Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-19
CONSULAR LITERATURE.
Some Interesting Facts About the Reports
Made BY United States Consuls-Forbid-
den Topics-A Collection of National
Anthems-HOw Thew Were Obtained.


which VIII be OF great value to lawyers and to
merchants who have any interest in export or
import trade. 1t is a collection of the laws and
practices OF every civilized country in the
world in the matter of bonds mortgages, notes,
etc. mo such volume exists In the world"
said DR.. st. Clair, the Chief of the Consular
Bureau, the other day. "This publication will
be made up OF the reports of the Consuls of the
United states in different parts of the world,
who have been instructed by circular letter to
obtain the Information and forward 1t to us.
In ADDITION to these reports we are now receiv-
ing from Consuls reports on harbor and pilotage
dues in various parts of the world and reports
on textile fabrics" :
The state Department issues, usually at in
tervals OF one month, a compilation of the re-
ports made BY consuls on matters affecting the
commerce and manufactures of the United
states. These reports are very elaborate and
apparently the range Of subjects which they
cover are endless. Prior to their publication
advance sheets containing the most important
OF these reports are issued to the newspaper
offices in this city for the convenience of cor
responaents In making synopses of them to be
sent py TELEGRAPH to their papers. At the end
OF each month, II there is enough matter in the
nands OF the printer to make ups volume, they
are issued In paper covers for distribution
among the Representatives OF the commercial
aud MANUFACTURING industries Of the country.
Clever Scheme TO Corner White Lead.
Some Of the reports which we receive from
Consuls are voluntary" said DR.. St. Clair, 'bur
70 per cent Of them are sent under instructions.
The Department prepares q circular letter ad-
di iessed to Consuls asking information on mat
ters of interest. Some Of these letters are sent
to all the representatives of the United States
abroad; others, which ask for information con-
cerning interests peculiar to certain localities,
have more limited circulation. We receive a
great many suggestions from merchants and
manufacturers throughout the United States
in regard to these inquiries. Frequently the
representatives of a certain industry will send
to us a request that we obtain certain informa-
tion which will be Of value to them. Some
time ago the representatives Of the white lead
interest sent to as . series OF questions,
carefully prepared, with a request
that we obtain answers to them
from Consuls in different parts of the world
out the questions, but when the answers were
received we did not forward them We had
them published as part of volume Of Con-
of the white lead men and confided the informa-
tiou to them. they would have been able
easily to have cornered the white lead market
of the United States. But the information be-
came public property through its publication
in the Consular reports, We frequently have
rather amusing requests for information. One
stock raiser In Missouri wrote to US at one
our Consuls in Spain as to the size, weight. cost
rate of duty. ETC., on yellow jackasses. The
yellow jackass is the celebrated jaokass OF
Spain. and suppose he wanted to importsome
Tor breeding purposes.
Touching ON Forbidden Topics.
"The Consular reports are not published ex-
actly as received They are carefully edited by
Mr.. Scanlan, of the Consular Bureau, who re-
moves from them any material the publication
nf vuh iohf ha mn nxuig mi
to use a newspaper phrase, kills them. Con-
sus are likely to include in their reports matter
which we could not publish" said DR.. ST. Clair.
"For example Consul will write to US that he
might have obtained great deal more infor-
nation on @ certain topic had not the Minister
of Finance, an exceedingly incompetent per-
son, placed great many obstacles in his way.
Some years ago we published by mistake In
report from o place In Greece bit OF
comment by an American Consul to the
effect that the character of the Greeks had
been well known since the time Of the classical
author, who described them as to be feared.
especially when they bore presents. 'Timeo
Danaos ct q Iona ferentes.' The Greek Minister
made great fuss about that publication. A
great many reports are unreasonably long and
deal with forbidden topics. A man who is sta
granite to write about. He usually wants to
write. and so he sends us an essay on the con-
dit1on of the people, their customs, morals etc.
NOW the discussion Oh morals moral Us Is iOrnoaen LEI 30. by
statute when 1t was enacted, because it for
bade the discussion of political or moral topics,
and said nothing about immoral topics. We
find that the best reports received are those
written by newspaper men. Frank Mason, our
Consul at Marseilles. sends US some of the most
clearly written and interesting reports that we
publish"
A ColIecrion of National Anthems.
famous Marine Band. is going to call the ser
vices of the Consuls and Consular Agents of
the United States to his aid in collecting some
of the national anthems which he is about to
publish under authority Of the Navy Depart
ment. When the Queen OF England held her
jubilee two years ago volume Of national
anthems was issued under authority of the
British Government. containing about 35
musical selections. Among them was Prof.
Sousa's arrangement of Hail Columbia" for
warded through the State Department at the
request of the British Foreign Office. The
French Government issued volume some
time ago containing Is anthems, but the most
complete collection ever issued was that OF
collection contains ll6 anthems, and he Is max
ing an effort through the State Department to
obtain 80 more. He prepared early this week
letter which the State Department will for
ward to its representatives with view to OBJ
music. The l16 songs which Prof. Sousa now
has represent the labor of l3 years
Obtaining the Material.
II obtained my material in many curious
ways" said Prof. Sousa, discussing it yester.
day. =" hunted through the works Of explorers
for the themes Of many of the hymns. Others
were sung to me by those who were familiar
with them. I obtained the Nautch dance Of
Bengal from q gentlemen who had lived many
I'm, Ind md xuho I'm ad for