The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-18
SALARIES
FOR ALL
CONSULS
Third Assistant Secretary Of
State PsIrce R0commendsAba.
Iiiion Of Foo System.

Washington Nov. is--Having returned
90 the United States from a tour OF inspec-
don OF the consuls and consulates OF the
United States I'm England. Holland. Bel
gium. France and Germany, Third Assist
ant Secretary OF State Peirce has sub
mitted a report to the secretary.
He says that our consulates In Europe
are on the whole I'm excellent condition
Dnd the service compares favorably with
that of any other country. The system
Of remuneration OF consnls he found 10 pe
unequalIy distributed. hut on the whole he
finds that our consuls are inadequateiy
compensated. The fee system of compen'
sation he regards an unfortunate fea-
ture introducing an element OF uncer-
tainty into the consuls remuneration
which Is embarrassing and disquieting TO
him in IN performance of his duties.
However remote may be the tempta-
ton 10 abuse the privileges under whch
a consul retains for himself certain Tees
said Mr.. Peirce. still the existence OF
such a possibility cannot be beneficial TO
the morals of the service"
He SAYS there is no little strife among
neighboring consus for the inclusion OF
territory into their respective districts
I'm order 10 secure material fees, the re-
suits being that in place or that har-
mony and esprit de corps and the salutary
exchange of views between consuls when
should exist he found the cons,lls not
only out or harmony. but hardly having
relations with one another.
This he says acts prejudicially TO the
interests of persons for whose benent
the consuls have been given notarial au-
thority.
In the settlement OF estates and other
legal business Mr. Peirce says the temp
tatfon exists and not infrequently Is
yielded to, for the consul 10 supply or
recommend legal counsel. receiving d.
vision OF the fees and thus placing an
additional tax on the client
He therefore recommSnds the abolition
OF all compensation to the consul by
fees OF whatever sort or nature. that all
fees be covered into the treasury ana
that adequate salaries be paid consuls.
Mr.. Peirce regards as unfortunate the
appointment OF naturalized American
citizens TO the country OF their origin In
n consular capacity, not alone from the
point OF view OF the government TO whom
they are accredited, which seldom regards
such appointments with satisfaction, but
from the point of view OF efficiency.
The employment of foreign clerks 90 |
consuls he regards as 'unwise. as II is
highly probable that such a clerk owing |
allegiance 70 another government and |
recognizing none TO our own, other than
that OF "a task master. would find the |
temptation To reveal matters which might |
be of the highest Importance strong one |
II Inducements were offered him. He sug- |
gests that at the rate of $1,000 and in some |
instances somewhat more we could fill |
all these positions with bright young |
American citizens II they were encouraged |
TO feel that they had a reasonable pros
pect of promotion to the position OF con-
sui.
Mr.. Peirce thinks that n considerable |
class of Americans look upon the consul |
as having been sent TO his post to serve |
their convenience and obey their behests. /
While he found consus ready and willing |
TO oblige American tourists. often at great |
Inconvenience to themselves. yet he says |
he discovered cases where demands on the |
consul have been most unreasonable and |
not always courteously presented.
The duty of consuls I'm dealing with |
Immigration he declares are arduous and |
involve exposure to contagious and in
fectious diseases. As the consuls no |
aonger sign the emigrant passenger mani
tests Il Is possible for rejected inn
migrants taken on board a ship after the
consul has given the ship clean bill OF
health
lie says that when the cost OF bringing
emigrants 10 the United States Is con-
eidered. some steamship companies can
well AFFORD to take the risk OF rejection
OF immigrants by the authorities on ar
rival in this country.
He concludes by remarking that the
conditions In Germany with regard to
AFFORD greater protection
20 the United States from the importa-
tion OF emigrants thans do those OF Rus
sia Poland and Oriental countries