National Republican., 1886-12-11
CnNs1rLAR NOTES.


The report that member Of the commit
teo on foreign relations had stated that the
Belmont reorganization bill had "died on
the table," is without foundation. The
bill was unanimously reported favorably
and special day was set apart by the
House during the last session for It's con-
sideratlOn, but other bills crowded 1t over
to the coming session, when II is hoped II
Will, with the present estimates OF SeCre-
tary Bayard, receive favorable considora-
ton. Certainly every man, with desire TO
improve the service, will sustain the Secre-
tOry's suggestion to place all consular Off
GERS on a salaried basis aud put the posts
under the administration OF American citl-
zens.
Judge O'Connor, who was for many
years solicitor OF the State Department,
has recently been interviewed by repre-.
sentative Of the Sioux City Journal. Dur
ing the interview he said: Zone day two
prominent gentlemen visited Secretary
was overworked- crushed with
labor. But, said they, you have lots OF
help, haven't you, Mr.. Secretary-what
does this one doP' '0h, he helps that one.'
what does so-and-so do2' lie helps
such one.' But you have three assist
mts--whnt do they do9' '0h,' replied
Secretary Evnrts, they help each other.' "
y
est worker at the head Of the department in
my time. lie could do more work than any
man i ever saw. lie was the actual head
Of the department, not merely the nominal
head. He would attend to visitors all day,
go out to dinner in the evening, return
about 10 o'clock, and, working till or $3.50
o'clock, would turn out an amount of work
that was simply appalling. He wrote at race
horse speed In a great, scrawling, but per-
fectly legible hand. A hundred pages
which he would dash of wonld, when
copied, make no more than twenty pages,
but II would be the purest English, with
hardly break In grammer. His faculty OF
dispatchiDg business was marvellous. /
have seen him, when pressed, actually keep
up conversation with two senators, on two
different subjects, and vet In the halts OF
talk, with papers for reference In his left
hand, rapidly dash off memoranda with the
pen In his right hand, the memoranda being
directions on multlfarious and important
subjects to officials Of the department"
Tho tall, distinguished looking gentle
man who accompanied Mrs Cleveland and
Cousin Ben Folsom TO New York yesterday
Is j. II. Steuart, the present United States
consul at Antwerp. Mr.. Folsom sails for
his new post Of duty on Saturday. A close
friendship has existed between him aud
Mr.. Steuart for years. When Mrs. Cleve.
land and her mother were travelling in Eu-
rope, prior to the formers marriage, they
were the guests for some days Of Mr. and
Mrs. Steuart at Antwerp. The approach
ing marriage Of Miss Folsom with the
President was then matter OF current
gossip on the continent, and 1t was at their
hosts suggestion that the ladies took the
Noordland for America instead OF the City
OF Chicago, upon which they were booked
to return.
Mr.. Steuarts clever management OF the
affair, together with his courtesies to the
Presidents fancee, insured him q cordial
reception at the white house, where he has
leen visiting the past week. Mr.. Steuart
has been In the consular service sixteen
years. He was promoted to his present
position on account OF the Importance OF
Antwerp as commercial center. His
efforts In developing the trade between
Belgium and this country have been so en-
ergetically and intelltgently directed that he
has come to be regarded at the department
as the best officer In the consular service.
There is strong probability that he will
soon be given q wider and more important
field Of action than any he has yet filed
Miles GutIridgc, in NcD York Herald.
The United States consul at Goree-D -Dakr,
in Senegal, Africa, informs the Department
Of State that In a hand to hand contest be-
tween King Sama Lombefal, of Cayae, and
n French lieutenant, which took place at a
village called Tivomane, the king was run
through with broad sword and killed.
Consul General Raine, Berlin, in his an-
nual report to the Department of State says
that there has been an increase In exports
| to tho United States In every consular dis
trict within his jurisdiction, the total in-
crease for the year ending Sept. 30, 1886,
being SIC, ,0l2 375.77, and the total increase
| for the past eleven years is $50, 1925, ,2l1. 20.
| Ia N arly ah md
strates the fact that In spite Of our protec-
tive tariff the German manufacturers find
the American market profitable one.
Mr.. Perry Belmont will work industri-
| ously for the favorable consideration of his
| consular reorganization bill during the
| present session. 1t will be modified to con-
| form with the recent estimates made by the
Secretary of State.
Further proof is not necessary to show
| that the President Is in earnest concerning
| the Improvement of the consular service
than the following extract from his annual
| message:
Pursuant to q provision of the diplomatic
| and consular appropriation act approved
July ], 1856, the estimates submitted by the
| Secretary of State for the maintenance of the
| consular service have been recast on the basis
| of salaries for all officers to whom such allow
ance is deemed advisable. Advantage has
| been taken of this to redistribute the salaries
| anoe with the work performed, the importance
| of the representative duties of tine incumbent,
and The cost Of living at each post. The last
| consideration has been too often lost
sight Of in the allowances heretofore
made. The compensation which may
| suffice for tho decent maintenance of a
worthy and capable oflioer in position OF
| onerous and representative trust at post
readily accessible, and where the necessaries of
life are abundant and cheap, may prove an in
| adequate pittance in distant lands, where the
| better part OF year pay Is consumed In reach
| ing the post of duty, and whore the comforts of
| ordinary civilized existence can only be OBJ
| tanned with difficulty and at exorbitant cost.
| trust that, in considering the submitted
schedules, no mistaken theory of economy
| has virtually closed to deserving talent many
| offices where capacity and attainmentS of q
| high order are Indispensable, and In not a few
| instances has brought discredit on Our national
| character and enlailed embarrassment and
| even suffering on those deputed TO uphold our
| dignity and interests abroad.
In connection with this subject earnestly
| reiterate the practical necessity of supplying
some mode OF trustworthy inspection aud re-
| port OF the manner in which the consulates are
conducted, In the absence Of such reliable
| information, efficiency can scarcely be re-
worded or Its opposite corrected.
Increasing competition In trade has directed
| attention to the value of the consular reports
| printed by the Department of State, and the
efforts of the government to attend the practi-
| cal usefulness of these reports have created n
| wider demand for them at home and q spirit
of emulation abroad. Constituting record of
| the changes occurring In trade and of the
| progress of the arts and invention in foreign
| countries, they are much sought for by all In
| terested In the subjects which they embrace.
J, Il, MEEKs, u. s. L, II. Keeper, Fort Carroll,
Md ,iSnlyatiOn OIL nura1 Of fhpun1a-