The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-11
STUDY MUNICIPAL PROBLEMS ABROAD Southern Commercial Con- gress Aids in the Work A LARGE DELEGATION Will Study City Problems in the Same Way Rural Credits Were
 Studied Abroad Last
 Year
By C. D. STEWART.


 Washington, July 1O.--t Special )-En- couraged by the results of the European n trip to study rural credits. which added valuable data to the collection of the framers of the rural credits bill now pending before Congress, the Washing ton directors of the Southern Commer- cial congress will head the American commission of municipal executives and civic leaders who have gone abroad to study urban problems in 10 foreign countries,
 The three Washington directors in charge of the commission are Senator Duncan U. Fletcher of Florida president of the congress and chairman of the commissions; pr. Clarence J. Owens managing director of the congress. who goes with the commission as director general, and William H. Saunders, director and treasurer of the congress. Five members of the board of directors of the congress will join in the investi- gation.
 The United States delegates will par ticipate in the international congress of municipal executives to be held in Lon don the week beginning July 20 and in the Southern Commercial congress week at the international urban expo sition in Lyons, France. Thereafter they will make an exhaustive investiga- tion of municipal problems in England. France, Austria Hungary, Germany, Belgium, Holland and other European countries
 This investigation of urban problems is to supplement the work of the com mission directed by the Southern Com mercial congress last year. which in vestigated agricultural cooperation in IS European countries. and was con- duciye to throwing light not only on agricultural cooperation, but the sys- tenn of rural crdeits now enjoyed by many foreign countries, but which yet remains to be inaugurated in the United States.
 Prepare Data in Advance
 Through instructions from the Sec retary of State all ambassadors, min isters and consular agents in the coun- tries these delegates are to visit are directed to prepare in advance of the commissions arrival and for their use as thorough statements as possible of municipal achievements and organiza- tions in their respective jurisdictions and on the possibility of the adaptation to the municipalities of America of the plans followed in European countries The state department is of the opinion that such information Is of public in- terest to the United States and 1t there fore has directed that duplicate copies of the reports compiled by the state de- partment's representatives be forwarded to this government.
 The Southern Commercial congress has on file letters from the American ifr,1r fc al .taf hat ,1ol, ate preparations are being made for the American commission along two lines. first the investigations and reports on municipal conditions, the business in terest of the trip, and second for the official attentions, courtesies. and re- captions to be given in honor of the Americans.
 The congress of municipal executives to be held in London is part of the Anglo-American centenary celebration. The conference on municipal problems and achievements, especially of Ameri- ca and England, is to be presided over by the Duke of Teck brother of the Queen of England and next governor general of Canada. The chairman of the executive committee, to whom the American commission will report. is the Rt. Hon. Earl of Kintore, who was some months ago a guest in Washing ton and was banqueted here by the Southern Commercial congress.
 The International Urban exposition in Lyons has set apart an entire week to be known as Southern Commercial con gress week. It is under the patronage ! of the republic of France, and under 52 | departments every phase of municipal | life Is to be interpreted
 The commission which is going | abroad under the auspices of the South ern Commercial congress comprises civic leaders from all parts of the coun- try. The slogan of the congress Is "For ! greater nation through a greater southn It receives a number of commits sions that are more than south wide, however. in their influence because it has he organization and machinery and zeal 70 lead in efforts for national advance nent.
 The members of the commission are