The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-09
DUTIES Ut A CONSUL.
AN ex-CONSUL GENERAL DESCRIBES
SOME OF THEM.

Illustrat ions Drawn from Actual EApcri'
ence-The Beggars Who Try 10 Work the
Consuls-stringency of the German Army
RuIes-A ConsuI's Commercial Duties.
Especial Correspondence.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb, 25-l have often been
asked what a consul of the United States has
TO do. The question is not an easy one To
answer. Much depends upon the consuls
location. and to the country TO which he is
accredited In some countries, rs for in
stance in China, Japan, Turkey and Siam,
our consular representatives are judicial
officers and have exclusive jurisdiction over
. criminal oiTonses committed by citizens of
the United States. In most of the oriental
countries they are also authorized 10 adjudl-
cate civil disputes, but in no European coun-
try, except Turkey, can United States con
sui exercise judicial or diplomatic functions.
At seaport where American vessels touch,
the adjustment of disputes arising amongst
their officers and crews occupies much OF the
consul's time, whereas at an inland station
such duties are not performed,
In general way the duties of United
States consular officer may be classified as
official, or compulsory, and qLas-otiical, or
voluntary. OF first Importance among the
strictly official duties are those pertaining to
. commerce. A part, but by no means the
chief part, of this commercial function con-
sists in the inspection and certiiication of in
voices of merchandise for export. Such in
voices are prepared in duplicates, one copy
being retained in the consular Office, one de-
livered to the exporter and one forwarded to
the port of destination of the merchandise.
1t is the primary purpose of this proceeding
to insure II correct statement of the amount
and market value of the wares us u basis for
lowing the duties to which they are subject,
but the requirement applies equally, whether
the merchandise is dutiable or free, and
whether the duties to be levied upon it are
specific or al valorem
The Importance of consular invoices rs a
means of preventing frauds upon the GUS
toms revenue has been much discussed and
much misapprehended. Such an invoice iSsup-
posed to exhibit an accurate statement of the
market value of the merchandise in the coun-
try of its production, and it is presumed that
q consul is acquainted with the exact values
of all the articles exported from his district.
But large proportion of these articles being
never mentioned in any market report, and
many of them being manufactured expressly
for the export trade their values can be de-
termined only by ascertaining the cost of
their production. As to many articles this
cost varies continually with the changing
conditions of production, and is known only
to the producers themselves To acquire pre-
else information as to the first cost of the
great variety of wares exported from some
consular districts therefore requires the
closest observation, and also such painstabing
investigation as is scarcely possible within
the brief and uncertain duration of the con.
sul's ordinary term of service.
The principal value of the invoice consists
in putting the exporter upon his honor, and
furnishing basis for investigation by the
custom house experts The exporter may be
required to swear to his declarations, but
being usually an alien who cannot be prose
cuted for prejury, his authenticated state
ment is Just about reliable as his oath.
The consul may indorse upon the invoice his
opinion that the merchandise is undervalued,
but whatever his belief as to that may be, he
Is required to certify and forward the eXpor-
ter's declaration. The fact that the mer-
chandise is undervalued in any given invoice
is, therefore, of itself no proof that the con
sui who authenticated the invoice has beer
remiss in the discharge OF his duty.
A consular function much moro useful than
the scrutiny of invoices is that of commercial
investigation and report. To the successful
performance of this duty special talent and
knowledge are necessary, and experience is a
most helpful auxiliary. The collection Of
really new and valuable commercial nforma-
ton by an alien official is in most countries
difficult, particularly so when the Investigate
* q tp ~ lpnguQ1.p an Al
customs of the people In consular as in
diplomatic duties, social intercourse is of
great value, and the consul who enjoys such
intercourse among the people to whom he is
accredited may discover avenues to com
mercial information not otherwise attainable.
In Germany our consular officers are
obliged to assume important responsibilities
arising from iSapprehensions and controver-
sizes as to the treaty rights of German born
citizens of the United States soiourning in
their native country. These troubles usually
have their origin in the military obligations
and services exacted by the German laws
II, after he reaches the age of H. native
German emigrates from his country without
leave il is presumed that he absented himself
to avoid military service, and when he re-
turns, no matter how long afterwards, he is
Immediately brought to account for this
offense. Many such revisit Germany In the
belief that their naturalization as American
citizens exempts them from prosecution for
any previous infraction of the obligations of
German citizenship, but they soon find out
their mistake. Naturalization in a foreign
country is no shield to the returning German
emigrant against prosecution for violations
of the German laws committed prior to the
date of emigration. A great many difficulties
arise from ignorance or disregard of this fact,
and out of the multitude of cases which came
within my jurisdiction one may be mentioned
by way Of illustration.
While one of the Prussian cavalry regi-
ments was at drill young soldier fell from
his horse and was seriously injured. After
hospital treatment he received a certificate
of discharge, stating that his injury untitled
him for further military service, but requir-
ing that he should report from time TO time
for medical examination. Presuming that
this acquitted him from further duties with
his regiment the soldier emigrated to New
York where he engaged in business, and in