The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-05

sion in the public interest in interna-
tional affairs and in our own foreign
policies"
DR.. Pratt considers it eminently
proper, in view of the fact that the
bureau Of foreign and domestic conf
merce is that part Of the government
intrusted with the promotion OF Tor
eign trade, that suggestion should be
made regarding one feature OF trade
promotion that has been almost en-
tirely overlooked,
I'VE have utterly failed 10 make use
in our foreign trade promotion OF the
machinery of the conventional tariit
system, which our competitors have
employed with great success. We have
been satisfied to get most-favored-na-
ton treatment from foreign countries,
or. in other words, tariff concessions
adapted to the needs of otner countries
and not to our own. Other countries,
by mutual tariff concessions have
gained valuable markets for the goods
which they are peculiarly fitted to
manufacture for export. Such conces-
sions in the aggregate make up con-
ventional tariff. This is matter which
is entirely outside the discussion OF a
protective tariff, a tariff for revenue
only, or free trade. A conventional
tariff system may be based on a high
or a low tariff and to be regarded sole
" as a method OF promoting foreign
trade"
The report discusses many OF the
other problems with which our export
ing interests are particularly con-
cerned at present, and 1t contains the
usual review Of the activities OF the
bureau for the year under considera-
ton. The new commercial attache
service is thoroughly described and
the need of more money for carrying
on the foreign service of the bureau Is
strongly insisted upon.
The effectiveness Of the bureaus
work in promoting American trade in
foreign countries is best shown in the
definite practical results obtained, To
prove that such results have been well
worth while, the report takes up In
detail q number of the largest con-
tracts that American firms have
closed as result Of the bureaus ac-
tiyities. Perhaps the largest order OF
this kind resulted from placing repre-
sentatiyes of a Russian concern In
touch with American exporters OF raw
cotton. One of these exporters reports
that it has closed five-year contract
for 10000 bales Of cotton annually,
which will amount to two or three
million dollars annually, or between
ten and fifteen million dollars during
the lief OF the contract.
Eve are also informed" continues
the report, "of four other specific IN
stances of orders, each one OF which
amounted to million dollars or more,
the information concerning which was
first published in our foreign trade OPP
portunity service. These are; A rail-
road for the island of Formosa; coal
handling plant for the port OF Durham,
South Africa; battleships for a South
American republic; and arsenal ma
chlnery for the arsenal at Hang Yang,
China.
"Recently we were informed by a
large milling concern in the West that
a little over two years ago they formed
a business connection with a concern
in Turkey. The name of this concern
had been obtained from the bureau.
During the last two years the amount
Of business done with this one concern
has amounted to over 100000
"Numerous instances have come to
our attention where Che results In
each instance have been smaller, but