Evening star., 1915-11-18
National Chamber of Com
merce Gives Business Men
Chance to Express Views.
SUBMITS PROPOSITION
TO REFERENDUM VOTE
Needs of Consular Service Specially
Considered-Study of Banking
and Tariffs Recommended.

| The Chamber of Commerce of the
United States has sent out a refer
endum, based on a report of its depart
ment of commerce committee, which
will give the business organizations OF
the country an opportunity to vote on
various proposed improvements for the
purpose of strengthening United States
| trade abroad. The report recommends
an increase in congressional appropria-
tions for the general broadening and
| l;mnroyine of the governments foreign
commercial service
In considering increases that, in it's
opinion, should be made for the consul
lar service. under the Department of
State. and the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce, under the Depart
ment of Commerce, the committee or
which A. W. Shaw of Chicago is chair
man, makes many specific suggestions
The committees report says that, al
| though increased appropriations were
made in 1914 for the foreign and neld
service, when the work of the com
mercial attaches of the Department OF
Commerce was begun no increase IN
Iappropriation was made for clearing
this information and the clerical force
| at Washington was curtailed instead
of increased. The result has been
oyerwork, delay and a failure to take
full advantage of the new opportuni-
| ties provided for in the increased ap-
propriations."
| Needs of Consular Service.
In the opinion of the chambers COM
mittee, the most pressing needs Of
the consular service. of which Wilbur
j. Carr is the director, are:
l. Americanization
2. Adequate clerical assistance.
| g. Promotion of certain consular
Iagencies to the rank of consulates.
! A. The establishment of new consul
Ilates.
| 5. Adequate inspection Of the service
| The report gives list of cities in which
the United States government maintains
| consular agencies, where, in the commit
tees opinion. there should be consulates
1t recommends the establishment of con-
more adequate provision for inspectors
and more frequent inspection. Finally,
| a fuller publication of statistics of in
ternal commerce relative to the move
ments of trade is urged The committee
recommends the resumption of the publi-
cation of such statistics, initiated several
years ago and suspended, owing to the
failure of Congress to continue the ap-
preparation.
Study of Banking and Tariffs.
The committee recommends the investi-
cation Of foreign countries. particularly of
investment possibilities and of railroad
rates land other means of inland trans
portation. 1t recommends also expert
study Of banking and tariffs. In this field
| it also urges an appropriation for the
collection and exploitation Of samples, the
appointment of geographical experts at
Washington who shall inform business
men regarding climate. living conditions
and similar information in addition to
data strictly commercial; the distribution
Of American literature abroad. and a
radical change in the attitude OF the
government toward the travelling and liv-
ing expenses Of its consuls, commercial
agents and commercial attaches.
The present statutory Limitation of
travelling expenses to IS a day exclusive
Of railroad transportation, says the COM
mittee's report, 'is frequently inadequate
and results in discrimination and unfair
ness to employees There are many cases
when government officials, in the con-
sular service and in the field service Of
the Department Of Commerce, are Obliged
to pay considerable amounts out of their
own resources to meet the expenses over
and above s. day incurred in travelling
in foreign countries. This Is not only a
encouragement to good service. but it
contains the elements Of false pretense
Since living expenses vary considerably
in different parts of the globe. the dead
level Of salary obviously works unfairly
at times. The importance OF a mans
position. which is a consideration in de-
termining his availability for new en-
ployment. is always judged in part by the
salary which he receives"
Higher Consular Salaries.
A list Of salaries paid to lower-grade
consuls at posts where the cost of liv-
ing Is very high shows some startling
things. In cities where the United
States is one of the strongest competi-
tors of Great Britain and Germany for
the worlds markets the following fig
ures of salary show how handicapped
the Ame1ican consul is:
Great Britain. Germany. United States.
vladivostok. 81 ,s6S $5,7S3 $500
Rosario ...... 4, ,S65 80. 3SOO
Tunis ........ 4.379s 6O03 2OO
PetroSrad -. 5.459 s,15I $500
Batum S,S8S 1882 2,SOO
'And bouse.
With regard to salaries Of commercial
attaches and consuls, the committee g
| recommendation is:
The salary should be commensurate
| with the iYlnnOrfa nce oP ha paSt<t4n ~