New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-19
A FREE TRADE BUREAU.
HOW CONSULAR REPORTS ARE EDITED
SOME OF MR.. BAyARD's ADvIsERs-REFLEcTIoNs
ON CONSUL sCHORNHOF.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


ON CONSUL sCHOENHOF.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1S.-From trustworthy
source 1t is learned that the division iu the State
partment which Is charged with tho duty Of editing an
publishing the monthly consular reports Of
ana manufactures Is completely under the control
OF clique OF reetradcrs and that every report pub
shed edited In the interest their theories 1t
asserted that tho directors Of this matter content
with eliminating from tho published reports plain de.
ductons from the data reported have gone so far 10
more than one instance, as to suppress facts and
figures which were or seemed to be contrary to
free-trade theories The publication OF the consular
reports especially those relating wages and cost
ofving In Europe, have been OF great annoy
ance TO David A Wells and his friends from the begin
ming As the publication could not be discontinued
without change in tho law they decided that next
best thing would be to contract 1t within tho narrowet
possible limits, and eliminate everything unfavorbo
to their IDEAS OF political economy No time was lost
after the present Administration came In. 1t may be
remembered that Ed ward Atkinson with the approval
OF Secretary Manning, Instituted reform" in the
tabular statements OF the Bureau of Statistics regard
to the classification OF dutiable goods
sumption. The fascy. not to say absuriity, of
some OF Mr. Atkinson's proposed classifcatons
was promptly exposed In TIE TRIBUNE. But he seems
to have been equally active and soctous in his efforts
to reform the consular reports as will appear by the
following:
BOSTON, April TO- 1889.
DEAR NoRDHoTF think it is the wsest course for
me to give Mr. Bayard my judgment about through
schoenhof has presented the respect to
lar reports but at the time do not think he is tho
best nan to he at the head OF such system IL now
called for. First. he Is a Dutch jew and while hold
sS%s Germn jews win highest esteem the
nor In 2. manufacture In tho technical sense.
lie cloth into eonus He soud DOs know
how to snaIyze factory accounts as we'll nan ac
cnstomed TO them The man for the investigation is
al. =.
o. Arlington, Mass now consul al crefei:; -
organization Of consular ' reports there would
be little left 10 report upon after two years But 1e
must be seconded in the state Department In Washing
ton by competent man. ana Ill., the so-caled stats
tician OF that department. is utterly incompetent
suitable man conld be easily named for this work Inc
forms OF the interrogatores arc OF the utmost I'M
Poriance and Mr. Bayard can o6sin these forms
Ihsve Written Professor Baird Of the Smithsonian to
sse well IL Se haa pcc@ms
soner Carroll d. Wright. of the Bureau OF Labor sta
exact exact lines sketchcd out for cOnsuIs and whose
agents could coach the consus in the use OF the forms
Yours truly, EDWARD ATKINSON.
Mr. schoenhof did not obtain the place no sought but
given the Tunstall consulate lie mas not been
confirmed consul and ought to be rejected
by the Senate. Strong representations the subject
have been made recently by some OF the most prom
nent and influential merchants OF EewYork TO Senator
Evarts and other Senators - .,,
work" wrote Mr.. Atkinson. He was found in tho per
s Wa by David a. Wells Ed
ward Atkinson and several members Of the New-York
Free Trade Club, including L. l.. Godkin. Mr.
scarlan the experienced and efficient chief Of
the division WAS reduced to lower grade
and Mr.. Ford was given his place. 1t was Immediately
apparent that he had everything to learn and 10 said
on good authority he has been guided almost wholly,
even matters Of detail by David A Wells and other
free-trade phanthropiss to whom the task was
labor love- A comparison OF the
last SIX eight monthly numbers OF
consular reports " with the reports for the
corresponding months ss4 will show that the voun
teer laborers in the freerade vineyard have been IN
dustrlous The whole subject is worthy OF thorough
investig alton by the United states senate.