Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-14
BACKS
BUSTED ECONOMIST
DR.. James H. Rogers of Yale
Says Halls Discharge
Will Cause Skepticism.

DR.. James H. Rogers, professor of
political science at Yale University. has
come to the support of DR.. Ray o. Hall,
whom the Department of Commerce
discharged following a controversy with
him over the contents Of the depart
ment's international trade report, THE
Balance Of International Payments"
DR.. Rogers voluntarily entered the
dispute yesterday with defense Of the
figures which DR.. Hall had sought
vainly to include in the publication
while serving as assistant chief of the
Finance and Investment Division Of the
department.
The Commerce Department at the
same time denied DR.. Halls charges,
contained In q letter to Secretary La
mont, that figures were "jugsled" in
the questioned economic study.
Answers Halls Letter.
Assistant Director Hopkins Of the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce, replying to the letter for Secre-
tary Lamont, asserted the ousted ON
cials proposals for revising valuation
of American imports was rejected as
"unscientific and unsound." He added
that statements that changes had been
made in the report as matter OF
political expediency" were UNTRUE
Hall asserted imports were greatly
overvalued and that estimates Of ex-
ports of American capital in 1880
grossly exaggerated" The study was
made public week ago and in the
foreword Assistant Secretary Klein
said 1t was largely the work OF DR..
Hall, who had prepared the report for
the last four years.
Secretary Lamont turned the Hall
report over to Assistant Secretary
Klein. with instructions to have Di-
rector Feiker of the bureau obtain
full report Feiker only recently
| came to the department and Hopkins
handled the situation because OF his
| familiarity with it.
Hopkins described Halls assertions as
certain unfounded and misleading
! charges against the form and contents
! of the oficial annual compilation OF
| the balance Of international payments
Denies political Expediency."
I'm preparing that computation" he
said. upon which DR.. Hall formerly
worked. 1t was necessary to preserve
| It's accuracy by rejecting certain of his
own proposals to revise on an unscien-
tific and unsound basis figures ss TO
the valuation Of American imports. He
| asserts that this rejection was due 10
, political expediency.' This is untrue.
He implies that the departments
unwillingness to allow juggling OF this
detail of the complicated account mad
| some relation to the tariff controversy.
| This is untrue, and it also is absurd,
since most Of the import commodities
| involved in the matter are on the duty
| free list and consist OF such things as
| copper, rubber and cocao.
| Asserting other matter in Halls let
| ter was chiefly important as illus
tratinE the temperamental handicap
under which its author labors in puF-
suing economic abstract inquiry. - Hop
kins said Hall considers this study OF
| international payments should have
! contained an implied criticism OF the
prohibition policy Of the United States.
Will Cause Skeptieism.
HE would also" Hopkins continued,
have included his personal criticism
Of policies followed by the investment
| banking interests and the investing
public Of the United States"
Prof Rogers, who was here to con-
suit Hall regarding figures to be used
| In A book he is writing, entered the dis
pute today by sending for newspaper
reporters and telling them Hall was a
| pre-eminent authority" on economic
subjects. Rogers was member Of the
Hoover Committee on Recent Economic
| Changes.
The controversy" said Rogers, twill
| cause all economists to look on Gov
eminent statistics with extreme skepti-
cism," adding that he used Halls fig
ures in 1928 in preparing the report Of
| the Economic Committee.