The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-08

tatnly looks very much like the result OF arrant
favoritism or unreasonable benefits conferred
upon certain politicians by their friends in power,
and 1t shows the total want Of supervision at
washington over what Is going on at the various
consular stations. In most OF the European c0un-
tries the Under Secretary OF state charged with
the superintendence OF the consular service ID .
representative man, who has some practical
knowledge or his duties Unfortunately, at WASH
ington this Is not the CASE Instances are known
where certain clerks In the department. had o
knowledge OF the income derived from agencies,
but they had suf1cient reasons for keeping this
knowledge TO themselves; and 1t should be noted
that consuls have not hitherto been required to
send in returns OF fees received at their agen-
cies, SO that up to late period the depart
ment and the public knew nothing on the
subject. Information was, indeed, sub rosa. at
command Of the clerks. and, thereby instructed.
these clerks have often obtained valuable places
as consuls for term OF years, or, in clearer lam
guage, the grant OF an unknown sum OF public
money. There is one unfortunate rule which has
hitherto regulated the amount OF compensation
allotted to consuls-namely, fixed practice OF
granting no adequate salary where the fees are
small while q large salary ID attached to those
posts where the fees are considerable. This 10
wrong in principle and cruel in effect. There
onght TO be o uniformity OF pay irrespective Of
the amount OF fees earned for the governments.
This would do away with all favorittsm and
injustice in the distribution OF salaries BY putting
every member OF the service upon an honorable
equality.
WHY NOT C0NsULs GENERALLY
1t Is well worth consideration with respect to
improvements In consular admin istration whether
1t would not be well to establish c0nsuls general
where we have now q minister resident. There
seems put small necessity for having Minister
Resident at The Hague where there is no busi-
ness, commercial. diplomatic or otherwise, and
where. no doubt, there has not been any business
for long time past. The same might be said,
with slight reservation, OF Belgium, where we
have had no diplomatic business lately except the
negotiation OF treaty which compels the United
states to contribute large sum towards the abo-
lition OF the Scheldt dues These two missions,
therefore, might be consolidated. The salary at
each place is $500 and small contingent
fund. Let there be one Minister Pleni-
potentary, who might alternately reside
at the Dutch and Belgian capitals. and
in so determining we should follow the ex.
ample OF Russia and several other European Pow
ers more concerned with Belgium and Holland
than we are. In the absence OF the Minister bus-
ness might be conducted by the Consul General
As it Is we have q consulate at Antwerp, another
at Brussels and two or three smaller ones at
Ghent Liege, &c. This state OF things is simply
absurd, none OF these consulates being distant
from the other beyond few hours ride BY rail.
Before bringing this subject to close 1t should
be mentioned that the Consul at Oporto has three
agencies; but whether he Increases his salary by
these agencies is not so clear. Possibly 1t might
be prudent to inquire. He receives 81, 500 c0mpen-
sation, while the fees at the consulate DO not
reach $780, The question, therefore, stands
thus:-'M the consulate produces $500
what do the agencies producer" 1t Is the same at
Lisbon where no less than seven agencies are a.
tached to the Consul who receives also 500, with
less than S70o fees apparently.
The perDicious system OF issuing fancy certin-
Gates impressed with fanciiul seals, to which allu-
sion has already been made, has deeper impor-
lance than may at first sight appear 1t not only
shows want OF discipline, but 1t hangs on to
other matters not devoid OF interest to the meS-
camille world, and hence the question arises, "Does
the consul Ill the position OF an agent TO protect
and promote the commercial Interests Of his coun-
try, or is he q mere commissioner Of deeds p;
In the latter case OF course he has to
sign and seal every document as 1t IS pre-
sented to him, irrespective OF its contents; but
1t may be urged with reason that the consular
regulations instruct the consul to exercise his dis
erection and to report on the documents submitted
for his Official seal and signature. In many cases
where the consul has understood his duties to ho
in that track he not failed to bring himself into
hot water, and IN more than one instance ne has
unavoidably appeared in the light of an informer.
Suppose he reports to the Treasury that 1t has
come to his knowledge that an exporting nrm
puts up certain fish known as sardines and In
voices them as sprats, there being large differ.
ence between one and the other description OF fsh
considered as taxable merchandise 2 Suppose he
nnds out this tact, and reports the fraud to the
Treasury, what is the consequence Probably
this and this only, will be the result Of his auda-
cious experiment in duty dotng-he Will
be Immediately denounced by the exporting firm
as an informer Under these circumstances 1t Ia
preferable TO assume the position Of simple com.
missioner Of deeds, to pocket as many fees pos.
sple, and to let trade frauds on the revenue take
care Of themselves. II is a delicate point. The
consul according 70 ordinary views, would fail to
do his duty II he were not to bring such frauds 10
light ana would place himself the position OF an
acc0mpce. In many cases undervaluations arc
not unknown to the consul; but he dare not, for
mis- own social position, expose them. The remedy
is simple. Make the consul Independent OF the
mercantile community at the place OF his residence
by paying him such salary as will enable him to
act boldly whenever his duty to his country Is
at issue. While the consul represents tho
wealth and the honor OF the American people,
1t is disgraceful to the evidence OF poverty
among our representatives.
The letter, bearing the signature In full or the
writer's name, Is superscrtbed Omitted states Con-
su.u
In illustration Of the foregoing remarks 1t may
be as well to conclude with story, OF which the
truth Is guaranteed ON unimpeachable security.
A gentleman applied to the consuls for AID while
engaged IN preparing some valuable statistical
tables which were likely TO prove OF great value
to the public service. Some Of the consuls were
very courteous and furnished every Information In
their power; some tried hard to please with
out much reference 70 the business In
hand; some doied out scraps OF doubtful knowt
edge grudgingly; others. though willing enough.
knew but little, and therefore could tell notA-
ing, and III the end labor which would have been
OF ncalculap!e advantage to the country had to bd
abandoned. The Consul at Liverpool responded