Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-07

The Board Of Trade has been asked to
send a delegate to convention 10 be
held in Washington, beginning tomorrow
week. to consider the subject of desired
reforms in the consular service. The call
for the convention was issued by the New
York Board of Trade and TRANSFORMATION.
II is proposed TO create "a permanent
national committee on consular reform
to supplement and make effective the
work or the national consular reform
convention, the committee to consist Of
one member from each organization in
f the United States favoring consular re-
form, of at least one member from each
a Congressional district. The duty OF
member Of the national committee will
be to carry out in his own State and Con-
gressional district, so far as lies in his
power. the purposes of the convention to
secure satisfactory legislation by Congress.
The call says: There Is no doubt that
All the commercial. manufacturing and
agricultural interests in the country are
unanimous in the demand for consular
reform. and it is certain that if this de-
mand is sufficiently emphasized, Congress
will respond by proper legislation. The
importance Of such legislation to the COM
merial interests of the United States
cannot be overestimated. It is one of
The most vital questions bearing upon
our welfare at the present time. Up to
now our output Of manufactured articles
has in many instances barely kept pace
with the demand for home consumption.
In number of cases we have been, and
are as yet, compelled to depend upon
foreign manufactures for a large share
4 Of our supplies. The result has been
that, with the exception of a compara-
lively few articles, our exports of manu-
lectures have been small. Our factories.
however, have been gradually expand
ng; the greatly increased capital Of the
country has been and is seeking invest
ment. and the time is fast approaching
when our production OF many classes OF
goods will be greater than the demand
oi our home trade. We shall cons.
luently become more largely dependent
upon foreign markets for the proper
maintenance of our factories and for the
hill Development OF our commerce. II
s obvious that, if we are to be success
iul in our efforts to secure foreign trade
Ve must be as well equipped in every
direction as are the countries of Europe
which today carry on that trade on larg,
and profitable scale. These countrie
have for a great many years been ex
remely careful in selecting for the po
lion OF consuls only men of ability an,
'iicency who, by training and busines
experience, are qualified to becom
argely instrumental in the development
oi the trade between the country thel
represent and the countries to whicl
hey are sent Such men enioV perna
lency Of tenure of Office, are promote,
IS vacancies occur, and their usefulness
thereby constantly increased. TIL
duties of consul are many an,
important, but foremost amongst then
Is that of transmitting to hi
rountry accurate and complete report
Of the necessities of the people anon
Shom he lives. correct records Of thei
commerce, Of the changes occurring i
their trade. and Of the progress Of the art
md inventions among them. He mus
likewise be competent to give the peopl
Of the district to which he is sent thoroug
and intelligent data in regard to ia
products and manufactures of his oW
country and the progress of the arts an
inventions among his people, That, III
fortunately, our consular system has nc
been based upon a careful and intelliger
selection OF men to be appointed, but hs
been instead subjected to political col
hderations with each change of admin
tration is well known. This should }
reformed at the earliest possible momen
we are not to be seriously handicappe
N the struggle for a proper developmel
ol our foreign commerce"