Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-06
MIR. BAYARD,s REFORMS.
improvements in the Consular and
DinInmnlLc Service.

4
MIR. BAYARD's REFORMS.
improvements in the Consular and
Diplomatic Service.
WASHINGTON, Aug. Secretary Bayard
has undertaken to reorganize the consular
and diplomatic service. Those repre-
sentatiyes of this country who have been
| appointed since the 4th of March have
received special instructions looking to
the improvement of the service, and in a
few weeks new regulations will be issued,
which, it is believed, will aid in the i'm
proyement. The reorganization, it is
thought, will be completed by january
next. Its effect will probably not be
| noted by business men until two years
have elapsed.
"The one great object sought in this
i reorganization, said one OF the most
| prominent officials in the department
| to-day, ''has been the securing of good
| and competent men. Mr.. Bayard has
/ repeatedly asked of those applying for
the POSITIONS Are they capableY / want
| competent persons who can do the work
/ in satisfactory manner, and will appoint
/ them without regard to the city or state
in which they live.' In securing these
| men, special inquiry as to their fitness has
/ been set on foot in number of cases.
1 Others have been recommended by promi-
nent men. A few mistakes have been
made but these will be rectified at the
| first opportunity.
"rhere are ON file at the department of
state great many complaints from
| American travellers from all over the
world about men who have been serving
as counsels. They are said TO be incom-
| petent, unintelligent, and frequently ad-
licted to intoxication. II would seem
that they had been given positions which
| they hold that they might be gotten rid
| of. Some of them. no doubt, hold their
offices as reward for political work.
Recently complaint was brought
| against one of the consuls in Brazil. An
American citizen in that country desired
to marry Brazilian lady. He wrote to
the consul asking about the marriage
laws. The consul replied that the
| United States did not furnish stationery
and time (meaning his own time) for
answering such questions as those
"a naval officer who has recently been
i in the Central American states has re-
ported his thorough disgust with the con-
| suls in that section. lie says not single
one of them is gentleman. During the
| troubles on the Isthmus the commander
of one of the United States vessels in
| those waters discovered that the United
States consul of city undergoing siege
was conveying provisions into the be.
sieged city. The officer i'll question re-
ports this as a breach of law, and he adds
that the consul is not gentleman"
"What are the proposed changes in the
consular regulationsI" was asked Of the
| official.
MIR. Bayard has aimed to send mer
abroad who are intelligent and able Il
look into the business OF the communitie,
where they represent this country. They
are expected to make study of the i'm
ports of these countries, to see VIVA
American goods can be sent there and thu
prices paid, and then report thereon. W,
recently sent an agent to the Congo coun
try to look into its commercial relations
He brought back with him numerou
samples of imports, showing the kind o
goods received; each sample bore til
price paid for the article. These hnv
been sent to New York manufacturers
who can see the kind of goods importe
into the Congo country, and the price
paid, and can judge whether or not the
want to enter the field in business con
petition. 1t will not always be the cas
; TINT we will receive similar samples, bu
] consuls will be expected TO make thei
| reports of such character that busines
men can judge from them what is bei
for them TO do i'll entering new territol,
4 "rhere is an increased desire anon
0 business men to enter the South Anne
+ lean market Consul-general Armstrong
recently appointed to Rio Janeiro. wi
: try to improve the trade with thu
: country. Before leaving the United Stat,
9 he conferred with the boards of trade
, New Orleans, Mobile and Savannah
:, These expressed to him their ideas fl
4 improving the trade, and other opinion
: will be of service when he reaches h
il new post of duty.
"About 200 posts yet remain to |
filled. The majority of these are sma
/, agencies, paying salaries of fees amour
ing to not more than i 900 each. The
y are at points important enough to reqnil
i a United States representative, but it
n difficult to get good men to fill the plac
on such small pay The consular seryi'
for the last three years has paid into Il
y treasury m average annual surplus
: about $50,000 after all salaries and e
" penses connected with the service n
paid. That money ought TO be used
raising small salaries, 50 that good Inc
!. might be found"