The searchlight., 1911-12-15

ests within their Jurisdiction n .
manner injurious and ineQuitablo.
During the past year some instances
Of discriminatory treatment have been
removed. but I regret to say that there
remain . few cases Of di6erent1al
treatment adverse to the commerce Of
the United States. While none q
these instances now appears to amount
to undue discrimination In the sense
Of section Of the tari6 Law Of August
5. 1909. they are al exceptions 70 that
complete degree Of equality OF tarf3
treatment that the department Of state
has consistently sought to obtain foe
American commerce abroad.
While the double tariR feature of
the tariff law OF 1909 has been amply
Justified BY the results achieved In 10
moving former and preventing new.
undue Determinations against Amsr1.
can commerce. II 10 believed that the
time has come for the amendment q
this feature Of the Law In such way .
TO provide a graduated means Of mesk
Ing varying degrees Of discriminatory
treatment Of American commerce -
foreign countries a. wen - to pro.
tect the financial interests abroad Of
American citizens against arbitrary
and injurious treatment ON the part Of
foreign governments through sither
legislative or administrative measures.
II would also seem desirable that
the maximum tariff OF the United
States should embrace within it, pur.
view the free list. which 10 not the
case at the present time. In order that
It might have reasonable significance
to 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 Juno 80. 1911.
shows great progress In the develop
ment Of American trade. II was note
worthy as marking the highest record
OF exports Of American products TO
foreign countries, the valuation being
In excess Of $4,000. 100000. These q.
ports showed gain over the preced-
Ing year Of more than $500. .000. 900.
There 10 widespread appreciation ex-
pressed by the business interests 0e
the country a. 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.
! need hardly reiterats the convic-
ton that there should speedily bo
built up an American merchant ma
rine. This is necessary to assure f.
vorable transportation facilities to our
great ocean-borne commerce a. we'll
as to supplement the navy with an
adequate reserve Of ships and men.
II would have the economic advantage
Of keeping at homo 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, %
that II 10 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 extsn.
sion Of American banks to foreign
countries Ii another matter In which
our foreign trade needs assistance.
u,nrr~vau>u& - sh. G~.>I.. a>-.a.>
Tho entire foreignssrvice organisa-
ton II being improved and developed
with especial regard TO the require.
ments Of the commercial interests a
the country. The rapid growth Of our
foreign trade makes II Of the utmost
importance that governmental agsn-
cies through which that trade 10 to b
aided and protected should possess .
high degree OF efnciency. Not only
should the foreign representatives, b
maintained upon . generous scale u
30 far a. salaries and establishments
are concerned. but the selection and
advancement Of o0lcers should be do0-
nitely and permanently regulated By
law. 10 that the service shall not fan
to attract men Of high character and
ability. Tho experience Of the past
few years with partial application oe
civil service rules 70 the diplomatic
and consular service leaves NO doube
in my mind OF the wisdom Of wider
and more permanent extension Of
those principles to both branches oe
the foreign service. The men selected
for appointment by means OF the 81.
listing executive regulations have been
of . far higher average Of intelligence
and ability than the men appoints1
before the regulations were promut
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 l763
Of the Revised Statutes Of the United
States. in the civil service act Of Jan