The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-28

to insert (more or less carelessly) the
substance of the new decision. That no
boiling down process was resorted to,
and that sufficient care was sometimes
not taken in the arrangement and cor
rection of altered paragraphs is appar-
ent to anyone who has occasion to use the
book, especially If it at any time becomes
necessary to look up ruling hurriedly.
Owing to the fact that the book is merely
compilation it very naturally contains
not a few .repetitions as well as some OBJ
scure aAd even contradictory passages.
The consul of 1888 was accordingly for
tunate in this respect. and anyone read
ing the clear and concise regulations
printed in that year by Messrs. Blair and
Riyes at Washington can not help being
struck by the fact that this modest,
paper bound pamphlet really contains
nearly everything which it is essential
for. a good consul of today to read, mark,
learn, and inwardly digest. It is also re-
markable that most of the Instructions
given in this little book are still in force
in almost their original phraseology.
During the past sixty years the consul
has been robbed of his sword, his cooked
hat and his gold embroidery, as well as
in most cases of his authority to issue
passports, but his duties and functions
have otherwise been subjected to little
change. His income, however, is in some
cases less now than it was in 1888.
That there were some strictly ornamen-
tai consuls even as long ago at 1888 ap-
pears from article 43 of the regulations
then in force which states that "consuls
are expected, once in three months at
least, to write to the department, if for
no other reason than that of appriz;ng
the department of their being at their
perspective posts.
On the other hand the same paragraph
proves that there were also then as now
few consuls whose propensity for asking
useless questions or reporting matters of
small Importance required checking, for
the instruction continues: "They are not
required to write oftener, unle SIS in emer
gent cases, or where interest or business
points out tie propriety of more fire.
quent communication.
The only expense allowed them by the
Department of State was that incurred
for postage on official dispatches and in
structions, and even for this the consul
was required to furnish vouchers when
practicable. No allowance was made to
him for house or office. or other office
expenses. This evidence of official thrift
was, however, counterbalanced (no doubt
to the consul'e entire satisfaction by a
very liberal tariff of fees AS the number
of our consuls was then much smaller
than at present, the incomes from
fees were, in many cases at
least, very much larger than the meagre
salaries now allowed.
In short. the tonsul of 1898, in his uni
form of blue end white. with his scores
OF brass buttons and wealth OF gold emf
broidery, his loops and tassels and buckles
of gold, his cooked hat and clanking sword,
was man of parts and means, man OF
weight and dignity, and picturesque
withal, though he was not perhaps very
conspicuous exponent of the kind of lem-
ocratic simplicity practiced by our earlier
representatives abroad of the Franklin
school. GEORGE H. MURPHY.
U. S. Vice-Consul General.