The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-16
The Efficiency of Messrs. Packard and Shaw
Testimony as to the Good Work that
Has Been Performed by Them.
The Queer Sort of People Who Are Ap-
pointed to Minor Offices.
Interest Taken in the Immediate Delivery
System of the POstOffice Department
Land Office Appointments-No:es.
AN EFFICIENT OFFICER.
A Big Mistake Made by Secretary Bayard i
Removing Consul Shaw.

Big Mistake Made by Secretary Bayard in
Removing Consul Shaw.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15--Secretary Bayard has
given out that it is his intention to so improve
the consular service as to make it the best in the
world In order that it might appear that he is
attempting to accomplish this result upon busi-
ness principles, he caused to be announced, some
time ago, the fact that he had determined to re-
tain the services of some ten or dozen consuls
who had been exceptionally valuable to the
State Department and the country generally.
In looking over the list of efficient to retain
in the service Mr. Bayard overlooked two who
were without equals in their line of business.
These were Stephen B. Packard, of Louisiana,
consul to Liverpool England, and Robert
d. Shaw, of Watertown, N. Y, who has been
in the consular service for seventeen
years, and whose latest post has been the city of
Manchester, England From an Official point of
view the service of these two gentlemen were
about on par. They had, to use vulgar but
expressive term. the consular business down
fine" Colonel Tichenor, one of the ablest ex-
perts in the Treasury Department, after care.
ful examination of the affairs of the various con-
sulates reported to the department, under oath,
that Messrs. Packard and Shaw had conducted
their Offices so efficiently, and had so carefully
supervised tho interests of the United States.
that they had succeeded in reducing the number
of undervaluations to the minimum. He re-
ported that it was true that through the efforts
OF these two officers, aided by Of their assist
| ants. the number of undervaluations of invoices
from the Manchester and Liverpool districts had
been reduced so that they would not exceed five
in ore hundred; whereas it was true, also, that
in all the other consular districts in Europe
ninety five out Of every one hundred invoices
were undervalued The exports from the Man
chester district last year amounted to $l3,479,-
474 The list of merchandise covered every
thing in the nature of cloth, embroideries, gen.
eral dry goods, machinery and nearly every
thing else We import from England. Col Shaw's
services to the United States were such as have
never been exceled by any consul. I asked an
old official of the State Department day or
two ago what he thought of Mr Shaw's abili-
ties. He replied: There never was consul in
the service of the United States to equal
him. His reports have been invaluable His
conduct of the affairs Of his office
has been such that no better service could be
asked from any one 1t is simply out Of the
question to find his equal for this post The
most efficient man in the world would require at
least i've years drilling before he could equal
Colonel Shaw, even if he had the abilities of
this gentleman to begin with. His loss will be
severely felt, not only by the Treasury and
State Departments, but by every American who
visits Manchester. He has endeared himself to
the American people, in that he was always at
their service, and he never talked much of his
prerogatives. In fact in summing him up, it
is impossible to say too much of his abilities and
services"
Another State Department official said: Col.
Shaw was not only an effcient--I may say
the most efficient Of our consuls-but he was
a versatile in every respect. His
ter cannot be overestimated He
was into everything of public nature, and was
always ready to answer the calls of the people
there. Why, 1 know of one instance in which
he, one Sunday. had prepared to take drive
with Tichener, the Treasury agent. When
about to start man came rushing in and said:
Colonel Shaw, the Rev. Mr.. has just
been called away to see lady who is dying.
We want you to come and occupy his pulpit to-
day for u.s. Mr.. Shaw demurred, and said that
he did not feel able to fill it, but his visitor
insisted, and finally he gave up his afternoon
ride, went to the church, occupied the pulpit,
and, in the language of the Manchester guardian,
he delivered discourse that for eloquence and
fervency was never excelled in that city,
He has done more business in the way of
collecting pension claims and interest Oh invested
moneys for people who are now re.
siding in Manchester and vicinity than
many claim agents DO, and in all these, cases
whore poor people have come to him he has
never charged them one cont. He is one of those
rare men in the consular service whose sole
object it Is not to make money, but to perform
his duty in the very best manner possible BY
dismissiug him from the service Mr.. Bayard has
done more injury than he will be likely to undo
by the very best appointments he can make in
the two or three places which still open for
him to FILL Colonel Shaw was dismissed because
he was Republican, or in the language of the
present Administrations gush, he was an
offensive partisan" because he employed his
leave last season in stumping for the Republican
ticket 1t is understood that he will devote bis
spare time to politics in the future as he has in
the paat, and it is safe to say that he will be
more dangerous to the Democratic party while
he remains in America than he was while in
Manchester.