و 024168.5. INTERNATIONAL HIGH COMMISSION, UNITED STATES SECTION, Washington, D.C., December 11, 1915. MY DEAR SENATOR FLETCHER: I inclose the "Report on the Use of the Metric System in Export Trade," by Director S. W. Stratton, of the Bureau of Standards. This report, as you know, was prepared at the request of the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. McAdoo, for the use of the International High Commission on Uniformity of Laws. It was submitted to the last meeting of the commission on December 1, and after looking it over, Judge E. H. Gary, president of the United States Steel Corporation, remarked that he would like very much indeed to see this published and spread broadcast. Mr. John H. Fahey, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, also remarked that he thought it would be of the greatest value to the business men of this country, and Dr. Rowe, secretary general of the International High Commission, who is intimately acquainted with South American trade problems, observed that if our exporters and manufacturers could realize the benefits which would accrue from the use of the metric system in the export trade he is quite sure that the system would soon be adopted. At all events, all those present, including the Secretary of the Treasury, agreed that the report is most excellent and deserving of widest publicity. I therefore write to ask if it would be possible to have this printed as a Senate document, and if so, I would strongly urge that this be done. It is highly desirable that this be published at the earliest opportunity, for it is one of the first results of the work of the International High Commission, and we are desirous of circulating it as widely as possible before the members sail for South America, so that the business men can offer any suggestions they may have before that time. Very sincerely, yours, Hon. DUNCAN U. FLETCHER, J. BROOKS B. PARKER, United States Senate, Washington. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., September 28, 1915. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: Among the minor topics on the program of the United States section of the International High Commission upon which most emphatically there seems to be need of searching discussion, is the fact that Latin America consistently urges that 3 merchants and manufacturers of the United States adopt a more liberal attitude toward the metric system of weights and measures. While I do not go so far as to advise the following up of the recommendations made by some of the delegates to the First Pan American Financial Conference to the effect that adoption of the metric system be made obligatory throughout the American continent, I am at least convinced that our exporters will be more successful in extending their trade in Latin America if they will be prepared to use the metric system in quoting prices and in distributing catalogues at least as an alternative to the Anglo-American system of weights and measures. I am aware that it would be the work of generations and would involve endless complications, if not waste, to change our present system for domestic use; nevertheless, it is equally certain that the development of our business relations, above all in Latin America, will require, among the lesser elements of its success, greater adaptability on the part of our merchants to the prevailing views on such matters. For these reasons, therefore, I have decided to ask you if you will not be good enough to request the Director of the Bureau of Standards to prepare for the International High Commission a brief report on the attitude of our great manufacturers in the matter of the metric system. What we want to know specifically might be put as follows: 1. What proportion of manufacturers have adopted the metric system in preparing goods for export? Has their experience warranted an expansion of this policy? 2. What are the chief objections to such action? Are certain lines less adaptable than others? 3. What will be the effect upon the scale and tool trades of any systematic movement in this direction? 4. Ought we recommend the compulsory instruction in our schools in the metric system? Or might it be limited to high schools? I assure you that the commission and myself will be very grateful to receive any practical suggestions that the director may feel warranted in making. From other bureaus in your department you might be able to determine the percentage of manufacturers or commission houses using the metric system in price lists and catalogues. It would greatly facilitate the work of the commission if we might have this brief report about November 1. I am, my dear Mr. Secreuary, Hon. WILLIAM C. REDFIELD, W. G MCADOO, Secretary. Secretary of Commerce, Washington. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SIR: In accordance with your letter of September 28, 1915, requesting a report upon certain phases of the metric system in relation to the export trade, I transmit herewith a brief report upon this subject. In connection with this report, I should add that specific statistics are not available either at the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce or at the Bureau of Standards. The report of the Bureau of Standards submitted herewith, however, deals with all the topics upon which you specifically request information and opinion, and at your request the director of that bureau has added a number of practical suggestions as to several incidental points. Certain phases of the subject not specified by you would possibly be of considerable value to you in your consideration of the subject. For this reason, and since the subject is so important, a supplemental report will be prepared by the Bureau of Standards within the next few months which will be available for your use if you so desire. So much has been said and written for and against taking further steps toward the metric system, and recent practical experience has disproven so much that has been written against it, that I venture to say that the Bureau of Standards is now in an excellent position to represent the enlightened opinion on both sides of the question as to what would and would not work undue hardship in connection with the export trade. The question no longer concerns the mere introduction of the system-it is already in widespread use in export business but rather in what ways and to what extent its use may profitably be extended in the interests of our Latin-American trade. The entire subject of the metric system in export trade is of vital interest to two bureaus of this department-the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce and the Bureau of Standards. The services of this department are at your disposal for any further assistance it can render, either to explain more in detail any points not sufficiently complete or in the collation of further data. Respectfully, WILLIAM C. REDFIELD, The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. Secretary. REPORT OF SAMUEL W. STRATTON, DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS, ON THE USE OF THE METRIC SYSTEM IN EXPORT TRADE. I. ANSWERS TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. 1. (a) What proportion of manufacturers have adopted the metric system in preparing goods for export? To give exact figures would require a census of manufactures. The proportion is large if those firms alone are considered which seek export business. Most of such firms use the metric system to meet the need for intelligible catalogues and price lists, to meet in many cases also the insistent demand for products in metric sizes, and finally to satisfy the customs requirements of the country concerned. The enterprising exporter meets these requirements as fully as possible. The factories are conservative and require education, since they are not brought directly in such close touch with foreign needs. Exporters most earnestly favor the increased use of the metric system in the development and holding of foreign trade. The following examples are given as a few typical of the large number of manufacturers who are already using the metric system, in some cases for both domestic and foreign trade: American Locomotive Co. Baldwin Locomotive Works (metric orders for locomotives, etc., are filled by the use of the metric system throughout). Brown & Sharpe (supplies fine tools, gauges, measuring tools, made to measure in metric units). Pratt & Whitney (metric gauges and standards). Waltham Watch Co. (fine watches, metric system used throughout their works). The Standard Tool Co. (twist drills, reamers, taps, chucks, milling cutters, and special tools). Morse Twist Drill Co. (supplies lines of metric drills, etc., at same prices as those in customary units). Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. (optical instruments and microscope supplies made up and sold in metric units). Eastman Kodak Co. (supply metric focus scales on their cameras). Lufkin Rule Co. (measuring tapes and rules, full line of metric tapes at same prices as those graduated in feet). International Exporting and Importing Corporation (pack all exports in metric sizes). Keuffel & Esser Co. (draughting instruments, and supplies, lines of metric sizes). Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten (drugs and chemicals sold in metric containers when so ordered). Library Bureau (library equipment and supplies, especially index cards and cabinets for libraries and offices-has used the metric system since its establishment.) L. S. Starrett Co. (fine mechanical tools, full line of metric sizes, and of tools graduated both in metric and inch sizes). This list might easily be extended almost indefinitely. A characteristic of even the more conservative manufacturer is his readiness when he really appreciates the situation, to put out rather full lines of metric products side by side with his regular line. It is striking that the availability of the metric products has been advantageous in many cases in domestic trade. |