The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-04-08

subject only, as for instance, textiles
or he credit systems of foreign coun-
tries. Their work resembles that Of a
man OR a business trip who, sent, we
will say, from New York to San Fran
cisco to sell boilers, would not give
any attention to any other subject
while on his trip. The reports of the
commercial agents have been of much
value.
Commercial Attaches.
The need exists for what we may
call commercial attaches, accredited
to Germany, Great Britain, France,
Italy. Russia and Austria by the de-
partment Of state but whose labors
would be under the guidance of the
department OF commerce. These men
would sustain in the commercial field
the same duty for research which is
now assigned in military and naval
affairs to military and naval attaches.
THE duties of these commercial at
taches' would differ decidedly from
those Of cOnsuls. They would be ex-
| peCted to travel; they would supple
ment consular Investigations that are
local by Investigations that are gener-
al. They would study every phase of
activity in foreign trade carried on by
the nation to which each. a assign
ed. They would become the source of
information to the American CONNER
I $A0A "OAlN ANSAA AAA LAANAAAOAAS N4aI
could be utilized, or methods tina
could be improved upon in conquering
for America additional foreign terri
tory In the world of trade. AS l see
the duties of these men, they would
be in no sense statesmen. They would
not at all represent individual indus
tries. They would study commercial
and industrial conditions for the ad-
vantage of all America. The informa-
ton that they would be prepared to
send after a yea or more of study
would be of such a thorough character
as to justify it's use and consideration
by every business element of America.
AS l see it. h expense OF setting
such a system of study in operation
would not be large, but the appropria-
ton would have to be sufficient to
justify the employment of first-class
men.
Indefinite Enlargement.
II regard this as only one of the
elements of expansion which should
take place in the bureau of foreign
n domestic commerce of the de-
partment of commerce. That bureau
is, in my judgment, capable of in
definite enlargement. Its appropria-
tons have been inadequate. 1t has
the powers of a tariff board but no
appropriations to give these powers
effect. | Dun upon the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce to
make such definite returns to Ameri-
can business as to very
much larger appropriations in the fu-
ture.
The department of commerce as a
whole Is a scientific adjunct to bust
ness; only in a limited degree has 1t
yet proved a promotive force. The
scientific elements must be made eve
more effective than in the past. The
promotiVe features deserve the earn
est consideration of the administra-
ton, of congress and OF the business
forces of the country.
Adjuncts of Business.
Let me point to the bureau Of
standards as one of the scientific ad-
juncts of business. 1t touches the af-
fairs of the nation in very practical
ways. Proof of this is in the morning
mail of the bureau; manufacturing
concerns, business houses, inventors,
exporters, all look to 1T for scientific
aid. Its researches are extraordinary
in their scope and in their thorough
ness. They touch the realms Of phys
les, chemistry, engineering, and its eff
forts are directed towards setting
forth the truth of research in such a
way as to aid in practical application
to the increasingly complicated manu-
featuring nelQ OF To-Day.
The bureaus of navigation, light
houses. and steamboat inspection all
need no recommendation to show their
close relation to national and inter-
national commerce. The coast and
geoditic survey is related to all OF
these. 1t is altogether scientific In
it's researches and should never be in
fuenced by political changes.
The steamboat inspection bureau l
expect to see aided in every way
toward conserving human life. In
considering it's scope in the past three
weeks, / have been convinced that
while every interest involved in
steamboat inspection must have due
and just consideration, yet after all,
the life of the smallest child and the
safety of the humblest workman is
more important than the profits Of the
largest transportation interest.
The bureau of fisheries will, / ex-
| pect, be prompted to study more close
Iy in the future. the effective produc-
ton of food fishes as distinct from
game or sport fishes. In common with
others, / like good sport but I think
the supreme duty of this bureau is 20
aid in reducing the high cost of liy-
ing by attending chiefly to the prob
lens of cheap food supply as affected
by the development of coast and in
land fisheries.
Research on Business Organization.
II look with great interest upon
the work of the bureau of corporations
and hops to see its line of research en-
larged in the immediate future in a
direction that must interest all bus
mess America. ] van 1t to take up
an inquiry regarding the actual eco
nomic efficiency of the trust form
OF organization. BY thorough re-
search / hope the Bureau OF Corpora
tons will be able to show whether
this trust form of organization carries
with it seeds of its own decay, or
whether it ID n step In the evolution
toward a different business form and
is thus in either event only a pass
ing phase in the economic hiss,
America.
The census bureau has its duties so
definitely laid down by legislation
that it is not practicable to speak OF
ii at present save as having possibili-
ties of further business stimulation