Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-23


A timid consul-that is to say, timid for
consul-ventures to risk the opinion
that the Department of State is getting
dead easy to yield to demands for some
of the information asked for; while an
other dares assert that some men have
been appointed consus who don't know
everything. The latter is a startling state
ment and should be probed, for If true
our government is in danger, and either
the army and navy ought TO be I'M
mediately increased many fold or there
should be some restraint put upon the
catechising that is INDUCED in by the
Department of Commerce and Labor and
the Department of State in behalf of our
al-consuming ambition to learn all about
the foreigners affairs while Keeping him
in ignorance of our own.
1t Is said that in June last American
consular officers were instructed to pre-
pare and transmit reports In trlpllcate on
road building. repair and administrator
in their respective districts. together with
minute answers to twenty-eight questions
that cover every possible branch of the
subject and every possible Item In any
degree pertaining to it, data that German
experts after three years of the closest
investigation are yet unable 10 render
They were coolly informed that in view OF
the fact that the answers to many of the
questions involved technical knowledge OF
the subject they were expected TO get the
answers from local authorities In charge
of road work. 1t being assumed. or course,
that these men were experts and would
lay aside their regular duties to respond
to the conSulS demands.
few days later the same consular OF
fcers were called upon to prepare re-
port on Protection Against Floods I'M
der twenty chapters, which embraced
geographical scientific and historical
phases not only of the subject. but of
everything which by any possibility is re-
lated to it.
To perform this work was, as a matter
of course, simply childs play to the aver
age consul getting from $1,000 to 5000 a
wear salary; and there would probably
have been no complaint had 1t not been
for the fact that about the mlddle OF
June, before the demands were made, the
American consular officers at the behest
of the committee on ways and means OF
the American House of Representatives,
which had been authorized TO SIT during
the recess and gather such information
as to 1t might seem fit looking toward the
preparation Of bill for the revision OF
the United States tariff schedule had
cut out another little task for them II
wasn't much, it's true, but II looked DIG
because the information must be furnlsh-
ed las soon as practicable, in order that
it may be placed at the disposal of the
committee on ways and means in time to
afford opportunity for study and analysis
of the material prior to the opening OF
Congress in December 1908.
The scope of this inquiry embraced the
principaI Industries of each consular dis
trict including agricultural products, artl-
cleS manufactured, and mining, lapor
conditions, wages, hours OF LABOR ana
everything connected Herewith, including
peruuisites and gratuities, female and
child labor. cost and style of living. nome,
food and clothing conditions and ABILITY 10
accumulate something for old age; cost OF
production of about sixty dl1erent species
of articles, including everything from
lead PENCIL to an automobile, from max
fiber to fertilizers, and from steel lngots
to sewing machines, in addition 10 any
other articles not included in the list
which might be exported. in large guam
titles. IT. J.,
IT was directed that the information be
obtained from producing eStapilshments'
with the assurance that the name vi !ie
establishment furnishing the Information
was desired only for the purpose OF lden-
tification. and was not to be disclosed
Not only were data required, but SAMPLES
and published Information. whether VIII
ten or printed-in fact, everything III tle
way of information that the most IN
eenious inquisition could possibly CON
ceive of was expected, and all IN Time 10
enable the committee on ways and means
to study and digest it before the opening
of Congress next December.
That is why the American consuis are
raising a howl of protest ana. strahse ~
cav there are some who actually ell
courage them and approve OF theii
doing so.