitness and capacity.
 Tt will. in my opinion, be found up on examination that while the measure proposed is a modest and more or less tentative one. involving comparatively slight expenses. 1t promises far reach- ing consequences in the judicious strengthening of our whole foreign ser vice in the interest of trade and the gradual development of capacities in it, but imperfectly available as yet to make 1t fully adequate to theNdemands of our productive energy as n nation., Agriculture in the United States has long been depending for Its prosperity upon the demand from abroad for it's surplus products. and of late years our manufacturing industries have found that they were outstripping the ca pacity of even our enormous market and are now looking more and more to foreign consumption for relief from accommodating stocks. According to an estimate of the Department of Com merce and Labor. our exports of man ufactures in the calendar year 1904 will not only exceed the highest figures of any earlier year, but may probably pass the $500000000 line. as against $434,O0O, 900 in the high record year. the fiscal year 1900, s151,OOOOOo in 1890. $1OS, 900, 900 in 1880, $68. 900, 900 in 1870 and $40,000,000 in 1S60.'
 "The magnitude and steady growth of this export movement. from our workshops and factories are such as to suggest the grave importance of pro- viding 1t with all the official apparatus necessary to it's full and free develop ment
 Tt is generaIly admitted that in re- cent years the consular service. what ever may be its defects of system, has developed a commercial utility which has been of great practical value. It would be most regrettable however, if this improvement, which has been brought about through the zeal and en- ergy of individual consuls rather than by the special direction of the Depart ment of State, should be accepted as fully satisfying even present require ments. not to speak of the prospective demands of a rapidly expanding com merce. For this reason, I cordially commend to the consideration of the Congress the recommendations of the acting Secretary of State looking to the gradual systematizing and equip ment of the foreign service by simple and inexpensive means, as an auxiliary. responsive to all points to what may reasonably be expected of 1t by the great industrial and commercial inter- ests which are so deeply concerned in enlarging their share of the worlds trade.
 "In view of the interest and import ance of the subject to the public and especially to the business community, I also suggest that authority be given for the printing of a special edition of 5000 copies from diplomatic and con sular officers, of which 1000 copies shall be for distribution by the De- partment of State
 Theodore Roosevelt,
 White House. Washington. Jan. IS, 1905"
 The details of the proposed plan are set out in a long letter from Acting