Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11
Continued From First Pase)

him. He had to devote a good deal Of
attention to the work Of organization.
The growth and expansion Of the
department under his tutelage was
without precedent In Government serv-
ice. Mr.. Lamont has the job Of step
ping up the productive efficiency Of
the machine.
To fully comprehend by way Of COM
parison the points at which We are
likely 70 observe emphasis in bust
gine, 1t seems necessary to sketch
briefly the background. Until recently,
the Bureau OF Foreign and Domestic
Commerce, chief promotive agency Of
the department, has been devotine
itself almost exclusively to the ex-
pansion of foreign commerce.
Before Mr. Hoover's time 1t was the
practice Of the department to send
economic experts, Of varying degrees
Of experiences. on roaming missions to
all quarters of the world. Some of
these special agents enjoyed tourist
junket at Government expense. Others
returned reports which, while Of only
fair value as economic documents,
nevertheless by their very audacious
enthusiasm stimulated the Imagination
Of American business men and led TO
our hrst real general interest In foreign
markets.
Actual Sales Promotion.
As Secretary If Commerce. Mr..
Hoover reorgsnized the Bureau Of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce on
commodity lines. Men we're drawn to
its service from practical commercial
pursuits. Since. the trend has been
away from academic discussions Of po-
tential purchasing powers in India or
Brazil and toward actual sales promo
ton. There was a time when II an
exporter turned up with surplus to
dump somewhere, the department
wcald And some place On ths map
that appeared an attractive dumping
ground. Now the department is Just
Just his production schedule. There
are a few less doctors Of eco
Monies and good many more
doctors of craftsmanship. There are,
OF course, men competent to make
an economic analysis of comprehensive
scope. But there Is a numerical SUI
periority Of fellows who can adyec
about exporting shoes and sutomo-
biles. farm implements and radio sets,
bonds and bacon. Under Secretary
Lamont, selected by the President for
MS own pTaCtlCdl dttdulHlentS, Get
tainly there will be no diminution OF
the premium placed upon the work.
ing technique Of business.
The creditor position Of the country
relieves In some degree the urgency
for building up favorable balances in
our exchange Of goods with foreign
nations. But the phenomenal increase
in our productive efficiency is rapidly
developing new pressures for foreign
outlets. Last year American mer-
.chandise exports exceeded our foreign
purchases of goods by over a billion
dollars. Notwithstanding the impor-
lance of invisible items, this exchange
of merchandise is the vital factor in
international commerce. So long as
NE retain favorable merchandise bal
ances We cannot become a nation Of
money-changers. It both signifies and
assures basic economic health.
Sixty Offices Abroad.
The Department Of Commerce now
has some so Offices In foreign lands
whose function 1t is to keep this n1er-
chandise balance in sound condition.
While q small expansion Of this Or
ganization IL contemplated. 1t will be
the primary effort of Secretary Lamont
to tune up the machine to higher
pitch Of efficiency, to realize SUI
perior order Of sales promotion with
the organization created by. his dis
tinguished predecessor.
Though the expansion Of our mer-
chandise export business since the war
has been remarkable-we sold more
than $4,000, 900, 900 worth Of goods in
l928-there has been an unhealthy
transient character to much Of it.
! which revealed, no very definite APP
praiSement of exportable SURPRISES, no
clear determination to build specified
export projects from the ground up-to
stay in the game nine innings. It has
become increasingly more apparent that
the relation between domestic and for
eign business, save with the older and
more sophisticated organizations, too
often has been influenced more by in
spiration. hunch or circumstance than
by deliberate calculation.
With domestic market Of such SEEM
ingly Unsuitable capacity, the export
problem Of American business becomes