Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-15
.BETHUNE NAMED
TARIFF DELEGATE.
Commission Secretary viii
Go Abroad in Interest of
United States.

John F. Bethune, a native Washing
tonian, who has served the United
States Government in many important
positions for the past % years and
who last month completed II years as
secretary of the Tariff Commission, has
been signally honored in being selected
as the first European representative of
the commission. sort of goodwill am
baSsador to straighten out tariff mis-
with headquarters in
Brussels, Belgium. The appointment
was made yesterday.
Mr.. Bethune is product of the Wash
ington public schools, graduating from
the Eastern High School in the class of
1898 as lieutenant colonel of the High
School Cadet Regiment. Immediately
upon the declaration of war with Spain
he volunteered and served with the 1st
Regiment of District of Columbia Vol
unteers throughout the campaign lead
ing to the siege and surrender of San
tiago. He subseq uently served for 10
years in various capacities with the Sen
ate and House of Representatives and
later became identified with the exec
utive branch of the Government. In
1929 and 1880 he was named by the
Governor of Virginia as delegate to rep
resent the commonwealth at the an
nual sessions of the Institute of Public
Affairs. For the last three years he has
been mayor of Falls Church, Va. He
has been commended personally by
Presidents Taft, Wilson and Coolidge.
Importance in Position.
1t is held evident that the reorganized
Tariff Commission intends to attach
great Importance to the foreign aspects
of the tariff. The first evidence of this
was seen in the selection of Leland
Harrison as chief of the international
relations division of the commission in
Washington. Further evidence is found
in the promotion of Mr. Bethune to
serve as European representative.
THE commission" it was said, ere
CARDS Mr.. Bethune as one of the best
equipped persons in the United States
for the mission to which he has been
assigned, and expects through his work
abroad TO accomplish much in remov-
ing Misunderstanding on the part of
European countries concerning the
American tariff and its operation, and
the commission. It Is believed that Mr..
Bethune's long experience with tariff
matters will prove helpful to the diplo-
matte and consular representatives
abroad in their discussion of American
tariff relations with foreign govern
ment officials and business interests.
"Mr. Bethune will maintain head
quarters with an adequate staff in Brus-
sells, and will visit the capitals and i'm
portant industrial centers of other
countries as occasion may require. He
will carry out such inquiries as to
production costs, wholesale prices, etc,
as the Tariff Commission may find
necessary. He will also be charged
with the duty, in cooperation with
other representatives of the United
States abroad, of reporting all changes
in foreign tariffs, and especially such
UNEQUAL impositionS or determinations
as may adversely affect American trade.
He will be in a position to explain the
new American tariff, the meaning and
purpose Of the flexible tariff provisions
and the rights and privileges extended
through them to the nationals OF other
countries so as to avoid the cQrnplica-
lions which sometimes arise through
lack of adequate or accurate informa-
ton.
May Begin After New Year.
It Is expected that Mr.. Bethune viii
enter upon his new duties during the
early part of the new year.
Bethune Is graduate OF the Column
ibian (now George Washington Univer-
sity) Law School. He became an assist
ant in the Office Of the official reporters
of debates in the Senate, where he re-
manned through three sessions Of Con-
gress. In 1902 he was appointed conf
Dental stenographer to the secretary OF
the Senate, which position he resigned
IN 1907 to accept employment with the
Senate judiciary Committee. He also
served In 1903 as special assistant to the
Joint Congressional Commission on Re-
vision of the Postal Laws.
After the reorganization Of the Senate
in 1911, Mr.. Bethune was appointed
clerk In the office of public buildings
struction of the Lincoln Memorial was
begun, he was appointed chief clerk of
the Lincoln Memorial Commission, in
which position he served until appointed
secretary to the Tariff Commission. For
five years, 1914-1919, he served in SIM
liar capacity for the commission on the
Memorial to Women Of the Civil War,
which is the headquarters of the Ma
tional American Red Cross, to the
Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Com
mission, and the Arlington Memorial
Bridge Commission.
New Buildings Accountant.
Another notable Job well performed
1919 when he was chief accountant for
the Government in the construction Of
the vast buildings in what was Henry
Park for wartime use Of the War and
Navy Departments.
For some years he also had direct
supervision of all recreational facilities
in the public grounds, and under him
there was developed a system for their
operation which has been source of
health and pleasure to many thousands
of persons.
For some years resident Of Falls
Church, and now mayor, he has taken
a strong interest in local and State
affairs and done important work on
several State commissions.
Practically every member Of Congress
comes into personal contact with Sec
rotary Bethune, and it Is a substantial
tribute to his diplomacy as well as to
the efficiency with which he does his
work that they all speak praise of him
as an exceptionally Woodworking and
able Federal employe.