The Cordova daily times., 1915-12-18
STRENGTHEN N | DUR FORE|GN
 TRADE ARMY

WASHINGTON. Dec. IS. - In view of the peculiar opportunities afforded at the present time for the develop ment of American trade in other countries, a referendum has just been sent out by the Chamber of Com merce of the United States, 1t was announced last night. which gives the members of the national organization an opportunity to endorse a report of it's department of commerce com mittee. This recommends an in crease in congressional appropriations for the general broadening and i'm proving of the governments foreign commercial service. These questions are being submitted to the various commercial bodies throughout the country nearly TOO affiliated or ganizations, representing every state, the territorial possessions and the principal American chambers of com merce abroad.
 Increased Appropriations Needed
 Everywhere.
 In considering increases that In its opinion should be made for the con sular service under the depart ment of state - and the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce - under the department of commerce the committee, of which A. w. Shaw. of Chicago, is chairman, makes many specific suggestions The commit tees report says that although in creased appropriations were made in 1914 for the foreign and field service, when the work of the commercial at- taches of the department of com merce was begun. no increases in appropriation was made for clear ing" this information, and the cleri- cal force at Washington was cur tailed instead of increased "The re- suit has been over-work, delay and a failure to take full advantage of the new opportunities provided for in the increased appropriations"
 Needs of the Consular Service.
 In the opinion of the chambers committee, the most pressing needs of the consular service, of which VII bur J. Carr is the director, are:
 1. Americanization.
 2. Adequate clerical assistance.
 5 fromotion of certain consular agencies to the rank of consulates.
 4. The establishment of new con sulates.
 5. Adequate inspection of the ser vice.
 The report gives a list of the cities in which the United States govern ment maintains consular agencies, where in the committees opinion there should be cOnsulates. It recom- mends the establishment of consul ates in fifteen new cities, and urges more adequate provision for inspect ors and more frequent inspection. Finally. a fuller publication of statis- tics of internal commerce relative to the movements of trade is urged. The committee recommends the resump- tion of the publication of such statis- tics, initiated several years ago and suspended, owing to the failure of Congress to continue the approprla- tion
 Expert Study of Banking and Tariffs.
 The committee recommends the in vestigation in foreign countries, par ticularly of investment possibilities and of railroad rates and other means If inland transportation. It recon mends also expert study of banking and tariffs. In this field it also urges an appropriation for the collection and exploitation of samples, the ap' Dointment of geographical experts at | Washington, who shall inform busi- ness men regarding climate. living conditions and similar information in addition to data strictly commercial; the distribution of American litera- ture abroad. and a radical change in the attitude of the government to- ward the travelling and living ex- penses of it's consuls, commercial agents and commercial attaches.
 Higher Consular Salaries. A list of salaries paid to lower grade consuls at posts where the cost of living Is very high shows some startling things. In cities l