National Republican., 1886-12-04
CONSULAR NOTES.

Consul General Raine, Berlin, informs
the Department OF State that henceforth
mail parcels weighing not more than three
kilos can be forwarded by the German mail
steamers to the straits settlements and
Hong Kong and other points. Particulars
as to terms OF shipment will, on proper ap-
plication, be given by the postoftice authori-
ties.
The estimates for the fiscal year 1888,
made by the State Department, will make u
broad change In the lower consular offices
II adopted by Congress. To place the con
sulsr service on a salaried basis and In the
bands Of American citizens will be an act
Of wisdom and propriety, which will do as
much for the consular service as Mr. Evarts'
report system has done, and Mr.. Bayard
will get the credit OF 1t. II 10 not very
pleasant thing for an American to see the
coat-of'arms OF his country swinging at the
front door Of a second hand clothing estab-
lishment, but 1t has swung there, and may
be swinging to this day for all We know.
The Department Of State may some day
instruct the consuls OF the United States
that reporting upon the commercial stand
ing OF business parties and firms In their
Jurisdiction is not necessary to q proper dis
charge OF their duties, In fact, that # is not
desirable that such rept rts should be made
by member OF. the consular corps. There is
| scarcely consul In the service but who has
| received from persons, or mercantile agen-
| cies In the United States letters requesting
them 10 report upon the commercial stand
| ing OF certain foreign 1rms. Such requests
| should invariably be treated with golden
silence by our representatives abroad. They
| did not go into the communities where they
are stationed for the purpose Of ascertain
ing the solidity OF this person or that firm,
and It does not conform to the dignity OF
their positions to play the part OF CONNER
cial spies. All over the world there are
mercantile agencies who make 1t business
to give information upon this subject. The
consuls might refer all persons seeking In
formation OF that particular nature to such
est Establishments.
Michael Scanlon, OF the bureau OF statis-
tics, State Department, finds time, outside
Of his industrious and prosalc struggle with
the mass OF figures and tables forwarded to
the department by consuls from every part
OF the world, to create some very pretty
songs set to music OF his OWL composing
Two recent productions-"The Old Yankee
Land" and "My Beautiful, My Own''-havc
received wide circulation, and are popu
lar.
Consul Wamer, OF Cologne, says, in q
| report TO the Department OF State, thai
there were about 1,l22, ,902,679 gallons oi
beer manufactured In Germany during las
year, and that the consumption amounted
toi nearly eIghty.seven quarts per capita
Water is only used, evidently, for the pur
poses OF washing and navigation.
Consul steuart, Of Antwerp, one OF the
Oldest and most popular consuls In the ser
vice, has been treated with marked kind.
ness at the white house during his sojour[
In Washington. He has dlned severa
times with the President and his family, and
Was especially honored by an invitation u
partake OF the Thanksgiving dinner at tn,
executive mansion, he and Mr.. Ben Folsom
being the only ones invited, He has ais,
been welcomed guest at soak View" anC
a guest Of the Clevelands at the thearter
He will carry away from the beautiful capt
tai Of the nation some pleasant memore
which will help TO brighten the fog be
decked climate OF the Scheldt, and thos
who know him best we'll know how worth
he is OF such distinguished favors,