The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-15

ejon which in Washtngton is becom-
~ familiarIy known - "klotnS
XSang Nan" Its olncial name p
~ bursaa Of foreign and domestic
6nmmerco OF the department q
commerce, The director Of this Or
SANITATION ID Julius Klein; hsnce
- nickname.
Y The present bureau OF foreign
and domestic commerce WAS An
outgrowth Of the old bureau OF sta
tistics, which in turn was one Of
the Oldest OF al governmental bu-
reaus In Washington. The govern
meut began to collect and publish
tts statistics Of foreign trade and
navigatiou rs early as l7SV.
Throughout almost the whole OF
the 18th century this work was en-
trusted to the bureau OF statistics,
which was then an adjunct Of the
treasury department. In 1903 the
department Of commerce and labor
was created, and the bureau OF sta
tistics was transferred to the new
ministry. In 1912 It was Joined to
the. bureau Of manufactures. and
the coalition was called the bureau
OF foreign and domestic commerce.
The gathering Of trade statistics
continued to be the chief function
Of the bureau, but gradually 1t has
been taxing on new duties calcula-
ted to stimulate American foreign
trade. With the outbreak OF the
Europeau war In 1914 the eyes OF
American producers turned more
seriously toward foreign commerce.
The government established the Of
nee OF commercial attache at our
principal embassies and legations
abroad. These attaches were ap-
pOintees Of the department Of COM
merce, and they were directed from
the hrst by the bureau of foreign
and domestic commerce.
Still, until the time Herbert
Hoover became secretary Of COM
merce, now almost two years ago
the bureau had c0ntented Itself
with the collection Of trade infor-
nation. This was useful to the
commerce Of the United States, and
It warranted the expense Of c0llec-
ton, but nevertheless 1t was not Of
much value to the small manufac'
turer. He could not afford to main
tain the export organization thai
was necessary to enable him Il
take advantage Of the opportunities
which the government laid befor'
him. What he needed was actua
expert help that not only hrough
him and the foreign business to
gether but enabled him to land II
Almost . New Institution.
Mr.. Hoover saw In the origins
charter Of the department Of CON
merce the authority to build tha
department into an actual foreign
trade-getting body. The logical 81
reau to handle such . task was th
bureau Of foreign and domesti
commerce, and to this bureau th
task was entrusted. The results
two years Of effort have so tran,
formed this bureau that 1t has b,
come virtually q new government,
institution. Certainly It Is one [
the most outstanding administer
tive developments In Washingto
since President Harding took o
fee. q
TO bring about the transform,
ton Secretary Hoover reached o,
to Beunos Aires and took Their
from the American commercial a
tache, julius Klein, and Unstable
him as chief of the bureau. A
though Mr.. Klein Is a Phi. D. fro
Harvard, . former student In 70
eign universities and q former q
sistant professor at Harvard. he
no patriarch, having yet to eel
brate his 37th birthday. He Is 4
expert in Latin-American econor
ics. As he has built up the bures
he has put In men OF his own typ
At present the bureau consis
Of two main parts: the foreign Sc
vice-c0mmercial attaches Al
trade commissioners in % primo
pal trade centers-and domesti
with district and cooperative Q
fees Of the bureau in most OF Il
chief American cities. These d
visions put together form the info
mation-xathering and distribute
service.
But 1t is one thing to gather Il
necessary information and put it
the disposal Of American bushes
and quite another thing to get blu
ihess to take advantage Of the II
formation. And here is where Il
chief innovation Of the present a,
ministration Of the bureau. came i
War Experience Valuable.
The war organization OF the 90,
eminent had shown the way. II
powerful war industries boar
which controlled all industry dul
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