The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-09
COMPLIMENTS FOR
AMERICAN CONSULS
GOOD WORK DONE BY THEM In
EXTENDING TRADE.
Praise from an English Source.
They Well Deserve to BE Called
Ambassadors OF Commerce, But
We Ought Not to Change Them
Every Four Years.

Every Four Years.
From the London Mail.
United States consuls are as thick
rs kings I'm Homer, or blackbcrries in
the autumn. In nearly every city of
the wurld-inland as well as maritime,
and I'm many little tuwns--is to be
found an official Of the United states,
armed with a commission from his
president fortified by an cXequatur
from the government to which he is
accredited. and protected in his offices
by the coat-of-arms of his country.
In sixty towns and cities of the Unit.
ed Kingdom will the American eagle
be noted by the observant traveller.
somewhat rusted, no doubt. i'm our
damp atmosphere, as he hangs sus-
pended over the consular door, but
none the less an evidence of the ubiqui-
" OF the people over whose broad
ana now eXpanding-landS he scars.
or these sixty consular officers about
half are American citizens. the re-
mainder being Englishmen, performing
technical duties in the smaller places
The thirty Americans, though pri-
malily appointed also for the execution
of specified office duties, have become
through public demand and intelligent
direction from Washington Gas have
their colleagues throughout the world,
pioneers of their ADuntry's foreign
trade-"advance agents" Of their man
ufacturers and shippers. | have been
brought into contact with many Of
them In the course of the past ten
years, and have diligently noted their
methods I'm connection with, and their
attitude Of mind toward, these new
and, | may almost say, incidental
duties. Something OF what / have
learned / set out here.
TRY TO BE PRACTICAL
Said one consul to me, Our people
are not old enough yet to have learned
the meaning Of the 'bureaucrat:' our
officials a home and abroad do not
consult regulations, lest they may aC-
cidentally do more than Is expected of
them; and few of US would neglect a
letter of inquiry on the ground that
the information wanted would require
considerable time, perhaps some ingen-
uity, to fish out Our manufacturers
have only lately seriously entered the
held of exporters and we feel that we
are in a position TO help them. We don't
write essays on send over academic dis
courses, but we try to be practical"
For instance" l said.
For instance he answered, II meet
the proprietor of a newspaper. He
tells me he is using American paper
in his machine. ask if there are faults
TO be found with the paper or with
the business methods of the shippers
He makes several complaints of a
technical nature, the most important of
which refers to improper packing, and
consequent injury to the goods Ell voy-
age. | make n renOrt that night, and
In thirty days it is in print in our
journals, and before six weeks have
passed receive four letters from news
paper manufacturers, asking further
particulars and detailed information
which is duly sent
1t was accident that you heard about
this l suggested.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
"ln one sense, yes, in another, no.
/ try to know everybody. | subscribe
TO and attend the chamber of COM
merce. | live my life among the mer-
chants, ! get to know them and the
sort of business they do, that may
know where to go for information that
may be frankly asked and honestly
given; and | am glad to think that
have several times been helpful In
goods to come here that we want to
sell and YOU want to buy"
In another town a very large dealer
in iron told me that he had Just had
call from the American consul, who
had asked him if he ever imported
any American bolts and nuts. Upon
his answering in the negative the sug-
gestiOn WAS made that there was a
possibility of business; but that as
prices We're cut 80 fine, the consul
could not help matters on unless he
was supplied with price lists, show
ing discounts, Detailed figures We're
ultimately supplied the consul, show
ing the exact prices paid TO the Ger
man, French and English manufac-
tuter; and these, with samples. We're
sent to the United States, with full
particulars as to freights, custom
house charges and trade terms. | do
not know whether business was inau-
gurated through this action, but it was
not the consul's fault if no result fol-
lowed.
ASSIST OUR MANUFACTURERS
Calling once on a provincial consul
| found his table covered with little
bits of manufactured rubber, marked
with prices. He had received a letter
from Il manufacturer in hIs own coun-
tlN, he explained, which Enclosed a
sample of rubber, and asked if that
sample could compete in England; and
If so, whether IL was necessary T0 send
over Il traveller; or whether r1ther
means of opening the business could
be suggested Il am sending him sam
pies of English goods and prices" said
the consul and hc can tell for him..
self what he can do"
How did you get the samples" I
asked, From the largest people here
and from another firm who do NOT
manufacture. ] showed the former.
the letter and the sample ana said:
If this is a class of goods that does
not compete with YOU. please tell me
all about it, They answered that IL
did compete with them, but that their
price lists, were open to anybody, and
they did not fear competitions so they
gave me all the information | want.
cd, / find that large manufacturers
rarely refuse information which may
easily be obtained indirectly They
are too broadminded to put petty OBJ
stacles in the way"
You had to go in person to get this
information" l asked.
Yes, it is all personal 4 clerk
couldn't get il, and letters are not
fruitful; but consul who sits in his
office all day is not much use as a
commercial traveller"
You admit you are a commercial
traveller" / asked.