The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-20

Washington, January 1.-THE President
today sent a message to the Senate
recommending favorable action upon a
suggestion made by Assistant Secretary
LOOMS for cooperation by the depart
ments Of state and commerce and labor
in collecting information concerning trade
conditions in foreign countries. The Pres
ident recommended that provision be
made for the appointment of six special
agents to be called commercial attaches
who shall visit the different countries and
make a study of industrial conditions
with a view to suggesting notifications
and changes in the existing plans of our
foreign commerce.
The text of the Presidents message is
as follows;
The Message.
II transmit herewith a communication
from the Acting Secretary of State, ac-
companied by reports from the diplomatic
consular officers, upon the feasibility of
regular cooperation between the two
branches of our foreign service for the
better promotion of American industry
and trade. Basing his conclusions upon
the views expressed in these reports. the
secretary recommends that provision be
made for six special agents, with the dip
lomatic rank and title of commercial at
tache, to be sent abroad to make prac-
tical trial of the proposition to report
to the department of state conditions ex-
listing in different countries which might
suggest notifications on chanSes in the
general scheme, and to prepare for the
department of commerce and labor re-
ports upon commerce and manufactures,
or upon kindred topics of a more exhaus-
tive and comprehensive character than is
ordinarily obtainable at present. and to
visit consulates, examine their workings
and suggest such changes, either to the
consular officers or to the department of
state as would tend to the general i'm
provement and strengthening of the ser
vice.
Expert knowledge.
ut is proposed that these agents shall
be chosen for their expert knowledge but
shall be not merely specialist, 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 ca
pacity.
examination that while the measure pro-
posed is modest and more or less ten
tatiye one, involving comparatively slight
/ expenses. 1t promises far-reaching conse-
quences In the judicious Strengthening OF
our whole foreign service in the interest
of trade and the gradual development OF
capacities in it, but imperfectly available
as yet to make it fully adequate to the
demands of our productive energy as a
nation. Agriculture In the United States
has long been depending for its prosper
| ity upon the demand from abroad for its
surplus products, and Of late years our
manufacturing industries have found that
they were outstripping the capacity OF
even our enormous market, and are now
looking more and more to foreign con-
sumption for relief from accumulation OF
stocks.
Immense Figures.
According to an estimate of the De-
| partment 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 prob
ably pass the $3.50, 100000 line as against
$sS4J000,0 600 in the high record year, the
fiscal year 1900; $151,O0O000 in 1890; Sos, 0OO,-
600 in 1880; S6S, 0000 600 in 1870 and $40 000,000
| in 1861
1.-THE magnitude and steady growth of
| this export movement from our work
| shops and factories are such as to suggest
the grave Importance of providing it with
| all the official apparatus necessary to its
! full and free development.
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