The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-17
REDFIELD WANTS
BUREAU TO HELP
j. s. INDUSTRIES
Secretary Of Commerce Ap-
proves Proposed Govern
ment Owned IntraCOaStal
Waterway to Line Up Cities

Waterway to Line Up Cities
WASHINGTON, Dec. l7.-Expansion
of the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce to enable it to give effective
aid to American manufacturers ana
merchants in taking full advantage OF
after-the-war world trade opportunities
is the chief recommendation of Secre-
tary Redfield in his annual report,
The secretary also reiterates his ap-
proval of the proposed development OF
a government-owned i"ntracoastal wa
terway to link up the great cities OF the
East from the lakes to the coast and
down the Atlantic seaboard.
Dealing with postwar trade tne
part the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce car play, the report empha-
sizes especially the need for additional
commercial attaches and trade commits
sioners. The balance OF trade in favor
Of the United states for the fiscal year
1918 IA 81, 1882, 226, 2SS; the total of the
merchandise export trade was $5,92S,-
2S5,641 and of the import trade S2,946,-
059, 40S.
Measured by the economic needs of
the country and by the grave responsi-
bilities OF postwar competition, the
report says, the bureau should be eX-
banded substantially in every branch OF
service.
New attaches should ne assigned to
a number Of important capitals. espe-
cially Athens, Rome. Madrid, ottawa, |
Mexico City and Santiago, Chile. We
should also establish at the earliest pos
sible moment resident trade commits
sioners in Sweden, Norway, Great Brit
ain, France, Greece, Switzerland, Rus
STA, Mexico. Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil,
Colombia and Venezuela, Dutch East
Indies, China. Philippine Islands, Brit
18Th India, Japan, Malay peninsula
Egypt, South Africa. Australia and New
Zealand. The value of resident repre-
sentatives is too obvious to require any
argument for the extension of this fea-
ture Of our service.
Big Field Open.
THE field for European investiga-
tions by special agents Immediately
upon the conclusion of the war will be
so extensive that the bureau will re-
quire greatly increased funds. American
concerns have a tremendous field for
service to our allies in helping them
rebuild and for future business.
TOO much emphasis can not be
| placed on the desirability of employing
trained economists, statisticians and
experts on banking, shipping, etc, in
excess Of the bureaus present force,
| These types Of economic authority are
constantly needed to conduct work
equal in Importance to that performed
by the great federal commissions in
Washington.
Our country is looking to the bu-.
reau Of foreign and domestic commerce
to do its share in preparing the coun-
try for economic security and prosper
ity after the war, when the chief in
dustrial and commercial forces in both
h~emispheres will be ready to launch
great organizations on the commercial
seas in quest Of trade, The instinct OF
commercial self-preservation demands
organized action. This Is not the time
for short sighted thrift. Other coun-
tries are looking ahead and spending
money to organize for their CONNER
cial security.
"a wisely liberal preparation now
will mean millions Of income some day
to his country. will mean Industrial
prosperity for our labor and will mean
strength for our economic structure
against adverse conditions or sharper
competition from any quarter. No coun-
try has e~xcelled us in the type of COM
mercial service which we have for six
years past rendered to the business
community, and this position should be
maintained by us, regardless of our
temporary absorption in military de-
Tense"
Waterways Important.
Of the inland waterways Secretary
Redfield says
An important step forward, which
VIII be OF great advantage to our com
merce, was taken when the director
general Of railroads. assumed, on behalf
or the government for the period Of the
war, the operation of the Cape Cod
and the Delaware and Raritan canals,
the latter being operated in connection
with the New York state barge canals.
every economic, military and naval ar
gument points to the Importance OF the
earliest possible development of a gov
eminent owned waterway correspond
ing with what Is commonly known as
the Atlantic intracoastai waterway,
connecting all the great cities Of our
Atlantic seaboard with one another,
reaching to the Great Lakes and Lake
C~hamplain, and with all the railroad
terminals along our Eastern coast.
such a waterway, sale alike from
the effects OF storms and from the acts
of enemies, would be a great asset to
the nation II 1t were available today.
The development of the use Of our in
ternal waterways having been taken
over by the railroad administration, this
department retains an interest in them
only because Of their effect in pro-
noting our commerce"
Legislation to provide Tor the estab-
lishment Of standards for all lines Of
industry with the bureau as the de-
termlning and classifying agent Is sug-
gested by Secretary Redfield. He says:
The functions OF the bureau Of
standards should be SO enlarged as to
permit the maker Of any standard COM
modify to submit a specimen OF his
product for examination and to provide
that the bureau, after Sucn an exami-
nation, should certify to the facts that a
buyer, domestic or foreign, ought to
know respecting the nature Of the ar
ticle. The manufacturer should be per
mitted to attach a copy of the C%ertifi-
cate to all of his production of the par
ticular kind and quality so certified.
Wants Penalties.
Severe criminal penalties should be
provided for willful violation Of the
manufacturers agreement to attach the
certificate of the bureau OF standards
only to goods coming fully up to the