Evening star., 1921-03-09
HOOVER WILL ASK
CONGRESS FOR AID
Shaping His Policy to Extend
the Usefulness of the De-
partment of Commerce.

A definite policy of expansion and
coordination of the bureau of foreign
and domestic commerce and various
other foreign trade organizations
located within the Department of
Commerce and other government
agencies will be launched by Herbert
Hoover Secretary of Commerce. within
short time. it was learned today
Although Mr.. Hoover's declaration of
policy has not been made public, it is
expected to be announced to news
paper men at the Commerce Secre-
tary's first conference with press
representatives. tomorrow morning;
Mr. Hoover has been in constant
conference with chiefs of the various
bureaus of the Department of Com
merce since last Saturday and has
indicated to them an extensive
knowledge of the several problems
that concern the various bureaus Of
the department. In fact. according
to officials, Secretary Hoover has
sometimes shown a very surprising
knowledge Of the work Of the bureaus
and the problems with which they are
confronted.
Will Ask for Appropriation.
That Secretary Hoover will ask Con-
grcss for an appropriation approx
mating SbUD.UUU IOT eSpdIiSiOi Ci lile
work of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce and possibly ask
transfer of the statistical work of
the customs office from the Treasury
Department to the Department Of
Commerce was indicated today. In
addition. it was intimated that there
will soon be a definite movement un-
der way to transfer the commercial
activities of the consular division of
the State Department to the Depart
ment of Commerce.
Confliction of work of consular rep
resentatives and commercial attaches
and trade commissioners of the bu-
reau of foreign and domestic COM
merce has frequently been charged.
and in seeking appropriations for
both the consular service of the State
Department and the commercial at
tache service of the Department of
Commerce members of congressional
committees have sometimes inferred
that unnecessary conflict ensued
To obviate such possible confliction of
work Mr.. Hoover may ask Congress for
authorization to transfer the commercial
activities of the consular division to
the Department of Commerce
Creation of position analogous to
that of undersecretary of state, the in
cumbent of which will be in charge of
all foreign trade matters, is understood
to be one of the methods involved in
bringing the consular trade service of
the State Department to the Department
of Commerce. to which Mr.. Hoover is
giving much thought. 1t has been
pointed out to the Secretary that con-
centration of the whole expended pro-
gram of American trade extension will
involve creation of new office, prob
ably over that of director of the bureau
of foreign and domestic commerce. The
proposed undersecretary of commerce
may be DIR. McElwee.
HcOver'x Knowledge of Department.
Mr.. Hoover's extensive knowledge
Of the work of the various bureaus Of
the Department of Commerce was
aptly shown, it is said in his con-
ferences with DR.. S. w. Stratton of
the bureau of standards and Dr. Roy
S McElwee of the bureau of foreign
and domestic commerce. In both con-
ferences the new Secretary showed
great familiarity with the work of
the bureaus and is understood to have
presented to DR.. McEwee Il concrete
policy for expansion of the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce.
Although Secretary Hoover is not
exnected to announce it tomorrow, it
has been made known there is
nossjb,lity the Shipping Board will be
transferred to the Department of
Commerce
Mr.. Hoover left Washington for
New York this afternoon. He will be
back in this city tomorrow.