Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-12
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
WHAT FOREIG NERs THINK OF
OUR SYSTEM.


Done to Improve the Service.
BEYROUT SYRIA, March 15.-The
numerous changes in the United States
consular service within the last Jew
months lead the American traveller or
resident abroad to contrast the system in
vogue with us with that of other coun-
tries. The ''spoils" system could not be
exhibited TO the nations at large in any
more practical or striking way. In talk
ing with a number OF foreigners on this
subject found 1t hard for them to I'M
derstand how such a principle could
control matters so purely CONNER
cial. For them to witness on
the incoming OF new party
administration at Washington sweeping
a change in the consular service, gives a
strong impression OF the inst ability Of our
| form Of government. All those numer-
| Gus relations, Official, commercial and
social, which have been the growth of
years are suddenly broken OIL. new
man must 20 through the tedious initia-
ZION INTO office; tresome to himself as
we'll as to those with whom he has to deal.
| A hundred ties which united the busi-
| ness relations of the two countries are
dislccated, perhaps never 10 be rear
ranged.
1 But if the change is noticeable to for
eIgners tits still more so to an Ameri-
! can, who in his travels has frequent Occa'
sion to seek tue service or advice OF the
/ United states Consul. After the old Con-
sui gets notice that ne is to be superseded
he is quite likely to lose all his interest
in his work and in many cases he is In
clined to resign Immediately and leave
| vacancy until his successor can arrive.
This is especially probable If the Consul
| feels that he has been treated unjust'y.
! When the new official arrives it takes
him many months at the best to get so
| thoroughly familiar with his new sur
roundings that he is able to be Of the most
service to the traveller III many important
! particulars. Let me refer 10 some OF my
experiences within the last few months.
In number of European cities ! found
on inquiry that the American Consul had
resigned and gone home, leaving the rou
tine duties OF the post TO "a clerk VINO cOuid
not be expected to be OF much service In a
general way. Everywhere among the
! COnsuls of tie old regime still holding Of
| nee, found the grea est uncertainty as
| to their future. One man said ~ gave
up a lucrative aud honorable position at
home to enter the consular service. | de-
voted much time and money to prepare
| myself for the duties before me. / eX-
] A.
| But mere | am, Just in the prime Of life,
thoroughly acquainted with my duties,
with large family about me, and there
is every probability that shall
be superseded aud be compelled to
90 home and pick up what work l
can" 1 am glad 10 say that the Consul
in question has not been superseded rs
yet In an important city in central Eu-
rope had occasion to seek an introduce
| 81. IN, h of na
ment. | applied to the new American
Consul for an Introduction. | found him
a perfect gentleman who did his best to
serve me. Armed with a letter to the
President of the Educational Board | sal
lied forth, when to my great discontinue,
found on presenting myself at head
quarters that l had a letter addressed to
a man who had been dead two years.
concealed the disgrace as well as could
and departed from that city sadder but
a wiser man.
mention these facts as the results of
certain faults inherent in our system and
not as rejecting upon the officials | met.
Such mistakes must frequently happen in
the present order OF things. Al the best
there is a great deal OF red tape1B matters
of this kind, and it takes q long experience
to get thoroughly familiar with the duties
of such an office.
Our revenue system imposes unusual
duties on Consul. 1t takes all his time
and requires special knowledge, to be
gained only by careful and unremitting
study of the reports from the region in
which he is placed, and he must
be thoroughly familiar with the
markets. His special duties are
as follows: To aid and protect
American citizens; to settle DISPUTES be-
tween masters and seamen of American
vessels; to ship and discharge the crews !;
to care for sick and disabled seamen, and
generally to guard American shipping in
terests. He must aid IN the extension OF
our trade by protecting il where it exists,
by seeking new markets and by furnish
ing American merchants early, correct
and useful information. He has to pro-
tect the revenue of the United states by
| examining into the truthtulness OF
statements contained in the invoices
presented to him for the certitication OF
goods to be imported into the United
states, and by giving the custom officers
early information OF facts OF Importance
to them. In some territories the Consul
has TO act as judge in civil cases when
his cOuntrymen are defendants; and to
try them when accused % crime. tie must
sometimes act as postmaster.
Eng and, France and Germany send out
men specially prepared for those oner0us
duties. Berlin and Paris have special
/ EuNtl uAlltuldl oNnpulh lhl NduulNdiGs
for the consular services. Eng
land has special oriental school
at ConstantinOple for young neu
who are to enter the service in the East
She also sends her consul pupils to Yari-
Gus sections of the world on a sufficient
salary to enable them 10 become thor
Oughly familiar with the countries where
they are to spend their lives. In all these
countries the consular service Is a career,
ant the change OF administration has
nothing to do with the matter. Young
men, after special studies, begin at the
bottom OF the ladder aud slowly Use ac-
cOrding to merit. When they arrive at
an advanced age they are retired on a
salary.
IL has been my fortune to talk with a
large number OF CoHsuls, both old and
new, and they all affirm That this service
ought to be made career tor young
Americans. II ought 10 be pus on The
same basis as the army aud navy. There
should he arrangements made 40 that any
graduate from our American colleges,
West Point or from Annapolis, as well as
young men from business life, could com
pete for the positions in a special school
preparing men for the consular service.
After year or so OF duty they should be
sent as clerks, and from that position
slowly rise 10 the most important places
of trust. such system would obyiate
many OF tue iufelicities OF the present ar
rangement and put our consular service
on par with those Of other nations.
IA 10