Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-29
GRAVE CHARGES MADE
Consular Service in the Orient Needs
Looking After
BY Associated Press.
WA =

By Associated Press
WASHINGTON, March 2S-The
president today transmitted to the
house the report of Assistant Secretary
of State Herbert D. Pierce, regard
ing the consular service in the orient
The message is accompanied by a let
ter from Secretary Root, in which he
says:
II wish to call special attention to
one feature of these reports. They dis
close grave misconduct on the part Of
two consuls formerly occupying i'm
portant posts in the east. These con-
suls are no longer in the service. l
regret to say, however, that there are
indications of other cases of mlccon-
duct or inefficiency among consuls in
various parts of the world.
These cases, the secretary says, show
the necessity of regular inspection
service.
The visit of Mr.. Pierce included many
cities, but his severe criticism is re-
served for eX-Consul General Good
now at Shanghai, eX-Consul General
McWade at Canton and Consul Will
liams at Singapore.
What McWade Did
The charges against McWade, for
mer consul at Canton, are drunken
ness, employment of a felon, issuance
of fraudulent Chinese certificates, eX-
tending protection to Cinnamon who
claim to be American citizens, perse-
cution of American citizens for pur-
poses of revenge and corruption in Of
flee.
The charges against former Consul
General Goodnow at Shanghai are
eightytwo in number some serious
and some slight. Some are sufficient
to support suits at law and give evil
dence of corruption in office. The
opinion of the better element was I'M
favorable to him in Shanghai.
The report states that Consul Gen
eral Levi l.. Wilcox at Hanghau
cannot be said to be useful consular
officer"
Regarding Mr.. Greene at Vladivostok
the report says Everywhere through
out the east L received unfavorable re-
ports of Mr.. Greene. His habits are
said to be extremely bad"
Other complaints of him are that he
had faults relative to his accounts.
Several consuls are commended as eX-
Cellent
Concerning M. Williams
Concerning Mr.. Williams, Mr.. Peirce
adds:
MY personal observation convinced
me that Consul General Williams is not
useful man to the government in his
present capacity.
He is not man of such bearing as
to inspire confidence and he does not
appear to have gained the respect and
esteem of the Colonial government.
while his work does not disclose that
zeal and efficiency which our consul
general at Singapore should have for
the furtherance of our interests at that
important port"
Since the report of Mr.. Peirce another
10 4
Singapore.
AS to the Goodnow charges Mr..
Peirce says:
Il found many ugly rumors reflect
ing gravely upon Consul General Good
noWS moral standing in the community
but as these were matters of gossip and
hearsay, unsupported by any tangible
evidence, I have not felt that it was
proper TO include them in the charges
but may say that it is uofortunate
that an official occupying so conspic-
uous position as does our consul gen.
eral at Shanghai should be the subject
of such scandalous report while the
employment of such men as White and
Derby in the capacity they have filled
is in itself discreditable.
Men of Coarse Type
"If there were nothing else to be said
regarding them they are men of coarse,
brutal type, whose language in the
Office is, as I learn from most reliable
information, grossly indecent and pro-
fame. White has resigned, but Derby
remains at Marshal"
Mr.. Peirce charges that the consul
general or some one in his office appar-
emily is acting as an attorney before
his own court and collecting the fees
as official court fees. None of these
fees, it is stated. has been accounted
for to the department.
The transfer of the ship Kiangsi to
American register, the next charge, oc-
Cured during the Boxer troubles. Mr..
Pelrce says of this that the transfer
was evidently a fraudulent one, and
that there is no evidence that Mr..
Goodnow made any Investigations to
satisfy himself of the facts.