Evening star., 1919-05-11
PUTTING "BUSY" into BUSINESS

tee. which afterward became the War
Trade Board. During July and Au-
gust 1917. moro than half OF the ap-
pilcattons for export licenses made in
the United States were presented at
our New York off1ce, and more than
$4,000 licenses were granted there
without the delay necessary had they
been sent to Washington for action.
The district offices have aided i'm
portant business houses throughout
the country to adjust their operations
to the regulations of the various de-
partments of the government whose
DEGREES tended to check or change the
normal flow Of commerce"
Equally as important service was
rendered during the precarious days
imm ediately following the signing OF
the armistice, when there was q gen.
eral stampede to cancel orders and to
repudiate contracts. AS a result Of
information from the commercial
Gus localities the trade commissioner er
In Mexico. for example. was able to
accomplish Z notable feat by secur-
ing the reinstatement Of cancelled
orders to tho extent Of 100000, and
still others are being worked along.
When the spasm Of cancellation Of
contracts followed the armIstice there
was general ap-
Adjustment After peal for govern
the Armistice. taIn,nr u a'N orders. or
Without that intimate contact which
has been established by the district
offices the government officials would
never have heard Of the cancella-
tions.
Representatives Of the biggest con-
Germs in the United States go to these
offices for advice not only regarding
specific trade opportunities. but also
for general advice and trade policies.
They ask II the conditions in a Ger
tain country are good for extending
their trade or credit. They recognize
the district offices as authority on
trade policy.
Newly appointed trade commission
ers, commercial attaches. etc. md in
these district Offices a reception room
where they may meet the local busi-
ness men Of each community and talk
over with them the general line OF
the business interests
want. So that when they are making
their Investigations they can gather
that which will be Of the greatest
benefit to American interests and
present It in tho form that will be
most efficiently helpful. Then when
these trade scouts return they again
visit the district offices and make a
report direct TO the business men
whose needs and desires they had in
mind while making the investigation,
There Is an increasing demand for
such conferences at the district Of
fees, and Burwell 8. Butler. chief OF
the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce, is encouraging this close
association. .~a -.~-
The district Offices are coming to be
bazaars or great showrooms. where
- the products Of the
Serving as world which are OF
ch. particular interest in
shown. The samples gathered in for
eign markets by consuls and bureau
are exhibited there to
local manufacturers and exporters.
The main sample-exhibit room in
New York :, is a revelation OF
the - precise nature Of foreign
tition with American goods.
The idea is to show tho American
exactly what quality of
goods he must meet IN competition.
An important use Of these samples
is in connection with the conventions
Of the larger trade associations. An
other feature, Of the exhibition room
is a carefully indexed hle Of foreign
consisting Of Thousands of
different publications. 80"
Representatives OF many manufac-
turing and exporting firms have tes-
titled to the direct practical value to
them of such exhibits. A arm in Con-
necticut making electrical supplies
sent a man to New York for tho pur-
pose Of going over the samples from
the far east. and this concern f. now
q number of items similar to
those shown in the exhibit of goods
used in. japan. Exporters OF textiles
are continually being supplied with
clippings of fabrics sod In foreign
thereby eliminating the
delays incident to sending for sam
pies before filing orders. The head
of wearing apparel department of a
large New York export house stated a
short time ago that he had obtained
many ideas as to styles and qualities
demanded by South Americans that
were of much assistance, to him in
buying goods for export ina number
of instances the foreign exhibits have
been of value to firms making their
first trial in sending goods abroad.
4 +
Tho federal agents, In charre of
these district ofnces have also taken a
prominent part in
Foreign Trade foreign trade educa-
Education. .opsrat.as pnsa s'',.tas with ts. ne,
United States bureau Of education, the
Federal Board for Vocational Educa-
ton and local chambers Of commerce.
Practically every district office man
ager during the past year has con-
Quoted a foreign trade course in one
of the educational institutions In his
district. The personnel Of these classes
has consisted Of the representatives.
and many Of tho heads of the princi-
pal business firms in tho country. The