New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-05
REGULATION AT LIVERPOOL.
HOW ONE OF GRANTS CoNsULs ADMINISTERS Il
OFFICE.

REGULATION AT LIVERPOOL.
HOW ONE OF GRANTS CONsULs ADMINISTERS his
OFFICE.
| To the Editor Of The Tribune.
! SIR: Mr.. Fish, Secretary of State, has had
two copies Of the following letter. but nothing has vet
/ been done in the matter. Yours c. G.
liverpool Sept. II, 1872. j. p.
Tho Hon. HAMILTON FISH, Seretaryof STATE Washington.
| SIR: In the interest of the American Gov
eminent as well as that OF the merchants and traders
from this port to the United States beg leave 10 call
your especial attention the following statement OF
facts showing the in which the business OF the
Liverpool u S. Consulate is transacted with especial
reference TO the conduct and action Of Thomas u.
Dudley, the Consul himself.
/. No copy of the official tariff OF fees during any
portion Of the time said Thomas H. Dudley has been
Consult has been posted in part of the Consulate as
directed by the Consular Regulations. The reason for
this conceamen from the public of the fees legally pay
able by them for Consular services will presently appear
2. Verifcation Of InrOiceS-In direct conraventon
Of the of the United States which strictly forbid
all Consular officers from being in way interested
In the fees dervabe from the administration Of oahs
to persons verifying invoices or from interfering in the
selection or appointment of the officer who administers
the same the said Thomas ii. Dudley, up 10 within
few months since has been in the receipt Of all the fees
derived from this source with the exception OF short
time during which the late Mr. Wilding received them
At present the oaths are administered by Com
missioner appointed by the said Thomas H. Dudley, who
attends daily at the Consulate for this purpose.
and the received by Edward Dudley, the vice
Consul. During the period of his Consushp the said
Thomas H. Dudley cannot have derived from this Illegal
source less than from ellOOO to $4,000. Every
shipper to the United States subjected to double
hardship in this matter; first, he is compelled by the
said Thomas II. Dudley to verify his invoice by oath
contrary the spirit Of the United States law which
only requires oath TO be taken in cases OF suspicion
and secondly, he ia obliged TO pay an affidavit fee OF
2s I'd. each set of invoices instead of the usual
magisteria fee Of 1s to person who has no right what
ever TO charge him for such purpose any amount
whatever.
g. Acknowledgements 10 Deeds and PorerS Of Attorneys
The lowest charge made by the said Thomas H. Dudley
in these cases los 3D. instead Of the legal fee OF
ST. or S. I'D. II two more persons make acknowledge
ment 10 the same deed or instrument Of writing the fee
is increased in proportion As much as 2l for Consular
services for taking Acknowledgements Of several persons
70 the same deed has demanded at the Liverpool
U. s. Consulate and paid. The amount returned by
Thomas II. Dudley to the U. s. Government as re-
ceved by him for such service In no case exceeds
50 or S. 4d The between this latter amount
and the amount received the Consulate goes into the
pockets Of Thomas II. Dudley himself
the legal fee payable is enacted by the sad Thomas H.
Dudley wiz Sc instead of $50 for these certhcates wo
sbings and sxpence. rather more than half OF the
overchaTg is pretended to be for the remuneration OF
clerk in the Consulate for MS trouble IN giving the
attend at the Consulate to sign the necessary decara-
tons. Not one person, however IN ten VINO oDgcd 70
take out such certificate has ever agreed 10 such an
imposition; besides the notices III question are almost
unnecessary. For the remainder OF the oVercharse
there is not even the semhlance OF an excuse.
g. Extension Of Ships ProteStS-The charge made at
the Liverpool United Consulate for tile extension
of ships protest with copy OF the same varies from
35s a. according 10 its length, the average charge
being about 80. The amount accounted Tor 10 the
United states Government 10y Thomas H. Dudley in his
quarterly return for ices received never III any etse
exceeds s. rs. 3D. as II 10 protest extended Dy nm
ever consisted Of more than 200 words, te dneiehce IN
each case being retained by himself. considerable
SUN Is derived by nun ahualiy ol I.s SOU @
the United states Government IN m'.toL when maj
ciay affects ITSELF will cause this plunder to be dis
G. Rent Of O6ioes-The rent actually paid for the
office of the Liverpool United States Consulate Is $50
the United States by Thomas H. Dudley III his accounts
is $3.50 per annum; difference in lis favor go per
T. Recetring and Transmitting DispGtches.-Th
amount charged by the said Thomas H. Dudley TO the
Uted states Government for this service Is 600 per
annj.n. The actual amount expended by nun lOr the
is Nil the duties being really Periorned Dy nan t
onethrd, however, OF this mans umc is occupeu IN
fulfilling this duty, the remainder being ned up IN
performing the duties OF a clerk i'll the Consulate Not
one farhng of this mans wages is PAID DY Duuley MN
S being charged by him in the accounts for the
relief of distressed seamen and the remainder being IN
Guided IN the charges packages, ana paced 20 le
aim Of the limited states Government in the quarterly
a. 81 Hee,fs Ageney-This Agency is quite as cor
r,tly as any other bripch OF business IN
te ivcrpoO Consulate Instead Of the legal ee 3 90
6aip charged al St Heens Tor each OF invoices.
oVercbarce o. 81. Is made at Liverpool the consular
AGENT at ST. Heen's Qiammiu), acung no doubt Nv
tLe instructions his superior at Liy -rpool ms
ILLEGAL charge OF %. ~. on each invoice - retainer
v Uammill as his remuneration for MS tfoublt III con
the retaining OF when ny Hdlulhhi
relieves Dudley from paying nun the so per quarter
allowed by the Government Of the United States ms
| H1umf's legal remuneration; the $3.50 IN question
Laitg retained by Dudley himself. TINS SAID amount
with similar OF $3.50 allowed by the Government IOr
ms own remuneration on this account gives mn tDuIieyJ
an income from this Of $4,000 per annum Tor the
| duties which are almost HoiIlhal III
infeht well be asked why these Illegal practices are
allowed 10 continue The answer 10 such qiesiiOh Is
NOT dnicult In first place, not one person III one
hnndred who transacs business at the LYerpOOl Con
suate Is aware OF the fees legally payable ny hiin no
cCny of the tariff of fees being posted up IN the Consulate
(as previously stated, ana every pains DeinB hch W
| Withhold such information from the pubic.
Secondly: SuppOsing the legal ices were Known rev
would dispute the charges III excess anu
| hogallv made for fear offending the Consul, VINO
| would have the power In many ways OF OOstIuctlhR
hHeiness Even OF those persons employed clerks III
the Consulate, hardly one $50 long as ne receives MS
salary or wages) gives himself any concern about the
amonnt of fees charged and so nom day 10 DAY the
thunder goes on. In conclusion, we are ready ano VIII
rvded that investigation shall De conducted ny
nnronerIy qualified and independent tribunal ANY IN
nitv into such matters by consular Oincer whoever
1nnid be no better than farce with mBh respect, We
'ein"AN' ""' CHARLES CUNMTYs,
| Late yiceC Consul designate of the u s. at Liverpool
| law JOSEPH LANPHGER,
Late Deputy Consul Of the United states al Liverpool
! The Hon Hamilton Fish, Secretary OF e'aIe' WASH
Fir Secretary Fish has had two copies OF this, and
| nothing has yet been done -,,, rf..ot
| Weaser BuildingS, No. Is Bruaspiek-Ss, LIr@Po0L
| June u, 1871.
xrrrTC