New-York tribune., 1898-10-17

less and improvident management of foreign
trade. The appearance in England OF Ameri-
can commercial travellers in increasing num-
bers is proof that the direct methods of en-
largng trade which have been employed at
home are now transferred to the foreign mar
ket. and that European agents. who are often
interested In betraying their employers. will be
supplanted as time goes on by American whole
sale houses.
Mr.. Halstead has received this week a compli-
ment from the most influential Birmingham
journal In answering an application from an
American firm for the names and addresses of
British makers OF special seamless s.eel tubes
he supplied some useful hints derived from
English houses for the benefit of home manu-
facturcs, and asked II the American market was
really dependent upon England for tubes for
shpbuiding The incident is commented upon
as convincing proof of the superior utility Of
the American Consular service. British trad
ers' says this English writer are now begin
ming to ask why our consular work is not done
in similarly thorough and practical spirit
our consuls. they complain limit their work to
an annual report on local trade which is sell
dom up to date. and still more rarely contains
the practical information needed The idea Is
spreading that if the British consular service is
TO be made really useful handmade Of British
commerce il must be organized on a financial
basis: and when consus and traders are
brought into close relation in this way II Is
believed that there will be fewer complaints in
the consular reports of British apathy and ig
norance. and fewer stories Of the displacement
Of British by foreign merchandise In neutral
markets"
This press compliment to the American con-
suar service is one OF a series which has re-
Gently fallen under my eyes The consul at
Plymouth was considered an energetic consul
when he attended an exhibition OF gas stoves
and described what he saw for the benefit OF the
trade in America. Other consuls have been
praised for making systematic purchases of Eu-
ropean goods and sending samples to America
with details OF cost and the markets where they
ordinarily sold. Such action is regarded as
helpful 10 American trade. since II supplies
home manufac acturers with practical information
which may enable them to compete with for
eigners. II is at least singular fact that While
ill-informed Americans are accustomed to speak
in terms Of unmeasured contempt of their own
consular service as a clearing house for politi-
cal claims and partisan obligations. the English
press is constantly commenting it for business
like efficiency and energy, and lamenting that
the British consular service is not equally prac-
tical and useful.
The American consuls in England need the
salutary consolation of these compliments from
the press. because they are compelled. under the
operation Of the Olney ruling respecting consular
fees Ceven with the notifications of the present
Administrations to dispense with about 23 per
cent Of the income enjoyed by their preSeces-
sors The salaries are now so low and the per
quisites so few that the service has the distinc-
tlon of being the most economical on the planet.
earning critics in America will be surprised TO
learn that it is considered In England a model
service for zeal and enterprise AS news
gathering service IT is unquestionably most effi-
Client. 1t is recruited to a considerable extent
with Journalists and they can be depended upon
to find out what Is going on and 10 send the
earliest reports to America. When 1t is taken
entirely out OF politics by the extension of Pres-
dent Cleveland's order to the higher -salaried
Offices and there has been scope for complete re
grading and reorganization. and for an increase
Of salaries where larger incomes are needed, 1t
will be converted into permanent service OF the
highest efficiency
Flattering as are English estimates Of the
American consular service. 1t is inferior to the
German service in expert knowledge and tech
nical tl3ining With the new openings for Amer
ican export trade and commercial expansion II
needs to be business department manned by
experts whose tenure Of office will not be ar
fected by political elections and changes OF Ad-
m,nistration. Even ii is, with complete re-
forms like an orderly system Of promotions,
entrance examinations and security OF tenure
deferred to a more convenient season, II Is supe-
rior In many respects 10 the British service The
British REPORTS such as they are do not appear
until the public printer finds 1t convenient TO
set up the type and the corrected proofs are re-
turned from the consulates. arfh when they are
printed they are out of date and Of no practical
utility The American reports are accepted by
common consent in England as the best which
are made The British industrial associations
pay a great deal Of attention TO them at their
annual meetings and invariably speak in the
highest terms of the practical efficiency of the
American consular service. l. ~ r.