New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-05
YALUE OF CONSULAR REPORTS.

THE NEED OF PRINTING MORE COPIES.
HOW THEIR PUBLICATION WAS INTRODUCED
sMALLNEss OF THE FORCE ENGAGED IN PRE-
PAIRING THFM.
Charles S. Hill, Statistician of the State De-
partment at Washington who, under leave Of ABSENCE
is mt present compiling tor the Metropolitan Industrial
League statistics relating the revision of the tariff
is the editor Of the reports OF the United
States eonsuls which issued monthly At the present
time there are about seven hundred Consus Consular
commercial agents OF this country In foreign cities
and ports but the benefits Of their abors were never
made available TO merchants manufacturers ard BUSH
ness men until the publication OF the monthly reports
was begun under Secretary Evarts There was great
opposition the outset but this has disappeared since
the advantages resultant from the publication have be-
come apparent The annual cost to the Government Is
only about $4,000. The principal cause OF complaint
at the present time fact that the number Of copies
reports issued inadequate to meet the demand
When spoken TO this point. recently Mr.. Hill said:
IF out OF 10 600 copies printed monthly you supply
ten copies to each and each member OF the
House. il will consume 1000 copies; ten TO each OF
200 trade organizations make 1000 more, or 5000.
GIVE an average OF three each to the Consular corps
CC0nsus agents and you have about 1000 more or
5000 II is necessary TO hold at least 1OOO for the nood
of special requests after ISSUE thus leaving about 1000
copies general distribution. For that 1000 the De-
partment has a roll of 10000 applicants Now, how is
1t possible to supply individuals regularly TO do more
than distribute this last 1000 proportionatey and
irreguaryf Ii Is not possible for the department to
distribute that 1000 10 the same persons monthly Ou
Ony occasionally some who repeatedly ask lOr tngse
reports to be supplied regularly are placed on regular
How f. it that some persons have pay % cents per
copy for these repOrtsl asked the reporter . 49,,
II was these mat spoke OF as the regular list. All
British official papers sod, but II il rather dstaste
ful 20 Americans 10 buy puO1c documents
When was this system Of publishing Consular reports
SEarIy in 1880 the Chamber Of Commerce of New
YORK asked Con ress to provide for such work Boards
Trade al parts OF the country took up the pet
ton and approved the same resolution. Meanwhile
Secre airy EYtrs pared and sent President Hayes
detailed report In OF tner publication
which was presented to Congress- but the House OF Rep
measure had many warm supporters
How. then. was 1t established y
senator Morgan, OF Alabama, being friend or Mr.
Evarts and ruest advocate Of the DEVELOPMENT VI
American industr es offered an amendment 70 the
cry Civil providing fOl this matter and
referred to Committee on Foreign RelatlOns
b. chairInaD senator Eaton, Warmly e-pOused the
measure two senators. with senator Beck OF
Appropriation Committee urged the matter success
fully rnat was the beginning, but the work has
rapidly appreciation Of tine Consus aud the pubic
that the means soon ., came inadequate. -, u..
How was 1t that Mr. Blaine DID not OBTAIN the heces
| sary provision Was he nos in favor Of y
did you ever know MIR. Blaine 10 hesitate In any:
thing shat would advance tue interests aud prospects OF
the American people wsIy gu could read sne letter
he wrote on subject Senator Allison chairman of
the APPROX iatOn COMMITTEE. Secretary FrelAghuy-
sen also wr0e letters urging the matter in Iac 1t
received tine pprJyal Of three successive Adnls
Anu yet the issue provided for is only 10000"
only 10000, wnen IL shOud DC 2OOOO or a5 the very
least, 5000 Trims OF the NcwYOrk Chamber OF Com
merce receiving only ten copies, and the Newly FRO
duce Exchange, WIN 5000 members having only twenty
| COPIES! Every month Board OF Trade writes ask
Ing increased supply but II Congress does not pro-
| vide for the sumo ency wudtcan De dOnef
| What number of reports are received monthly y
since the beginning Of these publications, about one
| hundred"
there any improvement noticed IN their prepara
tiOn By the COsuls since the publication OF these re-
| ports begun T.
| 'sDecided Improvement OF course every Consul
recognizes the opportunity to benefit his country
men, have the eyes OF criticism turned TO
| himself" -.
What is the force the Department engaged on this
| work g. -
| Not counting copysts, there are only three. MI
Seaman the Bureau Of statistics, Is one Of
the most OrOad-mnded careful men in the country
know whose deductions would rely upon as
| confidently a. upon those OF Mr.. Seaman and Mr
Iouhay who "a LnOrOu gully accomplished scholar and
| hagu5t."
| 'krom the one hundred reports received monthly,
how many prepared for immediate publication e
About nifty OF best and most important; from
others OHly necessary to prepare items To place
Notes The Latter by no means less valuable
10 Drevity.'