South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-10
PUNISH COMMERCE
And STATES WEST
G. o. P. Cuts Appropriation
Affecting Exporters and
Western Development.


WASHINGTON. March s.-The
republicans have aimed another
blow al business b. reducing the
appropriation for American com
mercial agents and attaches I'm for
eisn countries. The program OF the
republicans would iniuge the small
exporter and help the big fellow
That may be the real purpose Of the
republican leaders OF congress.
Here Is what "A subcommittee Of
the house committee on apprOpria-
tons would do: Reduce from S325,-
600 TO $4,000 the appropriation
for commercial promotion service.
The members Of the committee,
I, II fully informed" said Sec Alex
ander. would undoubtedly defer TO
the judgment OF the manufacturer
and exporter IN this matter, for the
service Is conducted solely for their
benefit.
AS II is the cutting by nearly
half OF the existing appropriations
for the bureau Of foreign and do
nestle commerce threatens a body
blow at American export trade and
development. IL viii mean the dis
mantling OF the most essential part
OF our foreign trade promotion ma
chinery at the very moment when
England. Japan. Germany and
France are leaving no stone unturn-
ed 20 increase the volume Of their
export business. Both England and
France have just reorRanized their
foreign commercial service on a
larger scale than ever before. other
countries are planning 10 do like
wise
This is no time for the United
states 70 throw into the discard the
entire commercial attache, service.
almost all OF the trade commits siOn-
ers abroad and the existing district
and cooperative officers OF the bur
eau OF foreign and domestic com
merce I'm fifteen American cities. II
has taken years 20 develop these
services to the point OF efficiency
which they now possess. The eX-
penditure of money necessary TO
build up and maintain the field
work OF the department Of COM
merce abroad and at home has been
amply justified, as ] am confident
thousands OF American business
firms, large and small. viii gladly
testify"
Would Punish West.
Democrats OF congress suspect
that the republicans are trying 20
punish the west for having voted
, the democratic ticket IN 1916 by
greatly reducing estimates for APP
propriatiOns in behalf of reclama-
ton projects and by abolishing the
Office OF surveyor general in certain
states. IL IS also believed by the
democrats that an understanding
has been reached between republi-
can leaders and their colleagues in
the lntermountain and Pacific coast
states that II the west will vote FOR
the G.. q. 2. I'm November, the APP
prOpriauOns reduced will be supple
mented.
In other words, leaders Of the
sixty-sixth congress would broWbeat
the far western states TO force them
into the republican column. Demo
Gratis are convinced that the plan
will not work. They look for the
voters to resent any such tactics. 4
number OF important irrigation pro-
jects have been crippled by the re-
DubIiCans. In some instances con-
tracts made IN good faith with
hOmesteaders cannot be carried out
IL was estimated that a millio,
dollars was necessary to keep faith
with the settlers on the FTatheaC
Indian reservation lands. The re.
publicans allowed but 5000 900. Thai
as a - grant instance OF Withholding
LunuE needed 10 carry OuL 1OUlIdCLs
OF years standing.
Under the pretense Of saving S4S,-
$40 the house committee on appro-
priations recommended that tho OF
ficers OF the survey general in the
states Of Arizona, California. Colo
RADIO. Idaho, Montana. Nevada, New
Mexico. Oregon, South Dakota
Utah. wyoming and Washington bt
discontinued after June 80, 1920
and that the work performed By
those offices thereafter be done by
the commissioner OF the general
land office
This proposition, n put through
VIII cause great Inconvenience to the
people Of the states involved. Dem
Ccratfc congressman viii make an
eTOrt 20 retain that service in spite
Of the republicans plan 20 eliminate
it The recommendation 10 do away
with these Offices IL made in the re-
port OF the committee 90 the house
On the legislative, executive and ju
dicial appropriation bill.