The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-27
Wants Nation Take Advan- tage of Trade Opportuni-
 ties Now Being Offered
SHOWING A PROPER
 GRASP OF AFFAIRS
Committee From the United States Chamber of Commerce Pleased by Attitude Representatives
 of Administration
By HOLLAND

New York April 26-(Special.) )-Some of the apprehension which was occasioned by the creation of the federal trade com mission has been dissipated by the an- nouncement which has just been made that the commission will begin it's actlv- ties with the consideration of the subject of our foreign trade When this commits sion was organized and, in fact. before President Wilson had made choice of its members it was commonly spoken of as the one rema ming doubtful factor in the business situation. Some of those who were greatly occupied last fall with the effort to bring order out of chaos, and who have since been permitted to gain somewhat confidential knowledge of the financial situation in England and of the purpose of the English government, felt <. free to say late in February that if it could be demonstrated that the federal trade commission is to act in sympathy with business interests in the United States and so far as possible to give con structive impulse to these activities, then the organization will be cordially well comed and 1t will perform a great serv- ice. That was regarded as its chief op- portunity.
 Those who were competent to pass judg- ment were convinced in mid winter that the bottom of business depression in the United States was touched about October 1 of last year. Yet at that time the United States Steel corporation was oper- ating, according to high authority. about 30 per cent of its capacity. It could not have gone much lower without temporar- fly at least, abandoning production. The new federal trade commission was be- lieved to have a splendid opportunity greatly to stimulate not only this steel industry, but all steel industries in the United States. Therefore men of finance and men of business have been waiting in the hope that the commission as soon as organized would reveal a constructive and sympathetic spirit.
 Now comes informa ton from Washing ton that the commission will begin public hearings at first in New York city and later elsewhere so that it can obtain au- thoritative information respecting the best eign trade opportunities which are now unquestionably offering.
 Preliminary Information
 
 some information which has been gath cred and tabulated within few days 1t shows for the third time since January l new monthly record for foreign com merce, the figures relating to which were recorded in the New York custom house. If re-exports of foreign goods were i'm cluded, then the total money value of the exports from New York for March were in round numbers 30,000,nc0 These were vastly in excess of the exports of last year and exceeded in money value the value of the imports by little over S36, GOO, 900.
 The trade commission, while, of course, giving incidental attention to that part of our foreign trade which is due to the enormous purchases of war material made by England, France and Russia, neverthe- less will be especially interested In the statistics which tell of the magnitude of the increase of our trade with neutral na- tons. Most of this is represented by com mcdties which are not contraband of war For instance the South American na- tons which are not concerned about war material, increased their purchases in the United Statessin March so that the total was a little over $3000,000, or approxi- mately a little more than $2,O00,O00 more than in March of last year, These figures reflect South American trade which was reported at the New York custom house,
 
 trade with all the neutral nations not only shows a substantial increase. but also is following new lines of communi- cation. American products have reached Russia, Germany and Austria through the utilization of Italian ports as well as those of Holland and Denmark. To- day the United States Steel corporation is understood, through remarks made informally by Judge Gary, to be opera ting about TO per cent of it's capacity, and its gain since early last fall in great measure due to its export busi- ness.
 The public hearings which the trade commission will speedily hold, at first in New York, will be greatly aided by the cooperation of the authoritative com mittee of the United States Chamber of Commerce. It is a committee of this Chamber of Commerce which will glad ly serve the federal trade commission in securing information, especially re- specting foreign trade. which will be