Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-15
EXPANSION OF BUREAU
IS URGED BY REDFIELD
Says That After the War Kccncst
Competition VIII Prevail
in All Markets.
ALSO FAvoRs CANAL SYSTEM
General Scheme That
Would Connect All Eastern Coast
Cities With Waterway That Could
Not he Destroyed by Enemies.

wAsnlSGToT: pecemhsr !i.-Ex;
pansion Of the Bureau ~ t,ore!En ana
effective aid to American manufac-
turcrs and merchants in taking fun
advantage of after-thc-war world trade
opportunities is IN. chief rccnmnen-
daiion OF Secretary Rcdhcld in mis-
annual report made public to-day.
The Secretary also rei,era,es his ap..
IL rovcrnmcnt-ow introcoastal WA
tcrway to link up the grca, cities of
the Fast, from the lakes TO the coast
and down tn: Atlantic scaboard.
Dealing with post war trade and the
part the bureau of Foreign and DO
mcstic Commerce can play. the report
ditiOnal commercial attaches and trade
commissioners. The balance of trade
in favor Of the United States for the
fiscal year 1918 was $2.9S2. 226.23S: the
total Of the merchandise export trade
was S3.?2S.2S5.6il and Of the import
trade S2.9if059 i03.
Measured hy the economic needs of
the country and hy the grave rcSpon-
sibil'ties of postwar competition. the
rcport says. tho. bureau SHOULD be ex-
banded substantially in every branch
New attaches should he assigned to
ally Athens. Rome Madrid, Ottawa
Mexico City and Santiago. Chile. we
should also establish, at the earliest
missiomers. in sweden, Norway. Great
britain. France. Greece. Switzerland
Russia. Mexico, Bolivia. Uruguay. Bra
Eas: Indies. China. Philippine Islands.
british India. Japan. Malay Peninsula
EEsyp;; South A ;Si Austra!ia and
quire any argument for the extension
of this fsatnre OF our service.
tions by special agents immediately
upon the conclusion Of the war Will be
so extensive that the bureau will re-
30 inn f,,,N.
lCan concerns have Il tremendous field
Tor service to oar allies in helping them
rebuild and for future business.
Zoo much emphasis cannot be placed
on the desirab:lity of employing trained
economists. StatiSticians and experts
o? on, p,a ,g. shipping: etc. in excess OF
the bureau present force. These types
OF economic authority arc constantly
needed 10 conduct work equal I'M inn
pnrtahIe 70 that performed by the
ington.
our country is looking to the Blu
rehu OF Foreign and Domestic Com
incrce to do its share in preparing the
country for economic security aud
prosperity after the war. when the
n -, industrial and commcr"'al corces
IN ooih hcmisphercs will be reauy to
launch great organizations on the com
inerciai seas in quest of trade. The
instinct of commercial self prcserva-
ilon demands organized action. This
IS not the time for hort-sightcd thrift.
Other countries are looking ahead amt!
spehuihs money 10 organize for their
commercial security.
wisely liberal preparation now
VIII mean millions OF income some dav
10 TINS country. viii mean industrial
prosperity for our labor. and will mean
strength Tor our economic structure
aGainst adverse conditions or sharper
competition from any quarter No
COUNTRY has cXcellcd US IN the tyne
OF conmercicl service which we have
ior SIX years past rendered to the bust
ness community, and this position
sAouii be maintained by US regardless
Oh our Temporary absorption in mill
o.: the inland waterways Secretary
An important step forward. which
Will be OF great advantage to our com