New-York tribune., 1919-12-09
Report of Secretary of
Commerce Shows Exports
and Imports Made New
Records During the Year
Ship Tonnage Growing
Unified Commercial BODY
Asked to Aid Business;
Better Wages Are Urged

WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-America's 8
trade balance for the fiscal year ended
June 80 was $s,97s,134,947, "a figure
never approached in the commerce of
any nation in the history Of the world"
said the annual report of the Secretary
of Commerce.
New high marks were established in
both exports and imports. exports to-
falling $7,074,o11,529 and imports $3,-
09b,876,5S2. Exports to Europe aggre-
gated $4,0o4,816,S41; to North America,
s1,291, ,s32,342; to Asia. s6o3, 4,54s,
and to South America, $4O09o1, sol.
Despite war losses the worlds mer-
chant tonnage is larger now than at
any other time in history, the report
said, the total tonnage being 50,919,000
gross, compared with 49,089, 900 in 1914.
The present average efficiency of the
worlds merchant tonnage, however, is
ent reasons in construction and for ex-
traneous reasons such as port conges-
tion, labor troubles and management.
Tonnage Still Increasing
Net gain in steam tonnage for the
world was placed at 100000 gross
tons, while that Of the United States
was 100000 gross tons. Merchant
tonnage now under construction is
more than double the pre-war output.
Steel steam tonnage for the United
States at tho close of the last fiscal
year was over 100000 gross tons. four
times greater than 1914, and is increas-
ing at the rate of $4,000 tons monthly.
The annual output of our ship
yards" the report said, exceeded the
greatest annual output of the worlds
shipyards before 1914. Steel ship
building plants have been extended or
established with new machinery,
methods, housing and transit accom-
superior, to those abroad. American
tonnage clearing in overseas trade in
the fiscal year 1919 was six times
greater than in 1914
The total gross tonnage of ships fly
ing the American flag on June 80, 1919.
was 12,907 300, of which 6,669,726 tons
were assigned to foreign trade, $685.
$50 to the Great Lakes area and 3,6O1,-
894 to sea and river traffic.
The need for a unified commercial
organization to help promote the ma
tion's commerce was urged in the re-
port. 1t was pointed out that while
Department of Commerce to "foster.
promote and develop the foreign and
domestic commerce" of the country,
half dozen government agencies per-
formed functions of vital necessity to
this commerce. The department, it was
argued, should have representatives in
these agencies, so that the whole work
could be co0rdinated.
Lack of Funds Hampers
The Secretary also said that lack Of
funds necessary to retain competent
men was handicapping the department
in promoting foreign trade. Additional
appropriations we're asked for various
bureaus. Declaring that the CONNER
cial attache service had amply proved
its value, the report said the kind of
men who we're useful for this work
could obtain larger salaries in the en-
port business.
Authentic information about foreign
markets is being hindered by resig-
nations In the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, according to the
report. which stated that members of
this subsidiary, after being schooled by
the government, invariably left to take
positions with private companies, where
larger salaries were paid.
The time has come" said the re-
port, when sufficient means should be
provided so that the foreign trade serv-
ice of our government may be placed or
some permanent self-supporting basis
SO that the accumulated experience may
be retained. The international trade
situation of to-day is matter of vital
Importance to the prosperity of this
country, and it is essential that the
most authentic information about for
eign markets be obtained and dis
tributed."