Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-12-02
U. s. NOVICE IN
WORLD TRADE

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2.-The FEEDER.
al Trade Commission today gave TO
the public the Bible OF the worldwide
trade war in which the United States
Is preparing TO plunge at the conclu
sion of the struggle in Europe. 1t is
the thousand-page report of the Com
mission on Cooperation in American
Export Trade. II shows what Is wrong
with present American export trade
conditions. where foreign nations have
superior facilities for advancing their
trade. and, finally. points the way to
a new trade supremacy for the United
States.
BY means of export combinations
and foreign trade cartels business in.
terests of foreign nations maintain
secret agreements whereby they do
not weaken each other by competing
among themselves, but cooperate In
getting the highest prices for their
goods, the report says. Backing these
organizations are highly efficient
banking structures and shipping lines,
the whole fabric working together TO
advance the national interests.
In the face OF this situation the man.
ufacturers and exporters OF the United
States find themselves unorganized,
engaging in competition resulting in
bitterest self.injury. devoid OF proper
banking and shipping facilities, and
therefore almost wholly at the mercy
OF the INSCRIPTIONS foreign combina.
lions. the report asserts.
The remedy for this situation, says
the Federal Trade Commission, lies In
the immediate revision OF American
laws. The American exporter. al.
though heavily beset from without BY
the trade conspiracies OF foreign ma.
lions. Is harassed at home by restrain.
Ing statutes which threaten him with
punishment If he attempts TO fight the
rest OF the world with the weapons
which are used against him.
The Commission strongly recon.
mends the legalization OF export com
binations and cartels for foreign trade
with the definite restriction that no
such combination shall use its organi.
Sation to operate in the territory of
the United States and bring about mo.
nopolies harmful to Americas people.
A tremendous amount OF evidence
OF the trade conspiracies and discrimi.
ush
against the United States by foreign
nations Is contained in the two vol,
umes comprising the report.
The report says that the rest Of the
world has forged ahead OF the United
States because our country has been
absorbed In its domestic concerns.
While the American nation, not yet
wholly settled and with It's interior re.
sources undeveloped and furnishing a
job for Americans for many years TO
come, has been trying TO serve It's own
people, the old countries OF Europe.
crowded and finished" from the in.
dustrlal, agricultural and economic
point of view, have been forced out OF
their homes TO make money out of
other countries. This has given them
the lead in foreign trade, Is the Com
missions's explanation.
Briefly, the remedy of the Federal
Trade Commission for the ills OF Amer.
lean foreign trade is:
Better shipping facilities.
Better foreign banking facilities.
Better methods Of obtaining trade
information.
LegRliIed export combinations.
LegaliZed American combinations to
buy abroad.
Evidence Of unfairness TO Americans
In foreign trade has been collected by
tho Commission. Because Americans
must use foreign telegraph. cable and
shipping facilities. all American trade
secrets readily fall into the hands of
competitors OF other nations. We have
no few foreign banks that an interna-
tional money trust OF tho European
nations has unchsllenged control OF
the foreign field and discriminates
against American foreign traders. &C
cording 10 the report