Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06

as soon as the new legation is completed
will have no need of rural home.
Almost autocratic powers are exercised
by our consuls and cOnsuls general in
! China, as well as III other extra-territoral
countries, where jurisdiction over Ameri-
cans is given them. Our consuls general
are the presiding judges of the consular
courts, before which come such suits as
those involving personal rights, riparian
privileges, the probation of American es-
tates and criminal cases involving our
citizens. In some cities the foreign colony
is under the control of the general consular
, body, which issues warrants for the arrest
of native law-breakers therein and attends
to such troublesome details of government.
A Shake-Up Coming.
A complete change in our oriental con-
sulates and the framing of a scheme to re-
place this Anticipated system is contem-
plated by the President This shake-up has
been suggested by charges recently pre-
ferred against our consular officials at
Shanghai, Canton and Annoy. The Shanghai
post. consulate general. pays 5000 a year
and fees amounting to some six or seven
hundred dollars. 1t Is the best-paying con-
sular mission in the far east. The Canton
mission, also a consulate general pays
$500 as does that at Annoy both of them
with small fees of two three hundred
dollars. Our consul at Annoy has the use
of a palatial stone building. which we own.
The government allows him $500 a year for
| the maintenance of gig in which he
is transported by his native servants He
is also provided with a night Waterman to
keep burglars off. At the Canton post "a
safe and consular gig was recently bought
for 800 by the State Department The
consul general is further provided with n
dozen rifles, belts and cartridges. Our Fec
Chow consulate is located on the Island of
Nantai, where all foreigners of the town
collect themselves, while that at Hankau is
in the British concession.
In Shanghai we pay $3.50 year rent for
jail, 800 for a post office and $50 for
court room. This post is the busiest In the
orient being at the commercial and mis-
sionary center of North China. About 90
per cent of the law business of Americans
in the celestial empire is done before this
consular court
These facts should suffice to dismiss the
popular prejudice that all of our consular
missions are sinecures. The service has not
yet been taken out of politics, and while its
berths fall within the category of ''plums"
those of the far east are by no means
"sickening sweet The salaries are below
those which men receive for responsible
clerical duties in this country. The ncum-
bents are receptacles for all tales of woe
that human lips can utter.
In the Near East.
Not alone in the far east, but in the near
orient, our representatives and their wards
are being threatened by maddened. semi
civilized hordes. Angry murmurs have been
heard in the past few days about our post
at Beirut. the ancient port of Damascus.
Indeed, our Beirut consulate has been sore
beset these past few months. The echoes
of the Megessen incident had hardly died
away when Yankee marines from the
Brooklyn were again put on the qui vive
No sinecure, indeed, this consular and
diplomatic business in the FESTIVE east.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS, Jr.