River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-12-14


removed. but regret to say that there
remain a few cases of differential
treatment adverse to the commerce OF
the United States. While none of
these instances now appears to amount
to undue discrimination in the sense
OF section of the tariff law of August
., 1903, they are all exceptions to that
complete degree of equality of tariff
treatment that the department of state
mas consistently sought to obtain for
American commerce abroad.
While the double tariff feature OF
the tariff law of 1909 has been amply
justified by the results achieved in re-
moving former and preventing new,
undue determinations against Ameri-
can commerce, it is believed that the
time has come for the amendment Of
this feature OF the law in such way as
to provide graduated means of meet
Ing v,rying degrees of discriminatory
treatment of American commerce in
foreign countries as well as to pro-
tect the financial interests abroad OF
American citizens against arbitrary
and Injurious treatment on the part OF
foreign governments through either
legislative or administrative measures.
1t would also seem desirable that
the maximum tariff of the United
states should embrace within it's pur-
view the free list, which is not the
case at the present time, in order that
1t might have reasonable significance
10 the governments of those countries
from which the importations into the
United States are confined virtually to
articles on the free list.
The fiscal year ended June 80. 1911.
shows great progress in the develop
ment of American trade. 1t was note
worthy as marking the highest record
OF exports of American products to
foreign countries, the valuation being
in excess of $2,00O,000,000. These ex-
ports showed a gain over the proceed
ing year of more than $300,000,00O,
There is widespread appreciation ex.
pressed by the business interests of
the country as regards the practical
value of the facilities now offered by
the department of state and the de-
partment of commerce and labor for
the furtherance Of American COM
merce.
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
l need hardly reiterate the convic-
ton that there should speedily be
built up an American merchant ma
rine. This is necessary to assure IA
vorable transportation facilities to our
great ocean-borne commerce as we'll
as to supplement the navy with an
adequate reserve of ships and men.
1t would have the economic advantage
of keeping at home part of the vast
sums now paid foreign shipping for
carrying American goods. All the
great commercial nations pay heavy
subsidies to their merchant marine, so
that IT. is obvious that without some
wise aid from the Congress the United
States must lag behind in the matter
of merchant marine in it's present
anomalous position.
Legislation to facilitate the exten.
sion of American banks to foreign
countries is another matter in which
our foreign trade needs assistance.
Improvement of the Foreign Service.
The entire foreign-service organiza-
ton is being improved and developed
with especial regard to the require
ments of the commercial interests OF
the country. The rapid growth of our
foreign trade makes it of the utmost
Importance that governmental agen-
cies through which that trade is to be
aided and protected should possess a
high degree Of efficiency. Not only
should the foreign representatives be
maintained upon a generous scale in
so far as salaries and establishments
are concerned. but the selection and
advancement of officers should be def.
nitely and permanently regulated by
law, so that the service shall not fail
to attract men of high character and
ability. The experience of the past
few years with a partial application OF
civil service rules to the diplomatic
and consular service leaves no doubt
in my mind of the wisdom of a wider
and more permanent extension or
those principles to dboth branches OF
the foreign service. The men selected
for appointment by means Of the ex-
listing executive regulations have been
of far higher average of intelligence
and ability than the men appointed
before the regulations were promul.
gated
therefore again commend to the
favorable action of the congress the
enactment OF law applying to the
diplomatic and consular service the
principles embodied in section 1888
of the Revised Statutes Of the United
States. in the civil service act of JAN
uary 16, 1883, and the executive orders
of June 81, 1906, and Of November rs.
1909. In it's consideration Of this Inn
portant subject / desire to recall to
the attention Of the congress the vary
favorable report made on the Lowdcn
bill for the improvement of the foreign
service by the foreign affairs commit.
tee of the house OF representatives.
Available statistics show the strict
ness with which the merit system has
been applied to the foreign service
during recent years and the absolute
selection of consuls and
Diplomatic service secretaries who In
deed far from being selected with any
view to political consideration have
actually been chosen to a dispropor-