The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-07
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, September [, lS4S.
, the consul of the United States al

| 10 inc consul OF NE UnHed States at ---:
SIR: The great increase the amount annually ex-
pended for the relief and protection of destitute American
seamen in foreign countries calls upon this department to
adopt all proper measures compatible with the relief and
protection of that meritoous class of citizens for the
reduction of this expenditure In such regulations as may
be adopted for this purpose calculate with confidence
the efficient cooperation of the consuls OF the United
States, to whose administration, under the instructions of
this department. inrusted the funds appropriated for
the relief and protection OF seamen.
Among the causes which appear to have produced this
increased expenditure is that of the detention of
at some consulaes for long periods of time There can
be but two reasons for this practice: 1s deficiency
American other vessels, bound to the United States
by which they might be sent home; Or I'd, such state
OF nfm health OF the seamen would render improper
to send them the voyage In order to guard against
improper expenditure from this cause, the Fifth Audi
tor has adopted rule to suspend in the dustmen of
consular accounts, all charges for relief afforded to
men who have been for than three months charge
panied by satisfactory evdence-st, that the detention
was caused by want OF vessels in which they might
have been shipped to the United Staes or, 3D. that the
health of the seamen in such state that it would
endanger their lives to have sent them on the
voyage. The evidence in the latter is to be by the
oath to the fact of the attending physician.
earnestly enjon strict compliance with it in all
which il may be applicable This will be requisite to
insure the payment Of your drafts on this department
In places where from the unrequent departure of YES
sells bound to the United States, opportunities of sending
seamen home seldom occur, and where employment on
board of American vessels cannot be obtained, it may be
Il
on to embrace opportunities of shipping them to in
ermedate port where they would be likely to find such
employment, passage to the United States The
sui will, in this make specific agreement with the
master of the vessel at the most reasonable rate for their
passage giving to him draft this department for the
amount upon which it shall be expressed that its pay
endorsed upon certificate of the consul at the port to
which the vessel may be bound, that the seamen named
have arrived at his consulate In the exercise of this
discretion the consul will take into consideration the rel
alive cost of keeping the seamen where they and at
the port to which they be sent together with the
pense of their passage to, and the probability of their OBJ
tanning employment at passage home from the latter,
and adopt that which may appear the most
nomical well conducive to the relief, &C. of the
seamen.
You are requested to acknowledge Immediately the re-
cept of this communication, and to transmit list of the
who may be chageabe at your consulate, spec-
flying the dates when they became respectively You
will also transmit with all your future quarterly accounts
list of the then chargeabe; the number OF
sells, American and foreign, and their tonnage, which
may have sailed for the United States subsequent 10 the
date of your last account, and statement OF the seamen
sent home by them.
Your particular observance of these regulations is earn
esty enoined, well the adoption of such
as your experience may suggest, for the faithful and
economical administration OF the funds committed to YOU
annex extract of letter from the Fifth Auditor,
under date of the goth uno containing suggestion
which meets my appreciation.
| am, sir your obedient servant,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Extract from letter of the Fifth auditor to the Secretary of
State, dated august 80, 1913.
" To obvate the excuse sometimes made for retaining
the consuaes, Wis the of vessels home
ward bound which send them. respectfully suggest
the fixes the number of which vessels OF the
United States shall be required to bring and the price be
their passages that the consu be instructed when
American vessel has received two for every
hundred burden the price fixed by law, bargain
The of such vessel for the passage of add
tiona number reasonable ompensaon above the
dollars fixed by aw be paid his certificate in the usual
way ,reasury and also with of foreign
ses reasonable when opportunities by American
vessels do offer 1t would often be economy pay fifty
hundred dollars have home from the
Sandwich and other islands of tho Pacific, where they
have been kept longer and at greater expense than at other
consulates"