The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-23
Official Documents, &c.

also letter purpoIlhS W h"'o oocH "IutcH Wy
General Taylor.
This letter of "Old Rough and Ready" first
appeared in another paper, and may be a genuine
document, although we have heard doubts ex-
pressed of its authenticity tits, however, pub
lished as coming from him, and will be circulated
throughout Mexico, and we are, therefore, sorry
that it has been made public; and we hope for the
sake of the service, that it was not written by
General Taylor 1t may be all true enough, re-
latve to his want of means to carry on the
campaign; and if it be so, it would have served
"Od lack" as much six months hence as now
1.-THE letter be a true one, its publication, in
opinion, will not please the General very much
and it may induce him to be more cautious in
his correspondence in future.
The letter of Almonte is rather an interesting
despatch; and the letter Of Ampudia is exceeding
ly rich
The Consular Report OF Secretary Buchanan
when Will Congress Move In the
Matter?
The ofener we refer to Sec rotary Buchanan's
able exposition of the defects and imper fectons
of the old consular system, the more we are con-
vinced of the propriety and necessity of Congress
adopting his suggestions, and reorganizing it on
the admirable plan he has submitted to them
There is one point in Mr.. Buchanan's plan that
has hitherto escaped our attention, and which,
we think, is deserving of especial notice, as it
shows, with others that we have referred to, the
necessity OF paying our consnls regular fixed sala-
ries from the treasury, instead of having them
dependent on fees and perouisites, as an equiva-
len, for their services.
BY the act OF Congress of February, 1903,
no consul should consent to the discharge of
seaman in foreign country, and thereby
relieve masters Of vessels from their bonds,
until such masters should first pay to
the consul, for each seaman SO dis
charged, three months pay over and above the
wages which may be then due him; two-thirds of
which to be paid by the consul to the seaman
discharged upon his engaging on board Of any
vessel to return to the United States, and the re-
manning one-third to be retained for the purpose
of creating fund for the payment of passages of
seamen to the United States, and for the main
tenance of destitute seamen in foreign ports
This act was altered by one passed on the 10Th
July, 1910, which authorised consuls, if they deem
it cxpedient, to discharge seamen without reouir.
ug this payment on the joint application OF both
master and seaman. The operation OF this new
act has proved thus far TO be ANYTHING
but beneficial TO the seaman for whose be-
neft it was designed. The consequence
has been that great numbers of seamen
have been discharged fiom their vessels and
left destitute IN foreign countries, and II cir
maintenance and support has fallen upon the
treasury of the United States. This act of 1910
has the effect then of transferring the burden OF
supporting these discharged seamen from tn g
masters and owners Of vessels to the shoulders o
the government, which, as Mr. Buchanan shows
by tables and statistics, has been heavy tax ON
the treasury. The amount disbursed by the Uni.
ted States for the support and maintenance OF
discharged seamen, under the law requiring the
masters to pay three months wages at the Sand
wich Islands, the Society Islands, Valparaiso,
Cape of Good Hope, Lima, Paita, and Talcahua-
no, was for the year 1910, SI4,5s9 OF, whilst for
the year 1St5, under the operation of the law
authorizing the consul to discharge seamen on the
joint application of both master and seaman.
without requiring the three months wages to be
paid, was Si4,4S5 81, making an increase of
S29, s96 90.
Now, when it is known that under the present
consular system our consus and commercial
agents receive a commission of five per cent for
all disbursements they make, il will be seen n,
once that they have direct interest in increasn,
the larger are their commissions Mr.. Buchanan
says that
Whilst might be unjust to n,inuate that this in
terest has interered with the discharge of their duv
yet is submitted that they ought to be Compensated b
fixed salary instead OF commissions for the nerforn
ance of this service
We say the same precisely, but human nature
weak, and cannot always resist temptation.
1t is an excellent rule Of law, which excludes q
witness from testifying in case in which no b,.
an interest to even the value Of dollar. The rule
rightly supposes that.where ten thousand dollars
would not influence some men, single dollar
would others, and, Their sfore, wisely exacts tina
witness is incompetent to testify impartiallv. i
: can be shown that he has any interest at st,ks
in the issue OF the cause, which might Influence
his judgment, no matter what the amount I.e
this rule of law be applied to the case ar con.u,s
making disbursements in this way, and thew viii
be found to be incompetent to act impartially be
tween the government and discharged seamen
both IN consenting to their discharge. and in di,
bursting the government moneys.
Mr.. Buchanan wisely arrives at the conclusion
from these premises. that these commission.
ught to be cut off, and that our consuls ought r.
be paid regular and fixed salaries from the tres
slY.
IHE CITY CHARTER.-We see that ",sror.
trance is circulating throughout the c;tv n, so.
natnres, 10 urge the legislature not 70 rs,,,;, a.
rev city charter to be submitted to the rsoolo =,
rrecial election. Many of the reason, -,
n the remonstrance are good, and the ,,nss ,.I,
probably be approved of by a large number =,
our citizens.
CALIFORNIA VoLUNrEyEs-Manv in tb;s ,L,.