The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-26
THE KIND OF coNsuLs APPOINTED.
Specimen Bricks in Mr.. Bayard's New School
of Diplomacy.

of Diplomacy.
Washington Special.
Some funny stories are related about the ex-
perence of this administration in the appoint
ment of consuls, and If any Democrat wonders
why it is that so few changes have been recon-
meRded by Secretary Bayard this may serve to
explain. When the change of administration
took place last year there was a great rush made
for the consular positions The blue book, Civ
ing the salaries and perquisites of the various
places, was diligently studied. and when the vari
GUS seekers" settled upon the place they would
like, they bounced upon it with all the power
they could command Among others came a
fellow by the name of Brown, from New
York. who desired, he said. to go
to Scio, Turkey This is an insigni6
ant consular agency which has salary
attached to 1t, but which is generally given TO a
resident merchant other person who has
means of making a livelihood but is glad to take
this for the occasional fees that may come to it.
Brown was told that the place was not worth
having. but ne thought the fellows who told him
were trying to guy him and perhaps wanted it
[ for themselves
So he brought his pressure to bear oil the
harder. He had three or four Senators go and
see Secretary Bayard about it and finally the
Secretary appointed him. 1t is not necessary
that the consular agents be confirmed by the
Senate, and so he immediately got his papers.
What business are you going into when you
get to Sciof" asked the official who gave him his
final instructions. II am going to be consular
agent" replied Brown. eyes, know that, but
you don't expect to live on what you make do
youW Certainly / do. l am millionaire
.'You know there is no salary. don't yous" in
uuired the official mo, I don't know anything
of the kind. There is a good salary of s., 000."
"You are mistaken sir; there is nothing but fees
connected with the place, and they don't amount
to so cents q month"
Brown at length saw that he was mistaken.
He had an imperfect copy OF the register in
which the figures belonging to another place had
been printed opposite Scio and he had been so
sly about getting the place before some one else
should apply for it that he had not talked with
any one who knew positively about it. He i'm
mediately began to work with the Secretary for
q transfer, but all the satisfaction he could
get was the information that it would be impos-
sible to give him every place on the list, and as
he had asked for this one and got it he must be
content
Consul LASER, who Is now at Port Stanley,
Falkland islands, was first appointed to a con-
tular agency in Germany He saw by the regis
Ter that his agency paid handsomely and he went
for it. 1t was one of those places, however, that
are under the control of the consul general d.
rectly, and it is easy for that official to send
y great deal of business there or almost none
Lasser's predecessor had been special friend of
The Consul.general and a great deal of trade had
got there he found it very dull place. He
waited about four months and took in less than
80 He then applied for change and after a
while was sent to his present position, which is
only few miles from the end of the earth.
But the worst trouble that the present admin
istration has had is with the cheap men, such as
Greenhaum, who has just hem ASKED to resign
from the Samoan islands The reports that such
men as those send to the department are study
for the rhetorician and orthographist They
never appear in the printed volumes. but if they
did they would be valuable contributions Some
of the new men send in valuable reports Col.
Boyd Winchester's story about the 200-year- old
Swiss cheese. Warren Green's Japanese poker
experience, and Consul Newmark's charge of
600 francs for preparing four blank forms for
hffidavits to assist Lyons firm in evading the
payment of customs fees, are all illustrative of
the style Of men who have been selected by Mr.
Bayard to represent the country at foreign
ports.
1t is no wonder that the Secretary has called
halt, and declared that be will recommend no
more appointments. He is now relying upon
the old force, and draws upon the wordy Second
Assistant Secretary Adee for the preparation of
state papers