New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
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20 that Of a poor third" declared the
minister. who added:
"Such has been the state OF com
mercial relations between CHINA ana
the United States in the past The out
break of war in Europe has brougft
about an entirely new situation. WIN
the dedication Of the financial re-
urces Of Europe 20 the art OF de-
struction and the consequent disioca-
ton Of business and industry IN that
part OF the world. not only has the
money centre been shifted 20 America
/ for the present, but the burden anc
responsibility of supplying the markets
in the Far East has been thrown to a
very large extent upon the shoulders
Of American merchants and manuisct-
ureTS.'
Giving the lie to those who have
charged that the chief interest or the
American business man IN the terrible
conflict abroad was the opportunity II
offered him "to coin the agony of
Europe into increased dividends, I'd
ward A. Filene, of Boston, was heartily
applauded.
Mr.. Filene declared that the Amerl-
can business world had already gone
on record as favoring the establish
ment Of an international court TO be
supported by league OF nations
agreeing 70 use their concerted forces
in the form Of non-injercOurse and. n
necessary. military action against any
nation OF the group that should refuse
20 submit justiciable matters to the
agreed upon tribunal Tor examination.
at is doubly significant that the vote
favorlng the use of economic pressure
was larger than the vote tavorlng tne
use of military force continued Mr..
Filene. This vote indicates thai
American business men. Il they could
feel that thereby they were dong their
share in keeping the peace Of the world
would be willing 10 help PUNISH the
yiolators Of international agreements
by putting an embargo upon all goods
/ as well as munitions Of war. American
/ business touched a high point OF IDEAL
I ism in expressing its willingness 10
sacrifice material interests for the com
mon good Of the world.
thereafter. the man who charges
American business men with q willing
ness 10 sacrifice principle IN q greco
for blood money must reckon with
Z the vote on this referendum
Export Statistics Wrong.
Wholesale inaccuracies in govern
ment export statistics were admitted
bv Secretary Redfield of the Depart
ment Of Commerce in speech before
the chamber. He said, however, mat
by an order issued on February ] he
had remedied the situation so far as
was in his power, and that the gross
errors Of the past. caused'by reiusaI OF
shippers TO give the government lacts
and by Anticipated laws, would not be
repeated.
The Secretary referred to charge
made q month ago by officials Of the
chamber that the percentage Of error
IN departmental reports was so great II
was impossible even for experts TO estI-
mate il: that single cargOes running
into thousands Of dollars in value lett
American ports without being record
ed. and that the published export fig
ures for 1914 fell far short OF the
actual exports.
Mr.. Redheld said this probably un-
derststed the case. There was only
slight insccuracy in import statistics.
he added. az returns on imports were
more under government control.
"Such errors as have existed IN re-
cording exports" said the Secretary,
ARE probably understated. The bust
ness Of compiling figures OF S5,OOO,OOO,-
GOO a year under law OF 1920 is not a
simple matter The errors have been
caused wholly by shippers who we're
unwilling to state the facts
~ am glad that you have gone into
this matter. welcome your cooper
alton. You are my witnesses that there
ar no closed doors in the Department
of Commerce. So long as ! have any
thing to do with that Department If
there is anything Of concealment !
will show il up
Committee Reports Discussed.
Reports of special committees Of
the National Chamber were presented
al the afternoon session and DIS
cussed. Among the subjects presented
we're Federal Trade" by Chairman
Harry A. Wheeler; Immigration by
Chairman Frank 1rumbull; National
Budget" by Chairman X. G. Rhett;
Education" by Chairman Frederick A..
Geir: Foreign Relations" by Chair
man Charles II. Sheriff.. ex-Minister
70 Argentina, and Statistics and
Standards" by Chairman A. w.
Douglas.
Suggestions on the immigration
question were along the lines that if
the United States is TO continue TO
permit the unrestricted entry Of i'm
migrants IL should see to II that they
are not only properly distributed
throughout the lald, but that proper
steps are taken to educate them not
only 20 speak the English language
but along some line of occupation. Ii
was suggested that the transient I'M
migrant who came to the United
States with the idea of returning 90
his country after accommodating a
pile" Of money should be compelled
TO contribute to the upkeep OF Amer
lean schools and otherwise contribute
toward the expenses of the community
in which he lived.
The National Chamber reafhrmed lis
attitude in favor Of the proposal for a
national budget and for budgetry pro
cedure in relation to the annual est
mates Of the executive departments
and in connection with the annual APP
propriations for expenditures by Con
gress.
Nh. Sheriff., before presenting his re
port on foreign relations. Tired tht
meeting with the statement that the
chamber would have the pleasure az
it next annual meeting o. earring 81
address by Republican President. Nt
said that he was sorry 70 hear OF nn.
criticism Of inviting the President ol
members Of the Cabinet TO address the
chamber; that they must remember
that Nh Wilson twas elected President
Of the United States by the greater o
three parties, but now the lesser OF w
parties" and that Ia choosing the very