New-York tribune., 1912-03-04
NATIONAL TRADE BOARD
PLANNED BY Mr.. TAFT
Idea Is TO Have Business Men
Advise Congress and Presl-
dent in Commerce Cases.
CONVENTION MEETS APRIL 10
Statement from White House
Gives Details of Scheme
First Outlined in De-
cember Message.

Washington, Marcn o.-rieSlu9h' A~''
has taken the initiative in movement
to bring business men OF the country
into touch with the government for ad-
vice and counsel in the administration.
Of laws. the enactment Of new statutes
and the development of commerce. he
virtually proposes a national board Oh
trade broadly representative OF the COM
mercial and industrial organizations
and Of such character as the govern
ment may properly recognize by chsr-
ter from Congress. The plan is outlined
in a statement made public to-day.
As one of the first steps in this plan
Secretary Nagel of the Department o.
Commerce and Labor, by direction OF
the President, has called a convention
of deSNgates from commercial organiZa
tions in az parts Of the country to meet
In Washington on April 10 for discus
sion and to plan the organization. lnvi-
tations already have been sent to one
thousand local chambers Of commerce
boards of trade and other commercial
bodies. Responses TO the announce
ments of the tentative plan have been
such that President Taft is convinced
the time is ripe for putting the proposal
TO the test Of practical experiment.
Idea Was in Congress Message.
The President. first recommended such
a plan in a message to Congress last
December, in which he suggested that
officials Of the Department of Commerce
and Labor and members Of appropriate
Congressional committees might b.
made members ex-ofiicio Of such an as
sociation. In the statement made pub
lie to-day President Taft tells the pur-
poses Of such an organization. 1t would
give to the government the opportunity
to consult the business world on all
problems of trade supremacy; 1t would
afford cooperation in the expansion o.
commerce at home and abroad ana
would provide a means by which gov
ernment officers charged with the en-
forcement of laws could become ac-
ousinted with the complexities which
surround their administration in the
business world. Further than that,
Congress in framing new statutes affect
ing trade and commerce would have
first hand advice of an official nature.
In some respects the plan would not
be unlike the German governments sys-
tenn Of cooperation with boards "r
trade throughout the German states al
though many of the features OF that
system probably would not be appllca-
BILE here.
Details from the White House.
The Presidents statement. announcing
tho launching Of the plan. was In par.
as follows:
II * not my intention TO define the pir-
noses Of such an organization, OF lhGetu ~
any manner to anticipate tHc scope "a VIC
discussion upon which delegates 'IdS III
ciuG. IN enter: but u appears 10 me 10 pe
.oLyious that such an organization must DI
In a very large HeId 70 dlu
and assist the executive ana ieelS,auso
ranches Of government IN tiie IllviI's1t,Si sS
and impartial deNtIop'h'H' Va "O''07
foreign trade. ,,..,.., ,to,,
For illustration, such an organization
rroperly represented at the seat OF govern
ent could be Of incaiculaDie assis'tIce III
advising the executive branch or govern
nlent With respect 10 the methods ana iules
TO be adopted In the administration OF ~
listing law. IL could he of like assistance "
legislation and in cOunselling representa-
lives of the executive branch when asked
10 submit recommendations upon DllIs ~
troduced ana pending before committees.
SuCE All ORGANIZATION would be IL the Dest
r,oesii le position to suggest fields Tor new
inaiIiry at home and abroad the methods
nv which such inquiries should be pursued
nd the means by which the results can De
most advantageousiy Drous ~ 10 tne s,ro artei,
ton OF our merchants and manufacturers
and II Is safe TO assume tl:at II such an
organiZation is created its chief activities
will be developed in the light OF our own
experience.
Plan Necessary to Trade.
IL may not be necessary that We adopt
course In all respects patterned upon the
system of any other commercial or INDUS
trial country, put iS oJsiVus P tiau la,,o';, ~
the government activities and the CONNER
cial and Industrial forces or our country
must he established II we propose TO en-
10Y the full advantage Of our opportunity
in domestic and foreign trade.
I have accordingly Instructed the Secre-
tary OF Commerce and Labor to take the
necessary steps TO initiate as soon as prac-
ticabIe at Washington conference OF dele
gates from organizations which are en-
gagged i'm the promotion and development OF
Commerce and industry in their respective
districts. such conference 10 consider the
esta ablishment OF a representative national
orga1iZation for commercial development
and to outline the principles by which IL
should be governed.
The development Of the plan will be left
entirely with the accredited representatives
of such commercial organizations, the es-
sential principles being that the national
association shall be broadly representative
~ tho commercial interests OF the WhoIe
country and that its organization shall be
such that those in control OF the associa-
ton shall be readily responsive TO the will
Of the majority Of the constituent mem