The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-12


companied with q bill to meet the object in
view, that in 1889 the sums paid by the govern
ment for the relief Of American sesmen residing
abroad, amounted to only $50, Os2 %, while in
three years after the change Of the law in
Is40--viz., in 1S43-the amount paid by govern
ment had suddenly risen to the sum Of
$7O,s84 81.
The bill reported by Mr.. Winthrop was very
stringent, but failed to be adopted.
During the same session, Mr. Semple, of the
United States Senate, reported compromise
bill DULY, ls44,) for entirely remodelling the
whole consular system. 1t contained no less
than nineteen sections, and was we'll calculated
to meet all the leading and grievous objections
to the present system. His bill also failed to
pass. No further attempts were made to re-
model our consular system until 1916, when,
Mr.. Buchanan, then Secretary Of State made
a report in obedience to resolution of the
House Of Representatives dated August 10,
on 1916, and which was submitted to Congress
the 18th Dec. 1916 in which he ably reviewed
all the previous laws and usages relating to the
consular system pointed out their imperfections'
and suggested many important improvements
His subject was divided into heads-frst. rela-
ting to consuls general; second mode Of COM
pensating consuls; third. consular fees; fourth.
a consular code; fifth, powers and duties OF con-
suls under treaties with foreign nations; sixth,
expenditures of consuls for the relief Of desti-.
tute American seamen in foreign countries;
seventh, the consent of the consul to the sea-
mems discharge; eighth, consular correspon-
dence; ninth. consular certificates to invoices Of
foreign goods-to which were appended sta
tistical tables Of foreign consulates.
A select committee was raised in the House
of Representatives (twenty-ninth Congress.
first SESSION. of which Mr.. William W. Campbell
was chairman, on the consular system Of the
United States. who, on the seventeenth June,
1916. reported very able and comprehensive
bill. 1t covered the whole ground of our consular
system, and in twenty-four sections met every
reasonable objection, besides embracing many
new and important features.
This bill, SO loudly called for, shared the fate
of all it's predecessors, and failed to pass.
On the goth January, 1847, Mr.. VIM. W.
Campbell again brought forward his bill to
States" and it again failed to pass. On the
Sd January. 1848, Mr.. John A. Rockwell re-
vived the bill Of Mr.. Campbell in the House Of
Representatives, which, although strongly ad-
vocated, failed to receive the sanction of Con-
gress.
The report of Mr.. Campbell in 1916, acompa-
nying his bill, was brief, but able and clear.
document. On February 2lst, 1919, bill was
introduced to repeal the 9th section of the act
oflS40, and san act supplementary to an act con-
corning consuls, and for the further protection
OF American seamen," approved February 20,
l843 The object of this bill was to provide
better protection to seamen abroad, and means
to enable their speedy re-shpment to the United
States under proper bonds and regulations.
This also failed.
Here ends all legislation, and attempts at le-
gislation regarding our wretched consular sys-
tenn. Everything remains substantially the
same as the laws of 1892 and 1903 left it, with
the exception of the amendment regarding sea-
men, passed in 1910, which made matters de-
cidedly worse.
1t may be stated that in some cases consular
duties and privileges have been regulated to
some extent by treaties. Under our treaties
with Sweden. Prussia Russia. Hanover. and
Portugal, our consuls have right to sit as
judges and arbitrators in such differences as
may arise between the captains and crews" of
American vessels in those countries.
The mode in which judicial functions shall be
discharged by consuls has never been prescrib-
ed by Congress in a single instance.
From the general sketch of the existing I'M
perfect laws regulating our consular system,
and of the fruitless attempts made at remodel
ling them, we discover the Importance of renew
ed efforts at reformation. The defects and re-
NEEDLES required for their removal are quite
obvious. :.
Instead Of combining their remuneration to the
fees gathered from commanders Of vessels, intes-
tate estates Of Americans, and discharged and
relieved sailors, Congress should have, in all
cases bestowed fixed salaries. If it was an OBJ
ject to protect American seamen abroad, they
should not have been compelled to pay consular
fees to obtain it, No man but an intelligent
and competent American should be appointed
consul. What an absurdity to appoint an Eng
lishman or other foreigner to sit in Judgment
upon the rights of American seamen, or other
citizens of the United States
A consul thrown upon the receipt of fees for
a support is tempted to acts of extortion on
American seamen and masters of vessels as
well as upon other citizens of the United States.
BY engaging in private trade he may make his
office subseryient to his own private interest.
He may connive at quarrels between citizens OF
the United States, breed discussions between
commanders and crews, impart false information
to serve private ends, and otherwise disgrace
the Office and injure the people and country he
is appointed to represent.
The laws are deficient in comprehcnsiveness.
They fail in properly designating the peculiar
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