Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-15
commissions in Washington.


 Our country is looking to the Blu ! reau of Foreign and Domestic Com. ] merce to do it's share in preparing the country for economic security and | prosperity after the war, when the l chief industrial and commercial for | ces in both hemispheres will be ready l to launch great organizations ol 1 the commercial seas in quest of trada | The instinct of commercial self-ppre- i servation demands organized action This is not the time for short-si ght- ed thrift Other countries are lock ing ahead and spending none, to or ganize for their commercial security "A wisely liberal preparation new will mean millions of income some day to this country, will mean indus trial prosperity for our labor, and will mean strength fer our economic structure against adverse conditions or sharper competition from any quarter. No country has eXcclied IL, in the type of commercial service which we have for six years past rendered to the business communi- ty, and this position should be main tained by us regardless of our tenn porary absorption in military de- fense"
 Of the inland waterways Secretary Redfield says:
 "An important step Forward. which will be of great advantage to cur commerce, was taken when the Di- rector General of Railroads assum- ed, on behalf of the Government for the period of the war, the operation of the Cape Cod and the Delaware and Raaitan canals. the latter being operated in connection with the New York State Barge Canals. Every eco homie, military and naval arsGment points to the importance of .he ear- Hest possible development of a Governmental owned waterway cor responding with what is commonly known as the Atlantic intracoas.al waterway, connecting all the great cities of our Atlantic seabord With one another, with the New York State waterways, reaching to the Great Lakes and Lake Chauberlen, and with all tn railroad terminals along our eastern coast
 Such waterway, safe alike from the effects of storms and from the acts of enemies, would be a great asset to the Nation if it were avg il- able today. The development of the use of our internal waterways having been taken over by the Railroad AG- ministration, this department reta'ns an interest ill them only because of their effect in promoting our com merce."
 ,I~ fo fOl hn tablishment of standards for all lines of industry with the Bureau as the determining and classifying agent is suggested by Secretary Redfield.
 init the maker of any standard com.
 "The functions of the Bureau of Standards should be so enlarged ,' says Secretary Redfield, "as to per- modity to submit a specimen of his product for examination and to pro- vide that the Bureau, after such an examination, should certify to the facts that buyer, domestic or tor eign, ought to know respecting the nature of the s,aEticle.s The manufac- turer should bexpern1ittted to attach a copy of the certificate to all of his production of the particular kind and quality so certified.
 Severe criminal penalties should be provided for willful violation Of the manufacturers agreement to at tach the certificate of the Bureau of Standards only to goods coming TUT ly up to the certified sample"
 War work accomplished by the Blu reau of Standards is extensively re- viewed in the report. Scientific pro- blems in nearly all branches of aero- nuatics have been investigated by the Bureau during the year and much assistance given on airp!ane-mOrOr problems. Munitions guages were standardized and methods of produc- ing optical glass developed
 The application of science to mi litary uses,' the report says, ''are illustrated by several examples of the Bureaus work directly aqecting the comfort and eciency of the sol diar. The soldiers shoes are investi- gated in the laboratory and in the field to determine the most suitable leather. A sole leathere testing ma chine is used, and the leather is chemically investigated while control ling service tests are in progress by
  bility of shoe strings has also been under test Uniform cloth has been under careful investigation for some time in the textile laboratories of the Bureau
 'The heat conductivity of the sol- diers blanket has been studied. Cot ton blankets may equal wool blank cts in this respect The Bureau has investigated shelter tents, the soldi- CTS canteen, the other kit quipment washing and shaving soaps, combs, inks, and othr supplies for the sol- dier's use.
 1.-The Bureau also determined. by careful tests the most suitable trench oil stove, taking account not only of it's heating efficiency, but the danger of observation from the light radia- ted on the ground. It has standard ized the gauges for making the serv- ice rifle, has studied the problem of gun erosion, and the failure of gun parts and material in service. In short, there is scarcely phase of the soldiers needs and activities in