Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-19
The Presidents Message.

commerce..
The Presidents Message.
The text of the Presidents message on
the subject is as follows
II transmit herewith a -communica ton
from the acting secretary of state, ac.
companied by reports from the diplomatic
of regular cooperation between the two
Of regular cooperation between the two
branches of our foreign service for the bet
ter promotion of American Industry and
trade. Basing his conclusions upon the
views expressed in these reports, the acting
secretary recommends that provision be
made for six special agents, with the diplo-
r.atic rank and title of commercial at
tache, to be sent abroad to make practical
trial of the proposed plan: to report to the
Department of State conditions existing in
different countries, which might suggest
notifications or changes in the general
scheme; to prepare. for the Department OF
Commerce and Labor. reports upon COM
merce and manufacturers, or upon kindred
topics of a more exhaustive and compre-
hensive character than is ordinarily obtain
able at present; and to visit consuldtes
examine their workings and suggest such
changes, either to the consular officers or
to the Department of State. as would tend
to the general Improvement and strength
en,ng of the service
Men Of Expert knowledge.
'It is proposed that these agents shall be
chosen primarily for their expert knowl-
edge, but shall be not merely specialists,
except for particular Investigations 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. 1t is suggested that the consular
service might supply the best type Of
agents desired and that for this reason,
and also because Of the incentive to merit
which would thus be provided. appoint
ments should be made preferably from
among those consular officers who have
demonstrated their special fitness and
capacity.
'It will, in my opinion be found. upon
examination, that, while the measure pro-
posed Is a modest and more or less tenta-
tive one, involving comparatively slight ex-
pense it promises important and far-reach-
ing consequences in the judicious strength
ening of our whole foreign service in the
interest of trade, and the gradual develop
ment of capacities in 1t, but lmperfecty
available, yet, to make it fully ade-
ouate to the demands of our productive
energy a nation.
Looking to Forign Countries.
Agriculture in the United States has
long been dependent for its prosperity upon
the demand from abroad for its surplus
products, and of late years our manufactur-
ing Industries have found that they were
outstripping the capacity of even our enor-
nous market and are now looking more and
more to foreign consumption for renef from
accommodating stocks According to an esti-
mate of the Department of Commerce and
Labor our exports of manufactures in the
calendar year 1904 will not only exceed the
highest figures Of any earlier year. but may
probably pass the $5O0.O00,O00 line, as
against $434 600 600 in the high-record year.
the fiscal year 1900. $151. 100000 in 1890
sos 600 900 in 1880, $6s, 100000 in 1870 and
S40O00OO0 in 1880.
..,rhe magnitude and steady growth of this
export movement. from our workshops and
factories are such as to suggest the grave
Importance Of providing it with all the off1-
cial apparatus necessary to its full ana Tree
development.
A Valuable Auxiliary.
"It is generally admitted that in recent
years the consular service, whatever may
be its defects of system, has developed
commercial utility which has been of great
practical value 1t would be most regret
table, however. If this improvement. which
has been brought about by the zeal and en-
ergy OF individual eonsuls rather than by
the efforts of the service ~ whole, and
also, to a large extent, Dy tkle special ulfec-
ton of the Department of State, should be
accepted fully satisfying even present
requirements, not to speak of the prospec-
tive demands of a rapidly expanding COM
merce. For this reason, ! cordially COM
mend to the consideration of the Congress
the recommendations of the acting secre-
tary OF state looking TO the gradual sys-
tematizing and equipment of the whole Tor
eign service, by simple and inexpensive
means, an auxiliary, responsive at All
points to what may reasonably be expected
of 1t by the great Industrial and commercial
interests which are so deeply concerned In
enlarging their share of the worlds trade.
'In view of the interest and Importance
of the subject to the public and especially
to the business community. l also suggest
that authority be given for the printing OF
Special edition of $500 copies of the act
appended reports from diplomatic and con-
sular officers, OF which 2.000 copies shall
be for distribution by the Department OF
State.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
white House, Washington, January ls,
The details of the new machinery propos-
ed for the extension of the important serv-
ice already established for the extension of
United States trade abroad through the
items from United States consuls are fully
set out In long letter from Acting Secre-
tary Loomis to the President.
Work Of Consular Service.
Mr. Loomis notes that the project con-
templates combining utilities more or less
latent as yet in our diplomatic service
with those which have been 50 signally
demonstrated BY the consular officers fog
the promotion OF American industry AM