OCR Text |
Show A PRACTICAL STEP. While congress is busy killing time. Secretary Blaine is not wasting his substance sub-stance in the samo way. With characteristic charac-teristic energy he follows his ideas of reciprocity to a practical conclu; sion. The state department at Washington Wash-ington has issued a circular letter stating that in pursuance of the recommendations recom-mendations of the international American Ameri-can conference, a so-called bureau of American republics has been established estab-lished at Washington, having for its jbject the dissemination of authentic and useful information concerning the commercial conditions and advantages of the several American republics, lor the benefit of manufacturers, merchants and, others who may be interested in the extension of trade. Among its other functions the bureau will prepare, print and issue, from time to time, for joe distribution, bul- letins containing particulars concerning con-cerning the existing customs tarilf of tho several countries, and such changes in these as may occur, the official offi-cial regulations which affect the entrance en-trance and clearance of vessels, and the importation and exportation of merchandise mer-chandise at the ports of the several countries; also quotations from commercial com-mercial and parcel post treaties between be-tween any of the Auiericau republics, with the statistics of commerce and other information of special iuterest. The secretary of state says in his circular cir-cular letter that "the bureau will at all times bo available as a medium of communication com-munication and correspondence to persons per-sons applying for reasonable information informa-tion pertaining to the customs tariffs and regulations, and to the commerce and navigation of the American republics, repub-lics, and any suggestions as to the character ot information that may be found useful will receive careful attention." at-tention." It has been charged that our merchants mer-chants aro laboring under a disadvantage disadvan-tage in competing with Europeans for the South American trade because they are ignorant of the conditions under which it should lie carried on. With the information provided them by the state department it would be strange indeed if our smart manufacturers and merchants did not remove this disadvantage. disad-vantage. If our trade with our southern south-ern neighbors is to be increased by a liberal policy of reciprocity it is necessary nec-essary for us to know just precisely how to deal with them. It will bo the fault of our people if they still plead igno-ronce igno-ronce on their part in the future. |