The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-13

Hoover, In his first annual report. made
public today. tells President harding
that tho establishment 0t Il real depart
ment Of commerce, effective In service
10 producers. manufacturers and o'S-
tributers, able 10 give economic inter
probation Of Importance 70 the American
public generally. and TO stimu1aie
American trade and merchant marine
requires "a thorough reorganization and
entire reCrouping OF the federal func-
lions bearing on these problems. he
adds. however. that inasmuch as these
matters are now actively before congress
and the administration Il Is not neceS-
sary on this occasion TO enter into dis
cussiou OF them.
0 AS I assumed office on March =
1921. the commerce secretary writes the
j president This report covers but -FOUR
months o. the administration or the ue-
partment under my direction. The ne"
administration during this four months
devoted Itself 10 two primary queS''CnN'
First Reorganization OF the de-
partmental expenditures.
Second. REORGANIZATION Of those
bureaus concerned with industry and
trade. that they may become OF more
effective service 10 the community
! Tho results OF reorganization en-
abled a revision OF the estimate OF eH-
lpend!tures for tho fiscal year ls2l-22'
J so that while the total appropriations
available for the department for this
period are s24.222.1e2. yet /; now seems
prohable that the expenses during this
ascal year Will approximate S2O2oO.VOV'
showing total saving OF about Sf.OVV'-
900, or ID 2-3 per cent OF the available
appropriations
Demand for information.
Tho results OF REORGANIZATION OK the
Nuaeaus concerning industry and trade
are IN part indicated by the increase IN
volume OF demand upOu the department
FOR he!pSN action or information. THESE
demands 2ave now reached rate OF
over 100000 per annum.
I Tho further practical results 70
American commerce and industry Will
he more avIdent later In the year and
lcomment upon them can best be deferred
iuntil results have been further realized
Secretary Hoover calls attention that
while the Sotal foreign trade OF the ma
itlon docSeased by $3,lI6,626.o0o during
tho past lscal year. there was slight
liner ESQ in the visible balance OF trade
! IN favor Of the United states as a re-
suit OF the years operations.
Exports for the year total'cd $685.
$4,000 against &7.s59.+29.lSo the year
before whI,e imports w. S5.65A.+49.t5n
against s5.22S352.l1A. The balance OF
trade for the year was S.lS6.6O9' com
pared with S2.71,S07,5l2 the year be-
fore
Shrinkage In Trade.
Part OF tho shr!nkaSe In the value OF
foreign trade is due. 'hc rcpor: tsays.
:" TO lower prices rather than 20 dim
finished quantities and part 10 the gen
teral unsettled conditions IN the coun-
tries 70 whom the United States sells,
1T is. therefore. increasingly i'm
lportant. 1T IS added. that the services
loS the bu1rau Of foreign and domestic
commerce be developed and intensified
Ito meet the Increased demands or
American. manufacturers who are plan
ming 70 ibid and extend their markets
abroad"
In thts connection. Mr.. Hoover re-
views the work OF the various divisions
tor the bureau, noting that the Latin
American division has rendered notaole
services 10 American business men dur
ling thk wear" He also calls attention
that the Far Eastern work has been eA-
'panded and developed.
Tho secretary says the bureau re
.quires great additional strength II It Is
10 serve the purpose really Intended by
congress and meet the demands that are
made upon It BY the business men or the
country in their present distress. No'
ONLY should moro attention be given 70
trade promotion. he adds, but 1t Shou!c
be possible 70 make tho more detailed
economic surveys abroad that are now
80 indispensable because OF the enorm-
ious financial interest wa have IN foreign
delds."
Tho Merchant Marine.
- o n
American merchant marine during the
last fiscal year Is noted In the report.
Tho number OF ships on last June 80
was cS,5nO OF 1S.359.OOO gross tons COM
lnared with 2S.1S3 Of 16.324.024 gross
IONS on Juno 80. c92o. The years in
crease compares with 100000 gross
tons FOR the previous year.
us tho shipping boards batlding pro-
gram will soon be completed" the re-
mort saws, Tho increase IN tonnage for
tho current fiscal year will be much
smaller: Indeed. II the wooden ships
built under war contracts are stricken
from the register and broken up. our
total tonnage at tho end OF the year
will not materially change from the
present agure."
Marina accidents resulting In loss or
life totalled 200 during the year, az
lcording TO tho report. The total OF lives
lost was $50 81 which 50 were pas
,scngcrs and $50 were from suicide, &C
,c!dortal drowning and other similar
causes, leaving IL. Mr.. thier says. as
'"fairly chargeohle to accidents, COLI
.sions fouuderingS. etc.
! Passengers to the number % S51.Tc0.-
800 were carried on vessels required 10
report TO the service. 4 Is stated. and
dividing this by the number lost. X is
shown that 5.n9T.4O4 passengers were
carried for each passenger lost.
Appropriations acEregattng $3.5ON.Ohe
FOR the construction OF fifteen new light
vessels and tenders to replace vessels
nov In services are requested. The re-
mort also says provision Is greatly
needed !or improved depot facilities In
several % The districts. particularly a.
or near Norfolk. Va; Key West, Fla
Honolulu AMI Newport. r. l.. and ad-
dltional funds are needed for the com
pIetfon OF depots n Boston. Charleston.
IS. c.: Detroit. San Juan. Porto Rico and
iKetchikan. A'asya.
A request also is made for additional!
vessels FOR the coast and geodetlc sur
'vey, the report declaring that II tho
much needed speeding UP OF surveys In
Alaska 20 meet tho increasing needs OF
commerce there Is TO DO accomplished,
at il absolutely necessary mat several
new vessels designed and built for the
purpose be provided"
MOUNDSVILLE