Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-26

sweet recollections, and ride, instead
of in box cars, in Europe's character
istic trains with q princely air and q
bank roll as ones authority for or
dering flunkies about. Its ancient cul-
ture attracts students who nurse
meager funds; its sophistication draws
gay blades who would acquire dash
of Old World manners and outlook.
But the chief cause of Europe's pop
ularity SINNERS down to the fact that
Europe's innate charm has been pub
licized by aggressive salesmanship.
A TLANTIC travel has built great,
sumptuous and speedy liners.
But except for returning Americans,
they ply relatively only one way. Amer
lea. with its Adirondacks, Niagara,
Yellowstone. Grand Canyon, Rockies,
California; its stupendous development
projects; its mass production tech
nique, cities and skyscrapers, Western
ranches and vastness, has not been
sold to Europe in the go-get-it man.
ner that Europe sells itself. Nor has
America been sold to Americans as
completely as it can be.
Waiting for a chance for action in
the House is a bill designed to cor
rect this situation. H. r. 5844 was
drawn in the light of Europe's success
in creating facilities for giving Amer
leans information pm its attractions,
hotel accommodations, train schedules
and rates; and European trips can be
worked out down to the most minute
detail in offices maintained in the
United States by foreign governments.
In New York are more than SO such
government Offices. among them Great
Britain, Italy. Japan, France, Ger
many, Bermuda. Russia. Switzerland;
even Cuba, Czechoslovakia. Chile, Bel
GUM and Siam.
THE bill provides that there be set
up in the Commerce Department
a tourist division to encourage travel
to and within the United States, in
GLIDING Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands.
The agency created would be
charged with:
/. The collection and distribution Of
basic and unbiased information on
hotel facilities, points of historic,
scenic, educational and industrial in
terest
2. The coordination of the adver-
Using campaigns carried on by mu-
nicipal and State bureaus, as well as
the transportation agencies.
3. Arranging for lecturers to visit
those countries from which most OF
the tourist movement originates.
4. Supplying cost data and esti-
mates for the prospective tourist.
S. Taking such steps as may be pos
sible to secure lowering Of tariffs on
American travel literature abroad or
in lieu thereof to arrange to supervise
the printing and distribution (for the
several States and private agencies)
of the same in the several countries.
6. Promoting the establishment OF
the necessary facilities in this country
to assist the visitor to travel with no
more dificulty here than he would
nave III Ills OWll CONklt1Js
INDER the initial appropriation OF
~ $4,000, which the bill provides
would be increased to $l25,000 later.
no elaborate SYSTEM of offices could
be set up. Embassies, legations. con-
sular and diplomatic offices and offices
maintained by the Bureau Of For
eign and Domestic Commerce would
be charged largely with the distri-
button OF literature and travel in
formation supplied by American
transportation companies and others
interested In attracting foreign
visitors.
TESTIFYING for the bill in hear
= ings last Summer, Kenneth A.
McRae OF Washington pointed out
that the plan will accomplish pur-
poses of the recommendations adopted
by the Pan-American Conference in
Montevideo in December, 1888. which
called for "the est. blishment of
tourist bureaus or commissions in
the countries in which they do not
at present exist for the purpose Of
preparing and distributing informa-
tive material concerning places Of
interest, means Of transportation,
hotels and other important data"
American ships would be favored
under the travel divisions policy, as
far as possible. In stressing the
impetus which would be given United
States lines, McRae said: American
ships already are subsidized-people
are, in effect, paying for trips they
do not take"
Glenwood ]. Sherrard, chairman Of
RESORTS.