The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-12-10
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT
HAMPERS BUSINESS

Washington, Dec, S, Especial cor
respondence).-The Confidential cir
cular method of government-paid
Democratic publicity being carried on
by Secretary Redheld's department to
an extent which threatens still further
TO increase the postal deficit, has met
with decided disapproval from manu-
featuring the export circles. On
November 4th the Department of
Commerce sent out a circular which
stated:
More than twenty nations are re-
presented by visitors to the United
States who are now making their
headquarters at the branch Offices of
the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce, Department of Commerce.
and who are seeking new trade rela-
tons"
Our manufacturers are by no means
certain that all these visitors are here
to make purchases. The recent ar
rangement entered into by the De-
partment of Commerce with the Swiss
toy manufacturers by which the de-
partment became the promoter and
publicity agent for the Swiss toy in
dustry, leads many to suspect that
some of these visitors will receive
similar encouragement for the dis
posal of their wares in the American
market.
But even if they come here for the
purpose of making purchases for their
respective countries, the export
manufacturers are highly incensed at
what they characterize as ian unwar-
ranted governmental interference with
private business" 1t is pointed out
that American exporters who have
connections in foreign countries, or
who maintain offices in foreign cen
tiers at considerable expense. as well
as concerns which have goods to sell
and which do not operate foreign
branches, take exception to the form
of these confidential circulars on the
ground that they make it appear that
a department. of the United States
government virtually endorses the re-
sponsibility of these foreign business
men who are visiting this country
for commercial purposes.
Furthermore, it is their opinion that
the United, States ought not to permit
private citizens to make their head
quarters in federal government offices
So far as is known the department
uOCS uOt u investigate the
standing of foreigners who visit its
Offices and for whom the chief of the
bureau sends out confidential circu-
lars.
One prominent manufacturer and
exporter of pumps was heard to ex-
claim that. ''if Red6eld and his depart
ment would let me alone and quit his
internal meddling with business,
could attend to my own foreign pump
business to my own satisfaction" And
he called attention to a recent. order of
Secretary McAdoo, said to have been
issued at Mr.. Redheld's request, which
required, among other things, that
shippers specify the motive power, the
flag and name of the steamer on which
the shippers products were going to
be sent abroad, and also the contents
of every package, all marks. etc.
Nearly all of this information is
now contained in the ships manifests
which must be filed with the customs
house in New York." he declared,
and "the government is asking for a
lot of confidential information that af-
forwards will be made public. Our
foreign competitors will thus obtain
data to which they are not entitled.
As for telling the kind of vessel in
which my goods are shipped, | have
yet to find a pair of binoculars which
will carry from my plant to New York
harbor.