APPENDIX 5 



KEPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE 



SERVICE 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report on the opera- 

 tions of the International Exchange Service during the fiscal year 

 ending June 30, 1931 : 



The appropriation granted by Congress for the support of the 

 system of international exchanges during the year was $r)2,810, an 

 increase of $1,513 over the amount allowed for the preceding year. 

 Of this increase, $1,000 was for freight, $160 to cover the additional 

 sum required to meet the provisions of the Brookhart Act amending 

 section 13 of the classification act of 1923, and $353 to advance to 

 the next step in their respective grades those of the employees of 

 the exchange ofiice eligible for promotion. The repayments from 

 departmental and other establishments aggregated $5,000.57, making 

 the total available resources for conducting the service during 1931 

 $57,810.57. 



The total number of packages handled w^as 611,338, a decrease 

 from the previous year of 53,327 (7.7 per cent). The weight of 

 these packages was 612,190 pounds, a falling off of 65,901 pounds 

 (9.3 per cent). These decreases no doubt were due to the world-wide 

 depression. However, the economic condition affected the output of 

 literature more abroad than in the United States, as will be noted 

 when it is stated that the number of packages sent through the Inter- 

 national Exchange Service decreased only 6 per cent, while those 

 received from abroad decreased nearly 22 per cent. 



The publications passing through the service are classified as par- 

 liamentary documents, departmental documents, and miscellaneous 

 scientific and literary publications. The number and weight of the 

 packages containing the publications coming under these different 

 headings are as follows: 



75 



