New-York tribune., 1891-05-17
THE CONSULLR SERVICE,

There is a popular American theory that the
consular service can be converted into power
full mercantile agency for the development of
the export trade. When Mr.. Evarts was Secre-
tary Of State measures were adopted for carry
ing the theory into practice. Preference was
given to men of mercantile training when ap-
pointments were made. The members of the
service were required to make reports to the
Department on commercial matters and to facili-
tate the introduction of American goods into
foreign markets. The results of the experiment
were sometimes beneficial, but often grotesque.
With the low salaries paid to consuls it was not
practicable to recruit the service with business
men of ability and energy. Successful mer-
chants could not afford to make the sacrifices
which the service involved and business men
with shattered fortunes were hardly more eff
cient than rowing politicians. The publication
of monthly reports might have served useful
purpose, If there had been practical way Of
distributing this commercial literature among
the mercantile classes. AS it was, the consuls
wrote for the Government printer Information
laboriously compiled was buried in blue-books
which were never read. Recommendations and
useful hints for the expansion of foreign trade
never fell under the eyes OF merchants and ex
porters. There was beating of the air not only
in the consular reports but also in the un-
systematic and farccal efforts made to distribute
samples and advertise American wares. Con-
suls who attempted to peddle manufactures and
to circulate prce-lists lowered the dignity of
their office without comforting any rea! benefit
upon the mercantile classes at home.
The theory was not abandoned, but the prac-
tice was modified. Every consuship was con-
verted into an information bureau. Appica-
tons from business men for facts, figures, opin-
ions and advice were referred by the Depart
ment to the consuls with instructions to send
answers in detail. Investigations which manu-
facturers and exporters might easily have con-
Quoted at home in public Libraries were insti-
tuted as matters of official routine. For eY-
ample, firm of file manufacturers appealed to
the Department for information respecting the
prices and qualities of English, German, French
and American goods of their line in Spanish
American markets. A circular letter was sent
out, and as many as fifty consuls were started
on the rounds of the local hardware stores to
ascertain why European files were purchased in
preference to American wares. In the course
of a year responses were received, the reports
were tabulated and tho inqulsitve firm which
had lacked the energy required for sending a
competent man to South America to investigate
the subject obtained a copy Of blue-book.
This is a class of work which now occupies
much of the leisure of American consular Offices.
They are expected not only to heed requests
for information which are countersigned by the
Department, but also to answer every private
letter received by mail, If replies are not
sent, complaints are made TO the State Depart
ment that consuls are neglecting their duty.
No other consular service is condemned to
exhaust its energies IN drudgery of this nature.
Tho German consuls are not called upon to make
yoluminous reports on the commercial, social
and political conditions Of the countries where
they are stationed. The French service is not
literary bureau. An English consul is at lib
erty to fill his waste-basket with unanswered
letters, and the foundations of the commercial
Empire stand and there is no uproar in Parla-
ment. The foreign trade of maritime Europe
has fiourished without the adventitious aid Of
the Government printing offices.
The United States consular service now fur
nishes a great volume of information which is
of little practical utility in promoting the de-
velopment of the export trade. businesslike
reform would be a change of system by which
the bulk of the printed reports could be heavily
reduced and merchants supplied with facts
which they urgently require. New-York
merchant desiring to open trade with Southern
countries cannot obtain at Washington as much