The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-12
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
Efficiency Is a Necessity to Increase
of American Export Trade.
Editor of the indianapolis Journal:

40 lHe Eultor OF the indianapolis Journal
Now that peace is, once more, smiling
upon the country. the oft-repe ated question
as to the best means of extending American
trade and commerce are being dicussed with
greater interest and intelligence than ever
before. In close connection with these i'm
portant considerations the consular service
naturally attracts it's share of public .atten-
ton. The consular service is or should be
the business arm of the government. reach
ing into all parts of the earth and gathering
in valuable trade for our farmers, miners
and manufacturers.
If the consul at any foreign port of entry
or inland city is to be of real service to the
business interests of the country he must
he more than a routine officer, able to draw
his salary and extend hospitality to the Off
Gals and hangers-on that are to be found
in profusion at almost every foreign port
In short. the consul, to be Of real service to
his country in the important matters of
trade and commerce, must be man who
takes a lively interest in them and is sufi-
GENTLY willing and Industrious to give much
time and energy to the careful study of the
trade conditions of his consular district, in
order that he may be able to furnish intel
ligent and valuable information, not only to
the State Department, but to the agricultur-
lists, manufacturers and merchants of the
United States, as to the needs of the people
of his consular district and as to such of
those needs or wants as may be protitably
supplied by the people of the United States.
More perfect methods should be devised
than have hitherto existed, to enable con-
suls TO introduce American products in
countries where they are comparatively I'M
known. But it is argued that if consuls
were given larger latitude in this direction,
it would result in favoritism by which a
few manufacturers or producers would gain
to the exclusion of others. The answer to
this IS that the consul could only have a
monopoly in the initiation of a demand for
any species of American products, and
that, the demand once established, the en-
terpriSe of our producers would soon super
sede him factor in their sale and dis
semination, SO that any monopoly of a for
eign trade of any kind, through the enter
prise or connivance of "a consul, would be
of brief duration.
1t is notorious that in the past, a very
large per cent. of American consuls have
recreation, authors or artists in quest Of
romantic themes for their pens or famous
scenes and ancient ruins for their pencils
and brushes, wealthy gentlemen who wish
to dora little glObe-trOtting at the expense
of the government, etc. And so 1t has oc-
CURED that their consular duties have been
left to the vice consulS and consular clerks
who, in many instances, were citizens of
the country to which the consul was sent,
owing it allegiance and devoid of sympathy
with the United States or its business inter-
eStS. We do not have to go very far back
to find consuls of this class, who were APP
pointed to represent the country in some of
the great English manufacturing centers.
dawdling away their time at London
the continent, or following their own pri-
from their consular districts, of which they
knew and, apparently, cared but little. The
office of consul might as we'll be abolished
and shippers of foreign goods to this coun-
nv no 1nerroittad To FAN hack I1non ssner-
chants invoices for the entry of goods at
American ports as for the office to be adj
miniStered in that way.
In very few instances are consuls ever
required to exercise diplomatic functions
In ninety cases out of every hundred they
are business officers only. But, notwith-
standing this fact, applicants for consular
appointments are constantly met by condi-
tons that seem to forbid the appointment
of the very class of men who are best
qualified and best calculated to promote the
real purposes of the consular service. They
are told, and with much truth, that con,
sus are required to entertain so much and
at such lavish expenditure, and that the
claims upon them constantly made by inn
pecunious or unfortunate American traV-
elers and adventures are so great that the
salaries attached to the offices they seek
are so inadequate that only men of means,
who are DESTROYS of short sojourns abroad,
can afford to either seek or accept them.
1t does not need to be stated that this con-
dition destroys or greatly cripples the eff
fectiveneSS of large number or American
cOnsulateS and renders them American only
in name. At such places only the routine
consular duties are performed, and these
who owe allegiance to foreign governments.
A number of the consuls general are more
favorably situated as to salary. and are
provided with American vice consuls and
consular clerks. and the same is true of
the consuls to certain of the great manu-
featuring and commercial centers of Great
Britain, France and few other countries.
But the hundreds of cOnSuls and consular
agents located at smaller places or in
places of less note and social importance
are constantly crippled by this state of af-
fairs, and not a few of such consulates or
consular agencies are filled by foreign
merchants or other foreigners, who per-
form the routine duties, pocket what little
pay the positions yield and are of little or
no service TO the producers and manufac-
turers of the United States who are seek
ing markets for their products in foreign
countries.
1t is all right and proper for nation to
encourage its mertorious authors, poets
painters and students but Ii should devise
other methods than that OF pensioning them
through consular appointments that they
are not expected TO fill in person. Even
worse is the habit of pensioning, through
the same service, ancient or discarded
members of Congress. or other politicians
who may wish to travel abroad or of at
taching consular titles to rich men who are
ambitious TO make lavish Displays In for
eign capitals at the expense of what should
be one of the most active, practical and eff
fective branches Of the government service
Not that authors, poets artists. ex-mem-
bers Of Congress or rich men might not