The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-01-03

The American Consulate aud Ihc 'IuVcsIi-
=nIion-."

The American Consulate Rud Ihc "IuNcsIi-
SnIIOn--
Ms. EDIroR Sometime during the last SUMNER,
there arrived here the slcop Of war Lsrast. Before
her arrival Il had been rumorci ;hat the comnauler
vas charged with the duty Of INVESTIGATING alleged
abuses IN the administration Of the United States
Consuiaies in this archipe,ago-aud soon after her
arrival, Commander Hunt and the L.. : Commis-
siouer proceeded with the duty e the Investigation
Son We we're sPP-s-i, that immense frauds and
Dsral1tiJ4s had been discovered. both a; this port
and LAhaina that the C.usu.s had been in the
habit Of making a large number Of Illegal charges
and among others that ;he } Der cent. charged for
settling with >eauen was au Immense -rdaE that
the Puryey1r's place w. . source q uuriehteous
pros; not only TO the Incumbent, but 70 the Cousuls;
AMI thu, the physician for the Hospital was - deep
il the mud Is the others were IN the mire-
suddenly one fine day, our quie, town was all
agog Il learn that the Vice Consul had been removed,
by virtue = an authority transmitted from Washing
ton 10 tie Commissioner here, and on the same day,
exit the P~uryeyor and Physician, a clean sweep-o
dirt left toac>: men were Immediately supplied.
Now, says every one, the reign Of virtue has begun.
Now, whjte-roSed Innocence from Heaven descend.
And TO this almost superhuman virtue, in all the
administration Of the Consulate i added in the
head, an intelligence Of the hfshes: order, an ad-
minis,rative ability probably uuequalei, certainly it
had beea heretofore unJriei. Judge then Of our
chagriu, when cur confidence in the Consul was
weakened 10y finding thar his advice and protests
did not stand the result Of a legal investigation in
any one case. Then, We began 10 appreciate that
former Cousuls had been worth something in the
advice line, that they had served as pilots to settle
most Of our difieultie-which occurred between
ourselves, and TO keep Us clear Of harasSing law
suits. Our confidence in the Consular knowledge
of the Law and Statutes Of his own country Is
shaken, but, thank God, there still remains incor-
rupijble y:rtue-no hand that i there now will ever
be sullied, by touching a single dime Of those fees
and charges which have been 50 sternly demanded.
Here is an abstrac, from the tariff of charges es-
tablishei under act Of Congress, dated August 10th,
1856.
ceruaeate Of bin Of lainc, including oath Of Master
aud l25
No fee or advance allowed for dischargiug sea
men, and inasmuch a the Consul was brought up
an accountant, he will make no mistakes. and it will
be all right. But see our bills on clearing the
port:
:srs-:, Ct per rsz d 1eirs 'oaaass- 4"'s' 's : N''
Certlhe'tg II crew ht; <too-eharEe under act SOC,
shipping articles and CLEARANCE. $~I.5O-instead Of $LOo.
C5rS4ea ag Of bn o Il Isa "a 20 = = Is.
Orders on home ia settlement Of voyage. Htea) S3OO-charEe
under act Of Congress cts each order.
Certificate q settlement Of two bills Of laiiugand appointment OF
master, CAST per r.riT. SIcOJ - OO-ius;-ad % $50 - Per
taT!E.
And in ailtion TO these and many others ike
them. 81. 90 each is charged for orders to harbor
master, which some of us remember to have been q
special subject of investigation by the committee.
Should any one express 3 doubt regarding these
charges, We are prepared TO show the original ac-
counts in which they occur, and in al Hilton to show
that there has been demanded and received from
seamen, on their being discharged, the sum Of Sl.0O
each, and from shipping masters { e., from the
seamen) On their being shipped, Sl.00 each, whilst
the same sums have been demanded of the masters
of vessels, shipping the men, whilst the sum Of
S1.50 has been exactei for an order Of arrest for
men who have not repaired on board, when the or
der is asked. in the interest Of a shipping master
who has stood security for the seamen.
Whether blank receipts are signed by the men in
the Hospital, We are not aware, but this We do know,
that they do not neglect to charge the y per cent. on
the sum recognized As due to a seaman on his voy-
age. after settling with him, at the Consular rates,
and dei1cting all the exactions possible. How
much others may think has been gained by the
change we DO not know but that We have gained
nothing and lost much appears quite clear.
y. W. SowLE,
P. :. WILCOX,
and Others If required.