The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-14

tons can be based. The following are some of the matters upon which the Commission is now at work: 1-The establishment of the gold standard; a Pan American money of account; gold clearance funds under international guarantee.
 2-Uniform legislation on negotia- ble instruments; the Hague Rules on Bills of Exchange and Checks; the United States uniform laws on Bills of Lading and Warehouse Receipts.
 3-Uniformity of classification of merchandise and of customs regula- tions and documents; improved sani- tary conditions.
 differentiation of regulations gov- erning commercial travellers; and fed eralization of taxes imposed upon them.
 5-Arbitration of commercial dis pute--:, agreements between Chambers of Connnerce.
 6-Ratiffcation of conventions up- on patents, trade marks and copy rights. .lt
 7-Improved postal facilities; parcel post and money order conventions. Legislation governing telegraph rates
  graphic systems; improvement of tele- graphic service. Improvement of maritime and railroad facilities be- tween the Americas.
 8-Improvement of the legal posi- tion of merchant creditors.
 Not only was the International High Commission created to continue the work of the Pan American Financial Conference but Secretary McAdoo ap- pointed Group Committees" of prom inent American citizens to study the financial and commercial relations be- tween the United States and Latin America, a separate committee for each country. This division by coun- tries has been successfully tried in the Financial conference. These com mittees are performing valuable ser vice in an advisory capacity.
 The secretary also appointed a committee on return visit. which has organized various commissions to visit all the countries that were represent ed at Washington, paying particular attention to the means of carrying out the recommendations of the Financial Conference in the respective coun- tries. By these steps such material is being accumulated for the study of the American people in the course C1 the expansion of their trade relations with their sister republics.
 The great markets of South and Central America are now seeking us The total imports of South America alone. exclusive of thoset from the United States, during the last year ot available statistics prior to the out break of the European war were something like $700. 100000. But we must realize that these imports pre- suppose a close connection with Flu rope. that European capital has built up South America as it so largely helped to build up our own country and that we cannot hope to oust Flu rope lor even compete with Europe unless we are ready to study the needs of the people whom we seek to serve and deal with them as they are accus. toned to be dealt with by European merchants and bankers If we de this, we shall be in position to re. ceive much larger portion of Latir l American trade than we have and not have to be satisfied with that which | cannot go elsewhere.
 American business and American enterprise rarely have had so invit ing an opportunity to create a great place Tor themselves on a tremendou: scale, and every effort has been made by the administration to encourage our business community to take ad. vantage of this opportunity.