Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-06-14
CoNsULs AS LITTLE KINGS.
Authority to Perform Diversified
Functions Delegated to English
Representatives, Abroad.

Englishmen abroad have way OF
applying to their consul for informa-
tice and advice on any and every SUBJ
jec. looking upon the consul as pub
lie servant. In this they are mistaken,
for the consular duties are strictly
limited. and except out of courtesy
and pure good nature he is in no way
of::ged to go beyond these strictly
defined official duties. says the London
Mail.
Before a consul is appointed he has
to satisfy the civil service commission
ers that ne has correct Knowledge
of the English language, SO as to be
able to express himself clearly and
correctly in writing; that he can
speak and write French correctly, and
that he has sufficient knowledge of
the current language of the country;
that he is acquainted with the princi-
pies of British mercantile and COM
mercial law; and that he is between
the ages of 25 and so.
Some consuls are paid, others are
unpaid, and in the majority of cases
the office of consul joins on to a mans
regular commercial business, and
forms portion of his trading facili-
ties. Of course, the position of Brit
ish consul gives him a certain status,
and there are various fees which come
to him, according to his place of resi-
dence, which have to be RENTED to
the foreign Office.
1t would be too lengthy to detail all
the different fees which he has right
to demand but few of the more curl
Gus may be quoted, as, for instance,
made under a certificate. 81; for
every sale of a ship. Ell; for every
seaman engaged before consular Off
Ger, IS; for every desertion certifi-
cate by a consular officer. IS; for at
testing a seaman's will, rs; for ex-
animation of provisions or water, to
be paid by the party who proves to be
in default, los; for every marriage
solemnized by marriage officer and
registered by him, los.
1t is not generally known that
consul, under certain circumstances,
can act as marriage officer, and may
unite two British subjects in matri-
mony. He also issues passports, certi-
fies to Il persons identity. registers
births and deaths, and there are hun
dreds of other little duties which he
may be called upon to perform.
According to the official regulations
the flag to be used by her majesty's
diplomatic service is the union flag.
with the royal arms in the center, on
a white shield surrounded by a green
garland The flag to be used by her
maiesty's consular officers when en-
barked in boats or other vessels is the
blue ensign, with the royal arms in
the center of the fly of the flag.
In accordance with time-honored
custom, agents and consul generals
rank with but after ma jor generals
and rear admirals in order of official
precedence. Consuls rank with but
after colonies. Vice consuls rank
with but after majors, and consular
agents rank with but after captains
In some cases the most curious in
stances occur at foreign ports, owing
to the ignorance of officers as to the
exact official precedence of consuls,
and it is on record that in at least one
instance a popular consul always Wis
its ships at his port with a copy of
these regulations in his coat tail
pocket, to be shown to the officer in
command if captain goes down to
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