New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-16
SOLID MEN OF BOSTON.
ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE MERCHANTS
ASSOCIATION OF THE HUB
THIS YEAR THEY DISCUSS THE CONSULAR SER
VICE OF THE UNITED sTATEs-sPEEcHEs
BY EX-CoYsUL POTTER AND EX-
MINISTER CURRY.
FEY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.1

1BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE
Boston, Dec. 15.fhe annual banquet oi the bos'o"
Merchants Association Is affair which Is pleasantly
anticipated by the merchants and business men Of
this city, 1t Is sure TO bring around the tables ol
the Hotel vendome company OF notable men,
Each year question of vital Interest TO business
men is discussed by men OF national reputation. ohe
year It is the banking question; another reciprDcty'
and this year It Is the consular service OF this
country. The banquets have always. as ireSi-
dent Jonathan A. Lane said tonight, serious rs
well as gastronomlc and social purpose. Aoont 3Oo
representatives Of the commercial and banking interests
OF Massachusetts, met about the tables OF the Nendone
last night Among those present there were eXGover
nor Ames General william +. Draper, Congressman
Walker. ConCressm. .n-cect samuel W. McCall General
C. T. Hooker, Congressman from Mississippi COngrtss-
man Robert r. Hit, OF Illinois, Joseph ;. Potter ex
Consul to Crefeld Germany ]. l.. VI. Curry, ex-
Minister to Spain; Frank II. Underwood, exConsm 70
Glasgow: Roger Walcott, LeutcnantG0vernor-e OF
Massachusetts, Collector A. ". Beard, J. II. Lesson Ed
ward III. wilson Stephen b. Smons j. AIDA Davis,
j. Il. Lesson Beverly X. Moore, Speaker W. H. Bar
rett General Charles II. Taylor, cX-CongreSsnan T.
A. Collins, Stephen OMeara, George D. Carpenter
Weston Lewis, Wallace W. Waugh, J. +. MuLen, 81
siuman, +. F. Burnham, John McManus, Francis W.
Breed. A. shuman. Albert Clarke w. f. simmons
J. W. Baldwin John Shepard, Eben d. Jordan, g. A,
Gilchrist, j. a. Shuman, i. T. Larrnbee. william H.
Clanin, VI. V. Kennard. General a. Y. Martini samuel
c. Lawrence, Frank HOpewell, Caleb Chase ). D
Paine, G. +. d. Paine, Joel Godthwalt, william H.
Chipman, Charles ii. Sprague and Lyman b. Green
leaf.
President Lane called the company TO order and
made a brief and pertinent speech, ending by intro
duclng exConsu Potter.
Mr. Potter spoke of Englands steady and uniform en-
coungcmcnt foreign commerce and trade, conducted
in ships built by her own mechanics, wllch, ne de-
Jared has made her flag respected in every corner OF
the earth. From what source has come the power
ard wealth OF this territorial dot on the earth's
surface II not from the steady pursuit Of an intelligent
foreign commercial policy, encouraged by liberal
National legiSlatonl II commerce and sh pbulding
have done so much for this little rock bound Island
what may II not do under wise, pItriotic business
legislation fOr prolific and almost boundess con-
unent controlled by government, with no an
taOnstc nelghbOr to retard the development of Its
resources or tie bu,ncss thIft Of its people The
UniteI states Consular Service has the power and
opportunity to aid the expansion Of American COM
mcrcc in foreign countries to extent which Is
almost mmea urable. 81 have personal knowledge"
said the speaker, Of officer assigned to duty at
small capital in the interior Of the continent OF Europe
After arrival at his post, investigation showed him
that Ame lean manufactures and food products were
unknown in that locality. Under his management,
however in less than two years a large variety of
American manufactures, and food products without
limit could be there purchased, and stores for the
especial sale OF American gods established and
became popular in different parts of the city.
Bills to attempt TO make the consular service
efclcnt In the direction named would be useless unless
the gentlemen designated TO fill consular positions
adapted by natural ncnations aud experience to per-
form 4the particular duties assigned TO them. To
send a lawyer blacksmith, though estimable
personally, 10 the centre OF great silk Industry to
protect the National revenue by discovering mac
cuucles in invoced value before shipment, Of thou
sands Of varieties Of costly silk merchandise or TO
send a grocer doctor to the manufacturing centre
OF fine iewery to pass upon the accuracy OF the in
voiced value Of diamonds pearls, would surely be
inc height OF imprudcnce and business absurdty rs
well unjust to the appOlntee. The consular
vice. at present organized, costs the Government
nothing, because It IS almost entirely supported by
fees paid by foreign export merchants and manu-
acurers whose interests practically hostile the
revenue department Of the. United States. 1t is
ldl ard unbu,lncsske principle to allow a servant to
be- IN any way, dependent for income upon source
whose interests hostile to those of the xo
employs him.
j. NJ l.. Curry. Of Washington, eX-Mnister To
SPAIN paid graceful tribute to nJstOns contributions
to pDiics. art. invention, Ht"Iatur" science. eucl.
tion philanthropy, religion and human lib rty, and
dwct upon the importance of reciprocal tIade rel-
lcgitimatey commercial agelts although formerly they
had extensive civil and crimlngl jurisdiction. Tn,
bluc-bOOk SHOWS about LOO persons engaged In the
HSl!lar service, and among them men OF
incncc. some OF their papers, prepared with pains
taking inve>tlga ion, are nvduabc to stuucntS,
staiiscians sta ;encn and merchants Nevertheless "A
Icorsaniza ion and srctcr definition OF duties arr,
needed. II the Congress also will have th courage
and patriotism to make more stringent and protective
immigration laws. shall have to rely for the en-
f0rcemcn Of such laws very largely upon the vigilance,
Intelligence and Integrity OF our cOnsUlS.
speeches were also made by COngessmen Hooker
ard Hit.