The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-12-09
lINFR|CEs TRADE BA! lNCE .'AAtH
NOW NEAR S4,0O0,000,U00 MARK

now under construction. Ia more than
double the prewar output seer s'e"'u
tonnage for tho United states d' I'M
close Of the past fiscal year was over
5000. 600 gross tons, four times Srealer
than 1914 and is Increasing at Inv I"''
. "f 900 tons monthly.
The annual output II our shipyards'
,ho r.nort SAID. exceed the greatest an
mai on, III, nt the worlds shlpyards oc-
fnrn 1ar4 Steel Shiphulldng plants
have b,cn extended or established with
nov machinery. methods, housing. ana
transit accommodations equal. ana IN
SONS, respects superior to these ABROAD.
American tonnage clearing In overseas
trade in the fiscal year 1919 was SIX
tunes greater tain in 1914
The total gross tonnage or SHIPS NY
ing the American flag on June 20. 1919
va, l9.9O7.S0O. Of which 6.o69.t2o IONS
wcr. consigned to foreign trade. @'o"9'-
$50 TO the Gr'tt Lakes area ana S'ooA'e't
, To sea and river traffic.
The nceI for unified commercial
organization to help promote the ma
TONS commerce was urged in the re-
port. l, was pointed out that while unu-
rr The law it was the duty OF the Depart
mont Of Commerce to foster. promote
and develop the foreign and domestic
commerce." Of the country. half dozen
government agencies performed func-
lions Of vital necessity to this commerce.
The department. it was argued, should
have representatives, in these agencies
so that the whole work could be CO.
ordinated.
The secretary also said that lack OF
funds necessary to retain competent men
was handicapping the department in pro-
noting foreign trade. Additional ap-
lrNl co. ions
cauS. Declaring that the commercial az
tache service had amply proved its va
luc the report said the kind OF men
who weer useful for this work could OBJ
tain larger salaries in the employ or
COMPANIES engaged in the export busI-
ness.
Authentic information about foreign
markets is being hindered by resigna-
, tionS in the Bureau Of Foreign and Do
meStic Commerce, according TO the re-
port, which stated that meubers OF this
subsidiary after being Schooled by the
government invariably left to take POSI-
! ,ions with private companies where larg-
er salaries were paid.
The time has come" said the report,
when sufficient means should be pro-
vidcd so that the foreign trade service
of our government may be placed on
some permanent self supporting basis. 80
that accumulated experience may be re-
I tanned. The international trade situa-
ton of today is a matter Of vital import
ancc 10 III" prosperity OF this country
=. and 1t is essential that the most authcn-
! tic information about foreign markets Nc
+ obtained and distributed"
Fifty percent of the technical staff or
| the Bureau II Standards, one of tho most
J important bureaus Of the department,
has been lost the past two years because
Of the small salaries paid government
: employees. the report declared. This ar-
pics to all grades Of trained scientific
and technical men. but is especially true
= of The leaders in specific lines. This pu-
J r.au, x was said. was of great import
ance Ia industry as had been demonstrat-
! cd during the war.
Urgent needs OF the department Tor
the coming year as outlined in the re-
b port included additional vessels for N,
, lighthouse service and funds 10 cuutIr-o
, work Of this service; a Governmcnt-owIi-
! cd building to house all the services Of
the department and an additional ASSIST
: ant secretary to assist In the admins
/ tratinn and supervision OF the Increased
work Of the department.
, Additional appropriations for the on
: suing year of S6,265,llS were asked. Ne
report pointing out that the cost OF tn"
Fourteenth Dscennial Census al"n" w"uir
amount 10 S6.el5.000.