Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-01-27

All! brow with that look CT ssorn;
'Twere q cruel fate,
Were the night too lat,
OunSo the work of morn.
ConSuls and Consular Duties.
In the discharge of my duties as
United States Consul, l once had to
defend a captain against some of his
crew. l will relate the story to dem on
strate the variety of duties a consul is
called to perform, and what RESPONSE
bic position he holds. A. consul is
often obliged to decide very compli-
Gated questions; his decisions are with
ont appeal, and be executes them By
his own authority, subject only to the
approval or disapprovsl of the Depart
ment of Stats.
A captain once reported 20 me that
five seamen of his ship had refused to
do duty; and wished to see me.
The master of merchant vessel OF
the United States, when in foreign
port. is required by law to give the
crew full liberty to lay their complaints
before the consul. either by allowing
them TO land and present themselves at
the consulate; or, if there are sufficient
and valid objections to this, to acquaint
the consul of the fact. and desire him
to come on board.
The consul, on receiving such in
formation, will forthwith repair oD
board, inquire into the C ,uses of the
complaint. and proceed therein as the
law directs.
1 accordingly went at once on board
that ship. Examining the mate first,
he reported that in the morning, after
breakfast, five of the crew. having had
some alteration with him. had refused
to obey orders and retired to the FORE
castle, saying they would do no more
work until they had seen the consul.
The mate stated, also, that among
these five aeamen there was /" sea
lawyer" who enticed them to do 60
with the hope of being discharged and
sent home with the months extra
wages.
A sea-lawyer, in sailors parlance.
means o seaman who has had long
experience. and is we'll acquainted with
all the laws for the protection of sea-
men; using that knowledge. however.
to create trouble on board the shir,
and against the master. on some pre-.
text or other. under the plea of sen
mans rights.
Sesmen have rigkt to appeal to the
consul in the following cases; viz: II
the vessel is in an unsuitable condition
to go to sea because she is Ieaky, or in
sufficiently supplied with sails. rigging,
anchors, or any other equipment: or il
the crew is insufficient to man her; OF
if her provisions, stores and supplies
are not sufficient and wholesome.
In such cases tho consul appoints two
disinterested, competent. practical men,
acquainted with maritime affairs, to
examine into the cause of complaint
who survey the vessel and whatever il
aboard of her.
If upon examination they report thai
the deficiency complained Of by the
crew exists, but was the result of mis-
take or accident, and could not. in the
exercise of ordinary care. have beer
known and provided against before the
sailing OF the vessel, then the consul
will order the master in . reasonable
time to remove or remedy the causes ol
complaint.
If the master does not ebey. the con
sui is authorizd to discharge the com
plainants. and allow them one months
extra wages in addition 10 their pay NJ
to the time of their discharge. In casel
of bad or cruel treatment, on the par
of the master or officers, the consul car
also discharge member or members oi
the crew from the ship. exscting three
months extra wages.
In this case, however; the FIVE seamer
had been guilty of insubordination by
refusing to obey orders before appeal
ing to the consul, which they had nc
right to do. Therefore, when I had
them all before me in the cabin without
the presence of the captain or any Of
the officers, I stated to them that
would inquire into their complaint, and
if found valid, 1 would see that justice
be done to them. but in the meanwhile
they must return at once to their duties
Upon this. the speaker of the party,
whom recognized at once to be the
one the mate called the sea-lawyer,
came forward. cap in hand, and asked
me whether he could speak.
Certainly, said /; I came here to
listen to your complaint"