Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-12

tefeete can I 3
Proposals 10 Aid cared for BY
a-.-m, Americans In
Ataoe' stead OF hiring
fsrsign eonsuis and vies eousuls. wa
written into the diplomatic apprcpria.
ton bill by the House foreign affairs
ccmmitsee this week.
Large increases In the appropriation
Tor foreign trade Investigations by tn
Department Of Commerce have been
put into the legislative. executive and
judicial appropriations bill, which vii,
be taken up In the House inmediase',
following the rivers and harbors bill.
In addition to these proposals en-
tarIed to the activities Of the State
and Commerce departments In the tn
eerests OF American manufacturers
ana exporters numerous bills have
been introduced In both the House and
Senate designed to Increase the export
trade Of the United States and protect
American commercial interests.
One OF tbs most important OF these
is designed 70 supplement the Webb
Kenyon export law. which permits
American cenesrns to form aseccia-
ttens Tor pooling interests In search
dueed By Senator Fletcher Of Florida
At the request OF the bureau Of for
otEn ana domestic commerce. 1t pro-
vidss for the federal Incorporation Of
companies desiring to engage In for
etEn son,msree its purpose Is to es-
tabiish q uniform law under which
American Arms can incorporate for
the purpose Of carrying on foreign
trade, II Is intended to serve the same
purpose as the British companies act
IN the United Kingdom for British
csnnaedciai interests.
Such q law Is especially needed in
the Development Of commerce with
China, experts on
Plan for Federal export trade say.
Incorporation. that al through
the far cas-. and 70 great extent
In Russia the American manufactur-
ers and exporters are at 8 decided dis
advantage on account Of their incor-
'rorations under the various state laws
which afford them no protection In
the foreign countries.
This Fischer bill has the support
Of the Department Of Commerce and
Of the American Chamber Of Com
merce in China and 1t is expected to
carry practically the unanimous sup
port OF the export interests. Charles
esns n ss'fy e sSnsrl 3; fs... In
agents and reports for the War Trade
Board. has had much to do with urg-
ing this legislation upon Congress
He is just back from China, and so
has been able, 70 give 6rst-hand infor-
nation REGARDING the local needs.~
. ne h - pointed out e ths psp,rt.
company nov may be Incorporated
undsr the laws Of any Of the various
states. NeScha nts and lawyers in
fersixn cou"tFfes are not familiar
with these iav'B. Under federal in.
scrporstien there would be uniform
serests IN foreign courts. In China
especially and In other similar sit
cations where the United States ev-
erciRss extra Janitorial rights the
! Incorporation ccria be fiied with the
highest United States court.
Companies Incorporated under the
Fischer bill would be exempt from
all taHes. The question
Resolutions has arisen as to how
Prepessd. ss enforced. for exam.
pie. rs to limiting the stock TO Amer
lean capital. The chamber Of COM
merce in China wants the provision
Inserted limiting the ownership Of
eteck TO Americans. In places where
the United States exercises extra ter
rftofiai jurisdiction at least 81 per
cent az the stock, constituting q con-
trolling intefsst. must at ALL times
ee owned BY Americans. Every COM
pany Incorporated under this act
xsss ear, ss e. ss's Ct he r. ns sso, sss
Of shs heard Of directors and officers
Of tho companies also are required
to be American citizens. The ma
3osity Of applicants for such incor-
pssattens must be American eittss,s.
great assistance to American business
interests. government eiAeieis and
paeribsfs Of Congress think. Fareiga
customers will then be familiar with
the laws under which the Amsfican
houses are doing business. This ID
ebIiEa tiers are entered into. Lack
Of such law has forced many Amer
lean companies epssasin In China to
incorporate under the British COM
pahfes act, With 4 consequent tribute
To England IN taxes and disregard
srnmsntai representatives whsn there
Is osnAiet or rivalry between Ameri-
can ana British concerns. Amesieans
must IN that event face all titigatioa
IN British courts ana must look to
British ofhcisE for diplomatic support
heastiness than H. extended to Brit
feh su63sc4s or than would be had
With American automatic officials
safeguarding American interests.
Passage OF this act would take
long step toward affording adequate
interests in foreign commerce.
~
Early action on the Fletcher bill
Is bsiug urged heesuse the o1icials
Of the bureau Of foreign
TYade in and domestic commerce see
rn.. broad Held for extension
ons"' Of American trade In China.
They see most encouraging sign Of
the pesssaaency Of Americas foreign
trade In the increasing dssire OF
American manufacturers and export
ere to come In touch with the foreign
buyer. This has been observed In
nasny ways. for example in the Hang
kov district Of China There are
large number Of executives visiting
the port thus early in the postwar
trade eempstttion. on behalf of their
Aras. IA order that first-hand in