The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-23

Our Consular Service.
Weird and wonderful things are re-
vealed about our consular service by
those who have examined 1t in its ma
tive jungles. One man-who has been
a consul-relates an experience of his
own in regard to invoice making. His
story is a sort of turning states evil
dence. He explains that in consular
invoice the value of a shipment of
goods is set down and the shipper
swears to the valuation bsfore the con-
sui. This invoice, copy of which is
sent to the custom house at the port of
entry, serves as a guide to the custom
house officials. Some of the shippers.
needless to say, seize the opportunity
to underyalue their goods, thereby saw
ing themselves a pretty penny if the
consul does not know his business.
This particular consul was called on
for an invoice of sponges. The person
wishing the invoice was preternatur-
ally tall and knowing lady who had
evidently done business there before
and was acting in behalf of a Greek
merchant. She said she would wait
till the papers were made out, and she
did wait on her feet, looking over the
consul's shoulder.
In the first place, he had TO find the
proper papers. and he had not the least
Idea how to tell an invoice blank from
a marriage certificate. In the second
place, but not less important, there was
the fact that his predecessor had been
a gentleman more interested in the
study of Greek than in his office. This
linguist had been in the habit of dump
ing Government circulars invoice
blanks, letters, public and private, and
other papers belonging to him in one
grand miscellaneous heap, and in this
heap, when he wanted anything, would
he burrow like Scotch terrier hunting
for rat. The perspiring gentleman
who inherited this mixture likewise
burrowed, till he found what the appIi-
cant thought was the right blank, and
then he guessed at the value of the
sponges and made out the papers. He
afterward learned that sometimes
sponges were worth their weight in
gold, and he has often wondered
/ whether that was the case with this
particular lot.
Now, spectacles like this, exhibited in
the branch of our service which is par
ticularly important from a commercial
point of view, are not edifying in the
least. 1t is not the consuHs fault if he
does not know all about his Office in
two days time, especially as he is usu-
ally not told whether his office viii be
in China or Australia or Western
Africa until he gets the appointment.
/ He may apply for the position of min
] lister to Dahomey and get the job of
] experimenting the dumping of the
waste baskets in the State Department,
! or he may apply for a consulate in
Brazil and get one in the West Indies
or Turkey, and that is worse How
can he prepare himself for duty in all
/ the countries of the world at once? AS
general thing, after he has become
fairly conversant with the duties of his
| office and really feels that he can grasp
! the situation, he is superseded by
new and totally inexperienced man who
/ may or may not be fit for the position
All this goes to show that no man
i should be appointed to the office of CON
sui unless he knows the language of
| the country to which he goes and has
I some idea Of the way in which he
should conduct his business. And once
familiar with his duties, he should be
| kept in his position until &c can tran
some one to succeed him.