Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
Washington Ticker
BY CHARLES P. sHAEFFER.

The United States Government will
take a hand in the exigency existing
in the silver industry.
This became known here today when
Senator Tasker L. Oddie made public a
letter from Secretary of Commerce La
mont advising additional estimates of
$4,000 for silver research will be In
cluded in the departments 1892 appro-
priation. bill.
This action follows closely a recent
communication from Senator Oddie to
Mr.. Lamont recommending 100000 be
set up to aid the industry, one-half of
which to be expended by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
in an intensive study of the silver sit
uation in India and China, with the
remainder to be divided equally be-
tween the Bureau of Mines and the
Bureau of Standards. Mr.. Lamont, in
his reply said the Foreign Bureau was
already in possession of essential facts
in regard to the situation abroad, but
that the remaining two bureaus could
use the suggested appropriation to good
advantage.
Coincidentally there has developed a
strong possibility that national silver
conference will be held here in Novem-
Der, under the auspices of the Depart
ment of Commerce. This has been rec
commended to the department, and in
view of its earnest efforts thus far to
cooperate, 1t is considered likely such
conference will be held. 1t is felt
such a conference, participated in by
producers and manufacturers and by
American economists and currency au-
thoritieS, would contribute materially to
the situation, at the same time enabling
the department to ge the best service
ont of its new APPROPRIATIONS
A suggested international conference
would undoubtedly bring up the ever
impending question of the League of
Nations, since the economic branch of
the league is now investigating silver
which would make it difficult for the
United States to take an active part
without a further stand on this delicate
and highly controversial subject.
Francis H. Brownell, head of the
American Smelling & Refining Co., says
the ultimate solution of the problem is
so closely allied to the Sufficiency of
gold to do the work of the entire world,
if on a gold basis, that it seems prob
able it must await tlrther experience
and the development Of time.
In report to the Commission on
Conservation and Administration of the
Public Domain, the Geological Survey
states that use of the surface of public
lands need not interfere with the min
eral value of the land. Full utilization
of the surface and the mineral estates
does not conflict" the report says.
1t is estimated that the range land
could produce the annual meat require
ments for population of 100000 with
out interfering with prospecting and de-
veloping the mineral resources.
Exports ofJrubber footwear from all
countries of the world reached unpar-
allied heights during 1929 with the
United States maintaining its position
as leader by a wide margin.
This country continued as the worlds
chief source of supplies with new rec
ord total of 13,094,86 pairs as compared
with 9,642, 087 the previous year, or an
increase of SO per cent. Canada was in
the runner-up position, exporting H.
500, 1874 pairs as against 9,422,54l in
1929
One of the most significant features
of the year was the large increase in
Japan's export trade, totaling 1000 600
pairs as compared with but 2,679,OOO
pairs in 1928. This Nation now occu-
pies third place, the position formerly
held by Great Britain.