The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-22

OF these were filled by native hussians, one Wy
an unknown foreigner, and one only by
citizen Of the United States, (St Petcrsburg)
whose fees in 1847 amounted to $34a The
unknown" man at Odessa received in the same
year s42. From the two Russians at Riga and
at Archangel no returns had been received for
two years.
In Sweden and Norway in ls47, we were re-
presented at Gottenburg, Bergen, and Stock
holm by one Swede one Norwegian, and one
Englishman, the latter having returned SlS6 as
the fees received, while the other two had made
no returns at all. In all Austria We had only
two consulates, and they were filled by foreign
ers, one of whom was German.
In Wurtemberg we had one consul. Ger
man. who made no returns. In Sardinia
we had two, neither of whom were Ameri-
cans. In Tuscany two, filed by an ltal-
ian and an unknown" foreigner. In oil
Turkey we had only four consuls. three OF
whom were filed by foreigners. In all China
we had but four consuls, only one Of whom had
made returns-that Of Canton-who, in 1917,
received 81 O63. This inequality in our con-
sular arrangement holds good with regard to
many other countries, and ia a disgrace to
civilized government. The badness OF the
system is only equalled by the loose and ire
sponsible manner in which it has been admins
tered by the government. Where we arc re-
presented by one CONSUL the English send
ubont ten, and all Englishmen. Where we also
have some few, to make rapid fortunes and
leave others to starvc, or the interest Of
the country is thrown into foreign hands, the
English pay their consuls liberal standing sala-
ries Their consul-generals receive $4,000 TO
$4,000 per annum; consuls get from $4,000
| to 81 GEO and $4,000 per annum. Their
lowest grade, or vice-consuls. receive
GOO, OF about $1,000 per year. In the
Russian empire, England is represented
by eighteen consuls and vic-consuls. In
Norway she has seventeen and in Sweden
twenty consular representatives. In Austria
she has six consular agents The consul
general at Venice gets $1,000 per year.
In China she supports seventeen consular rep
resentatiycs. The consul general at Canton
receives Ct 800 or about $4,000; the consul
at Annoy, el.2OO, or about $4,000; the assist
ant consul at Canton, ci05, OF $4,000; consul
at Foochooloo, $4,000; Ninpo, $1,000; Shang-
hal, $1,000.
The whole aggregate cost OF her extensive
consular representation in China, paid out
annually in salaries, Tin 1922 amounted to
the gross sum of about $4,000. Contrast this
with our paltry Chinese consular system, where
we were. in 1917, represented by only four con-
suls, one of whom-thc consul at Canton-rc-
cciycd the paltry fees Of slO63. while from the
other three no returns had been received.
The money disbnr:ed by consnls for the re-
lief Of American seamen in lS46-17 amounted
to $4,000, which the government had to refund
to them. This business Of relieving scamen
opens door to all kinds of fraud. Much OF
this money passed through the hands cs foreign
ers acting as American consuls. Where fees
were small, there was strong temptation to
| practice fraud. either upon American commerce.
captains, sailors, or upon the government itself
| How is an Englishman, who may believe in the
right of search properly to respect or to protect
| American seamcn? How long is such system
| to stand as disgrace to the country. and ID
| the age in which we live? In our next We
| thall submit some other important tabular
| statements.
The following table shows the consular sta
tons in Is47 amount OF fees received, places Of
citizenship and nativity Of the consals who then
/! filed them, with notices Of latest returns made
! to the Department of State. 1t will be rcmem-
bered that the law requires scmi-annual re-
| turns to be made from all American consuls
residing OF foreign ports !:
STATIONS
| British DonsistoRs les. CiizHship Na,iri.y