The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-08-02
FAT FEES FOR OUR CONsUls'
RestoratiOnof the Old System of
Collections Expected.
DESIRABLE BRITISH POSTS
Perquisites of Office Bountifui I'm
der the English Laws-French
and German Stations Not so De-
sirable From Financial Stano-
point Cousin Osborne's Good Job.

During the wild scramble for consulates
since the present Administration came
into power, the knowing ones have bent
all their energies In the direction OF offices
in British territory, for the reason that
under Great Britain's laws the chances for
increased fees We're good, while nothing
OF the kind could be worked in any other
country to which we import. or from.
which we export large quantities OF mer-
Chandise
Those who have been assigned 10 tnese
consular berths will be delighted to know
tEat an order is soon to be issued restoring
the old order of things, under which large
sums of perquisites fell into the lap 9t the
occupant Of the office. Under the former
regulations a consulate in any OF the large
manu- acturing cities of Great Britain WAS
an exceedingly profitable position, and In
London, with its enormous exports 10 the
United States, 1T has proved veritable
bonanza 1t matters little that the re-
stoiation of the old system is intended
particularly for the benefit OF Cousin Os'
boine; lie cannot be taken out and given
exceptional privileges, 80 that what inures
TO bis advantage brings good to al. alike
There are two classes OF fees, official
and notarial The former have not been
changed, for the amounts derived from
that source are covered into the United
States Treasury. The notariai fees are
the perquisites OF the consul, provided
he be appointed TO place in Great Britain.
Under the laws OF that country, in order
order to hold q nan to the pains and
penalties of perjury, he must be sworn by
a British subject. Every invoice has TO
be sworn to by the exporter, and it can
be readily understood that in such ports
a. Liverpool, Sheffield. Birmingham, or
Bradford, the number Of invoices sent out
on each ship runs up into the thousands.
1t has been the custom for these consuls
To employ the services of a British notary
during a certain number Of hours day
to attest these invoices, this notary being
paid a fiyed, salary, which, In Great
Britain, will be good round sum at what
is the equivalent Of $50 a month. The
balance Of the charges go into the pocket
of the consul. 1t is said that by this pro-
cess the notary viii average about So a
day anG the consul will receive as his
share of the fees anywhere from $50
to S25 day.
Mr.. Olaey reduced these fees and made
the income OF all consuls as near a net
salary as possible The legitimate fees
which We're permitted to be charged were
reduced to the figures allowed for similar
work by the fee bill OF the District of
Columbia. Complaints came to the depart
ment from all over the world. and many
cousUls said H. was impossible for them
to live upon the small salaries and stiil
smaller fees they were allowed to collect.
A few months ago the State Depart
ment sent a trusted agent on tour Of
inspection around the world, among his
duties being the invest CATION OF this par
ticular subject This agent returned some
time ago and his report will be the basis
for the change to be made In this matter.
He found that in many of the smaller
consulatcs and in remote ports where ship
nents Were small and local citizens had to
be appointed, that the fees had been cut
to such d Ridiculous figure that the de-
partment was unable to secure the services
Of reputable men to represent this Govern
ment as commercial agents or vice consuis
papers for which the agent received a
stipend formerly of fifty cents. and which
he did not meet with more than once a
fortnight were now being copied an Il Ger
tilted To for ten cents. This was quoted
as an instance of the niggardly v policy which
the depa rtInent had inaugurated.
The state Department recognized at
once that the service would deteTlorate
If something were not done. and a remedy
was sought. OF course. to restore the old
order of things meant a big bonus for
some of the consGls, but the question had
to be dealt with on q uniform scale. The
only suggestion that met the situa
ton was an absolute restoration of the old
fee system and this has, il is un de erstood.
been agreed to. and the order will soon be
issued.
In Liverpool this fee system means not
less than $685. 600 year net to the consul
while in Lonto where the consul general
has full charge, It is claimed that in some
years these fees have aggregated as high
as 100000.
The restoration of the old fee system
will not operate so benefidally to our con-
suls In Germany and some other places
BY the very nature of things our i'm
ports from Germany come into the
United States under different arrange
ment from those which come from Great
Britain or her colonies In Germarv such
q thing al the administration of an oath
by a notary is unknown. No one but a
court sitting on 4 bench can administer an
oath in Germany. 1t would, manifestly.
be impossible to swear an exporter under
such circumstances TO every invoice, and
exports from Germany come into the
United states without such attestation.
Exporters of Great Britain have COM
planned OF this, and while it is a diserim-
ination necessary or account of Ger
man lawsl, the United States has de-
clined to change her system so far as it
relates to Great Britain.
Not only 10 these emoluments fail to
come TO German consuls, but more work
is imposed upon them To make good
the loss OF revenue that might accrue
from the failure to have invoices attested
under oath, the consul n the German states
is expected to do a great deal of busting
and keep the Treasury Department posted
as TO the cost of articles made in Germany,
so that in appreising their value when they
arrive the customs officials will have all
the light rossibiei Those who have been
clamorous for German posts will find. when
they begin to discharge their new duties,
that they have not the 'snap" that be-
longs to an English position The same
conditions apply largely in France.