Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15

attention to our cotton manufactures and
exports among the first lines Of inquiry
that were attempted.
1.-THE cotton manufacturers of the United
States were told that If they would Sc
lect and recommend a competent expert
he would be appointed by the govern
ment and be sent abroad to inquire into
| trade conditions. with view to securing
information that would enable them to
extend their sales in foreign countries.
1T is our policy to select specialists
| in the different lines of inquiry, men who
are familiar with business methods by
which trade is conducted. the obstacles
which are encountered and the difficulties
tina: have to be overcome in that par
tfcular line. in order that we may fur
nish practical information Of immediate
value to those for whom it is intended
1t is the policy Of the department that
specially shall be selected approved
by the producers. the manufacturers and
the exporters who are likely to derive the
most benefit from the investigation. 1t
is fundamental that the men who make
the inquiries shall have their confidence.
and no other consideration has had
weight In making appointments.
when we reached the cottonseed oil
industry the manufacturers i'm that line
of business were SO deeply interested that
they sent a committee to Washington
They selected man who quickly demon
strated his fitness. He satisfied us that
he was thoroughly competent. but illness
compelled him to resign before he had
gene very far in the work. To fill the
vacancy a special meeting of the cotton
81 ed oil manufacturers was called through
their organization, and, with all the care
and formality of a national convention
making a presidential nomination. they
canvassed the field. and among three can1
didates presented finally recommended Mr..
Perkins. who has demonstrated the wis
dom of their choice.
II presume that the proposed perma-
nent attaches will be selected from among
practical business men in the SAND man.
ner in order to secure the best results
We do not want any theorists We want
conditions and requirements of the diff
ferent lines of trade. men who have been
accustomed to deal with facts rather than
theoretical problems.
Scanty Appropriations.
Our work is handicapped by scanty APP
preparations. and 1t will always be difficult
for the government to obtain the services
of experts, because it is not prepared. to
pay the salaries that such men can COM
mand in actual business. In several in
stances We have been compelled 10 rely
On the patriotism Of our representatives.
Some of the men employed under this
bureau have found an Incentive to accept
q small salary in the expectation that
mand better positions among export
houses after their work with us is COM
pleted. Their employment by the govern
ment in such a responsible capacity Is a
testimonial to their character and ability.
and their reports will demonstrate their
value to firms engaged in those special
lines of business We have one specialist
who goes down into his own pocket to
pay out of his private means at least one
half of his travelling expenses and the
cost of obtaining the information he uses
in his reports, because the government
allowance is not sufficient.
Some people have criticised our re-
ports because they are too technical /
am willing to admit that portions of
them do not always make good reading
for the newspapers. but the very features
objected to often give them their greatest
Importance to manufacturers and mer-
chants who are engaged in those lines
of business, and for whose benefit they
sary to use terms unfamiliar to the aver
age newspaper reader, but they are per-
fectly Ineligible to the trade.
THE reports OF these special agents
are of more value than any that can
be obtained through cur permanent con-
sular service. for the reason that the
writer's are specialists. familiar with the
subjects. and have had experiences with
the difficulties involved I'm particular lines
of trade. They can write more ntelli-
gently of what they see: they are not in
tiles: they are not tied down to particular
places and can make more searching
inquiries and publish the results more
freely than consular officers. who neces-
sarily must conduct themselves with great
discretion in order to maintain pleasant