Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-13
FOREIGN TRADE SHRUNK
THREE BILLIONS IN 1921
Hoover Wants Commerce De-
partmsnt strengthened, Hs
Says In Report to Congress

wanhlng,on, psc. i3.--Sccrctar,
Noover. IN his first annual report,
nv~sie public today. tells President
iLn,llnx tNat the establishment OF
veal Department, OF Commerce, "erec-
tive in service To- producers. manu-
iavu.tvra pnd distributors. able to give
s,Unomiv Interpretation OF Importance
,e the American public generally. and
TO stimulate American trade and mcr-
Jhant marine" requires "a thorough
reorganization and entire regrouping
AZ the federal functions bearing on
these problems" lie adds. however.
that lnawmuch a. these matters are
row actively before Congress and the
administration it is not necessary an
shis occnsion 20 enter into discussion
~ thcm
"lhe roauita " reorganization en-
ahlcd n revision Of the estimates OF
expenditures for tho fiscal year i92l-
ng, 20 that whi. the total approprla-
iiuna available for tho department for
thla t,srloi are s2i.sse,iel. yet Il now
aeemr probable That the expenses dur
lnr this fiscal year viii approximate
SEQ 200 .uuo, showing a total saving OF
about 'iooo. .0oo. or i6sa per cent, Of
she hvallhlc appropriations
Secretary Hoover calls attention
Ghat Whilu the total foreign trade Of
tho nauon dccrcsscd 10y sS.176. .6s6. 600
during the tsst fiscal year. there was
= allnit Increase in the visible balance
a trade Ia favor ~ the United states
az "A rvsult of the years operations.
IMPORTS Cor tho ycnr totallcd s6.ss5.-
uie,0ap against si.q5o.ss $50 the year
hrfore whilo imports were ss,65l,4ia %
$40 ngainst st,s2S.35a,lla. The hala nee
uf trade fcr the year was se.7si.is6.-
500 compared with Ss.7ii.so7.5is the
year beforc.
Tho secretary ssys the bureau "re-
auires groat additional strength II Z,
H go serve The purpose really intend
~ hy Congress and meet tho demands
thet are made unon It by tho business
men 81 tho country IN their present
dislross," Not only should moro atten-
ilon he riven to trade promotion, hC
adds, nut % should be possible tc
mako the more detailed economic sur
NoNa ahroad that "arc now so indis.
pvnHahle because OF the enormous Il.
nancial interest We have in foreign
nelda'
An increase ~ 1000. 900 tons In ths
\mcriOaa merchant marine during tn,
last ilacal year Ia nated In the report
The number 80 shins on last juno >,
Wan $4,000 Of iS.a5o.O00 gross tons
compared with 2S.iSS OF i6.ses.o2.
1fuas tons on Juno so. 1890. The year,
inpreaEe compares with S.s00. 600 gros,
ions Tor the previous year.
Marine accidents resulting in loss a
fn ,oiahcd zoe during tho year. ac
'urlinu Go The report The total nur,
h.r ~ nyss los, ives $50 Of which 81
Wofo Messengers and 100 we're fror
suicide, accidental drowning and ethe
similar causes leaving III, Mr. t-hl.'
save. ~ fairly chargoahlc 20 accident,
collisions. foun3erinss, ETC."
l'aks, ngers TO the tho number @
ibita0,sp0 were carried on vessels ro
uuucd 90 report 90 tho service. il /,
stated, and dividing ths by the nun,
her ioai q - shown that 5.os7. se4 pas
senrtra were carried for each passen
Hrr ioei.
Appropriations asnucgsting $500.
600 ior The construction OF fifteen new
l.fhi vr>sois and tenders TO replac
vessels now ~ service are requested.
a request also IL made for additiona
>saia for tho Coast and Coed Ell
Survey.