New-York tribune., 1876-02-08
AN INTERESTING BOOK on CoNsULATEs.

AN INTERESTING BOOK ON CONSULA1ES.
AN OLD OFFICIAL RIPoRT BY Mr. kim ARRAINING
OUR CONSULAR sYSTEN-sTARTING CORRUPIIoN
AND FRAUD EXPLICITLY CHARGED-ME. KfIM
NOT IN FAVOR OF REDUCING COMPENSATION.
fey TELEGRAPH TO THE TMBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-Mr Springer's Com
mtee on the expenditures OF the State Department has
discovered new mine what is alleged 10 be an uDpub-
lshed suppressed copy of the Official report OF d. B
X, lolph Kem upon the Consular Service of the United
states Mr.. Keim during the years 1870, ls7l, ana
ls72 VISITED as tho Special Inspecting Agent OF the Cow
ernneut every Consulate OF the United States III every
country Of the globe making special report upon each
Consulate ard travelling in two years and hall 60,OOO
uilcs Some portions Of his voluminous report nave
been published; but the copy, which the sprnSeEs COM
mtea alleges having been suppressed has htheit"
been al least very httle known This document Les Ger
tnly terrible arTaicnmen Of tho enthe Consular syr-
tenn The digest Of the report comprises an octave vol
uIne OF considerable M SprngeIs Committee VII
uudobiedly se the report tie basis OF new dcar
uro in Tie investigation and viii summon Mr.. Kan to
sbstantate the statements made In it, Tie ouOwlngi
reference 20 OF the leading facts and conclusions
Of this report:
Mr. Keim finds that the defects the Consular law
very great and that there Il lamonjabc want OF pfac
teal knowledge amOns COnsus OF the actual necessities
o. tic onsuar service There is TOO much law on some
subjects, aud none at ali upon very important ones.
T ere statute which gives any bureau officer au
torty enforce any Of the laws. The present system
ie Principally founded the idea Of everybody for HIM
self. The only check upon the wholesale appropriation
Of the reckless disbursement Of money funds by
some the officers has been tho constant suspicion OF
the bureau ocers whose long experience In these ex
penditures male them very ready 10 paes ac
counts The act Of July l. I-70. relating 70 commerce
with China and Japan, the tLhd section OF which Is
fair index tO a bill which furnishes such
corrupt opportunities, wss drafted by Mr.. Seward
al
told Of Mr. Seward himself to Mr. Keim Nj KEN dis
pLragcs the attempt TO make the consular service
OF by the payment OF Inadequate salaries
to consular officers. THIS chapter OF his report VIII not
be ~ well received By the Democrats. hr hcin say'
such policy may bring few thousand dollars INTO the
Treasury but will certainly take great many more
thousands out This cheap system has resulted IN 'se
practice Of mauy personal impOsitiOns by the Consuls
and has dspraced In "A national point OF Wow beyond
estimate Mr. KciIn recommends that there should be
bureau officer at hOue, ana lac should nave eooi ci 'e
consular service
Ills chapter upon the incompetcney OF C"hsuar
officers a startling one. lis experience Is 'hai tlo
vast uu rity of the COnsus unfit for their places
and exercise their functions for their personal ems O TOT
gau. Tncy do not dignity the service by Their pcrehce
but add TO Its notOiety by their defects Nearly every
Consulate visited had soIne glaring defects great
portion OF the officers noted for incompetency low
habits aud vulgarty. The chief lapses Of the Consus
collection OF fees in tie exercise Of Judicial
powers Ia the adjustment OF the business o American
citizens IN the settlement OF the estates OF dccedcns In
the selling OF the American flag, in rnn' ing
ort sbips, In the discharge Of scanIeD. In giving
relief to slck seanen IN issuing local passpOrls In
tcnancng shpmasters, and IN taxing Cbnose enlcrant,
Mr.. Klein says Indeed, the most interesting feature
my investigation the Ingenuity displayed by consuar
officers aimee the Act of 1886 particularly In dctaudng
thc Government Great frauds prnotced IA the dis
busencpt OF the fund for the rolef Of American
in foreign ports There 10 no olonch In the consular
service subject to greater abuse hsn the administration
of these humane funds Vouchers have been paid by the
ram when the Treasury officers beloved that they were
questionable. There Is however no law which suthor-
ios an officer dispute account that 10 due FORM
aud agains. which oircumstantsl objection can be
found"
Tho check Mr.. Kem says. that the Treasury Depart
m,nt has upon the systein Of consular accounts bur
lesoue upon official accountability. There is he oOnH
ucs hardly q featare the consular that does
moi indicate inbecity In point OF executive force, bum
flon in pont Of character. and penurousness and
tvagance iu poiut OF practice BIT. kem elasshes
Irregularities IS follows First neglect Of duty from In
comuetepcy and wifulness; second in regard to con-
sular fees; third In the exercise Of Judicial powers
fnih IN regard invoices fth In the use OF the ONCE
Tor personal advancement sixth. In accounting Tor ees
Mr. Keu found that large proportion OF the Consui
addicted 10 intemperance, and In remote place.
they had entirely left their morals at home. and lived
life dlsgraceful TO civilization.
As TO several Of the eonsulates in Bouth America, Mr
Keim says "Of the for the rolof Of sick
men. LAY Judgment that not one voucher In ten Is an