Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-23
|REGARDED AS FAR REACHING
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF COM
MERGE MAKES PROGRESS.
Secretary Straus Gives Reasons for
Formation Of the Organization.
Sphere It Occupies.

No measure of recent years. it is de-
clared is of such far reaching impor
lance to the commercial interests of the
United States and SO promising of fruit
full results as the establishment at a re-
cent meeting in this city of the advisory
committee of the National Council of Com
merce. Reports were made by Mr.. Cor
wine. the temporary secretary, that the
membership is steadily growing. more of
the leading commercial and industrial Or
ganizations of the country recently join
ing The membership now numbers fifty
organizations representing every section
of the country 1t is said that date will
soon be set for the assembling of the
national council
Secretary Straus. who is deeply interest
ed in the outcome OF the movement has
just announced additional reasons for the
formation of the National Council of Com
merce.
in addition to the reasons hitherto
given for the formation of the council
he says, attention is drawn to the fact
that the United States government, at an
expense of more than So, 10000. main
tans diplomatic and consular service in
all parts of the world for the purpose.
among other things. of aiding the COM
merce of the country. and of gathering in
formation of the highest material interest
porters, the merchants and manufacture
erS.
Proper Agency Here.
1T is estimated that the maintenance
of a proper agency at Washington by he
National Council of Commerce. in order
to take full advantage of this important
information, will only cost the merchants
and manufacturers of the country about
S.n. COO per annum
There is no medium today sufficiently
comprehensive to properly take advantage
of this information. or through which 1t
can be disseminated SO that it will reach
the merchants and manufacturers who
are specifically interested. Much of this
information is of a confidential nature
and if published, instead of being con-
fined to- our merchants and manufacture
ers. will advantage their competitors in
foreign markets. Besides. some of this in
formation. often of special value, cannot
be published. for if unfavorable to the
foreign country or locality from which
such reports come. if published would
cause irritation and be the source of COM
plant.
But with the establishment of the ma
tional council, with a permanent bureau
in Washington such information which
might be of commercial value could be
conveyed in a confidential way, which in
the absence of such an organization as Is
contemplated by the national council it
is not possible to do.
Information of Value.
1T often happens that progressive mer
chants and manufacturers ask for infor-
nation of valuable kind. which is OBJ
tanned through our consuls. and when
obtained. of course, Is supplied to the
individual firm or corporation applying
for it, This same information often is of
the greatest value to all merchants and
manufacturers in the same line. but as
a matter of fact. in practice this infor
nation is given only to tho person inquiT
ing therefor. With the existence of the
national council such information would
be conveyed through its Washington
bureau to all merchants and manufac-
turers interested therein throughout the
country.
The National Council of Commerce will
not conflict with the scope or purpose of
existing organizations. but on the con-
trary will confine Itself to matters adj
nlinistratiye, as distinguished from mat
tiers civic, political or sectional and 1t is
rot the aim to build up a new or enlarged
chamber of commerce or board of trade
but to bring the existing organizations,
through a national committee and we'll
equipped permanent bureau, into Coop
erative relationship with the governmental
agencies
Sphere It Occupies.
MANY subjects will naturally present
themselves upon which the various inter-
ests represented in the national council
cannot come to any substantial agree
ment. All of these subjects will neces-
sarily have to he eliminaie ed. and should
be very properly referred to existing
bodies for such individual action as they
may desire to take. The national coun-
Gil. therefore, instead Of CONNECTING with
the National Board of Trade or other
Orga nlZatiOnS, will OCCUPY an entirely diff |
ferent sphere. and perform entirely dill
ferent functions. /
The delegates of commercial and trade
organizations, by reason of being mem |
bers of the national council will have
an opportunity of serving their respective
organizations. by renting such cues |
lions as do not come within the scope of
the national council for the consideration
of such bodies. as. for instance, the Ma
tional Board of Trade and other existing |,
organizations