Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-08-15
THE AMERICAN CONSUL,
What Is Expected OF This Interesting and
Useful FunctiOnary.

What Is Expected OF This Interesting and
Useful Functionary.
A consul is expected to learn the
language, laws, customs, and COM
merce or the country in which he re.
sides Having spent perhaps years
In doing this, why should ne be re.
quired on a change Of administration
to give way to new officer who, at
ter learning the consular duties and
accomplishments. will himself be put
out by another new beginner? The
rotation system may be democratic,
but 1T is injurious to our foreign serv.
ice.
The duties OF consul are often
important, requiring training and
experience. If Americans die abroad,
and away from their families, he
must look after their property and
estates, accounting for the same to the
representative Of the deceased per-
son Or to the United States Treasury.
1t IS his duty to be present at and
certify to the department the legality
OF marriages OF United States citi.
cent, though the marriage ceremony
itself must be sO.emnized by civil
or church Official OF the land where
1t occurs.
Passport; are vised, or certified to,
by the consul, and it is his duty to
settle the disputes, which are endless,
between American ship-masters and
seamen. He must protect and advise
citizens Of his country who have been
wrongfully arrested, or whose bust.
ness rights or interests under any
treaty have been lntcrfered with.
Ii he Is Jealous and patriotic he
will aid his countrymen in introduc.
ing United States manufactures into
other lands 1t is a part Of his du-
ties to make frequent reports to the
department on all sui. ects except
politics that he thinks may be of
special value or interest to our people.
These communications are usually
published by the State Department
for distribution in monthly PAM
phlets under the title, Consular Re-
ports" They frequently contain in
formation Of great value.
The United States imports every
year more than $500, 900, 900 worth
OF goods from abroad. The duty COL
lected on them, despite the fact that
many are on the free list amounts to
nearly 5000, 600, 900.
All invoices OF these immense ship.
ments OF goods must. first Of all, be
presented to the CONSUL for exami-
nation as to their cost and value.
Without the Consul's official decara-
tion that the facts have been stated
in the invoice not one dollars worth
Of the goods is permitted to enter at
the American Custom House.
In the examination and legaliza-
tiOn of the invoices the Consul be-
comes close agent and aid of the
Custom Houses and the Department
OF the Treasury, with both Of which
he is in constant communication.
Unfitness for his duty, from neglect
or lack of training, may cost the
Treasury and the people large sums
OF money.
Every invoice legalized costs the
shipper 81. so, and the fees so collected
more than support the whole consular
system.
The United States have altogether
some 25O consular posts scattered
over the world. Many of these, how
ever, are but Subo: dinate consulates
or agencies, under the control OF the
nearest consul. SUme of them, even
as consulships, are. owing to want OF
commerce, unilnportant and not self
sustaining.
Usually at the capital Of each
foreign State a Consulate General is
established, whose chief officer, in ad-
dition to the duties of that post has
a certain limited control Of the other
Consulates in his district
The line between the duties Of
diplomatic officers and Consuls is not
precisely defined, but in general the
diplomats are political, the COnsuls
commercial agents of their country.
The diplomatic posts are usually
filled by Ministers and ENJOYS, who
look especially after the political in
tereStS and treaties between nations.
IL some instances as at Cairo,
Athens, Lisbon, Teherap and else
where, the offices of United States
Ministers resident and Consul General
are combined. Youths Companion.