Evening star., 1919-03-02

thcie Sam, FlSloning the Dig oP-
portunities for extension and de-
velop,nent of trade
Easing the Path with South Amer
r1 ica, and recogniz-
VI ooaheAce' ing the zeal Of
business houses in the United States
to send personal representatives to
show their goods and solicit business
in the alI-American countries. has
been easing the way of the CONNER
cial traveller to those countries.
He has taken very definite steps
to reduce the expenses of thoromgh
canvass of these several countries. to
facilitate the carriage of samples and
to settle ali doubt and uncertainty
regarding operations of commercial
travellers by instituting uniform
method of procedure. for all of these
countries.
Uncle Sam is negotiating series
of uniform treaties regarding COM
mercial travellers and their samples
with the countries of Latin America
This treaty has already been ratltled
by Uruguay and Guatemala 1t is
expected that Paraguay will be next
to approve If, and the same instsu-
rnent is being negotiated with prac-
tically all OF the Latin American
countries. Uruguay set the standard
and the United states senate an
nounced this action on OCTOBER ~
1918.
This reform, which will be of untold
tptl N
the United States ac-
IT,;fo cordtng to the views OF
the. government officials
treatleS. and the officers of the
biggest trade Organization in the
country. was brought about through
the efforts of the international high
commission. which has Offices i'll the
Treasury Department. this cofnfhis-
sion was created to give effect to the
recommendations of the hrst pam
American financial conference. held
in Washington In May, 1919. me
Secretary of the Treasury is chair
man of the commission
The uniform treaty incorporates the
principles recommended by the inter
general meeting in Buenos Aires IN
April 1915. There are three principal
advantages that accrue to American
business through these treaties;
First-One of the greatest difficult
ties encountered by commercial traV-
elers in the Latin
American countries has
been that the different
customs. states in some coun-
tries have mad numerous local taxes
and license fees, which the com
mercial traveller had to pay. so
that in some countries-Argentin
for example-the expense of making
a thorough canvass of the country
would cost as much as $4,000 Tor
taxes and fees The main object OF
the treaties therefore, is to substitute
a single license fee for the numerous
charges heretofore made by the va
rious localities. Under the treaty the
commercial traveller carries a certih-
cate of Identification executed by
the United States government, when
serves as his credentials on which a
single license is issued 10 him Tor
travelling throughout the country
second-The treaty will facilitate
the customs treatment OF the com
rnercial travellers samples. certain
samples without commercial value
will be admitted free of duty, while
other samples viii be granted tenn
norarv free admission under bond Tor
their re-exportation WITHIN SIX
months. The treaty defines what
shall be considered samples without
yalue. and a supplementary, protocol
matter in reasonable quantities car
ried by the traveller. Furthermore,
the countries ratifving the treaty are
bound to simplify customs formahtles
as much as possible, with a view 10
avoid DELAY in the clearance of sam
MOS The laws of most Latin Ameri-
can countries already contain provi-
sjons on this subject. but the prac-
rfce is not uniform and in some cases
the privileges are restricted.
X
The treaties remove any uncertainty
and put the procedure of the COM
mercial traveller
n4:e,4e on a uniform ba
sis when an
ldentIhcat10n. American firm
wants to send commercial traveller
to any or several Latin American
countries, he is sent to the Depart
ment of Commerce. When he mas
given evidence of his integrity reila-
h,lity and right to a certificate of
Identification II Is issued to him. Each
If these certificates is numbered.
Each bears the signature OF the com
rnercial traveller and responsible OF
fcer Of the firm. His photograph IS
affixed to the certificate of identlhca-
ton and it is signed by the chief OF
the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce. 1t is then vised by the
consul of the country to which the
traveller goes.
The commercial traveller is also pro-
yided with a uniform list of samples
to be certified by the collector of the
mort and accepted by the customs an-
thorities of the countries of des1gna-
ton. . .
Third-Another serious impediment
ia promotion of commercial relations
between the United States and Latin
American countries has been that
some of these governments do not
collect their license fees directly. but
farm out the privilege of collecting
them to private companies, and some
of these have an uncertain way of
collecting. The uniform treaty elm
mates that.
x X