New-York tribune., 1908-03-09
CONSULAR REEOR Ms.
Secretary Root Pressing Changes for
Economy and Efficiency.
From Til. Tribune Bureau. ]

From The Tribune Buresu1
Washington. March S.-A reorganizatio of the
consular service rake il useful citizens
of the United States travelling doing business
abroad and more in accord with the necessities OF
the government, Is provided for In bill which has
been passed by the Senate. 1t was introduced by
Senator Cuilom. of illinois, chairman of the For
eisn Relations Committee and has the Endorsement
of the President and the recommendation of Secre-
tary Root, who spoke in its support before the COM
rnittees Foreign Affairs and Foreign Relations.
Chief among the changes provided is the closing
of twcnty-eiglt consuiates which of little value
10 the United States and which only require appro
priations which could better be utilized at other
places Discussing the appropriations before the
House Committee. Secretary Root said:
want the committee 10 consider the conditions
under which foreign service has existed and the
Change Of conditions that has taken place WITHIN
the last few years Prior to the war with SPAN
think the general estimate in this country of eur
rather ornamental appendix to the government We
had little trade we had little money 70 invest out out
not particularly important or critical Now ana
then something came up but as whole @ i tpS hto 'e IL
of course. still il not of much consequence
the aTt en nas Th growth Of the country
growth of foreign trade the increase OF UaNtI,
the enormous Increase of people OF other countries
who are coming here and the increased power and
significance of the United States among oIher cou
tries of the earth-all those have created an eloI
nous increase in our foreign relations , am soIs f
o @ abandonment
consulates and establishing some Ii
ing consuates where il seems TO us the business
Cob, no. ons,Iatss in places wnere changes of
business makes them desirable
The changes suggested by Secretary Root were
Incorporated in the bill introduced by Senator Cul
Iom and Senator Lodge reporting that bill to the
Senate, said:
During the last year and half the conditions
in a number of places where consular oiIlces ar
now maintained have materially changed. so that
some of the offices which considered neces-
sary at that time have now ceased 10 oe .! a,LI
great Importance in the protection OF Amer
port trade. while other places have mcreastb t } %
such Importance, from the standpoint ootn ..
the establishment of consular representation IN
some 1t has been found that offices are not
long to secure the best advantage to the govern,
are not made With an9 Intention or desire to e
| late out of office any of the incumbents OF the
! rernnmended together Nth the several existing
vacancesi win make it possible TO transfer these
mote them to more important Offices
! In Mr.. Lodges report he gives the reasons for
! each change and for the abolition of every con-
sular office The consulate at Annaberg. Germany
| is recommended closed. for the reason that it has
I no direct trade with the United States and has
only two resident Americans, and that at Bamberg.
| GERMANY because there are no resident Americans
| and no American capital. Besides there being no
| prospects of American trade at Crefeld Germany,
| the work Of the consulate could be much better
/ done at Cologne, while the same condition pre-
| walls at Dusseldorf Freiburg Glauchau. Manz and
! Zttai all in Germany.
Iucerne is also TO be dropped from the list for
| the reason that the consular duties mainly
| in taking Acknowledgements Of invoices. The fees
collected there last year amounted 70 only s64o
while the office s5.053 a maintain While in
the tourist numbers of Americans visit LU-
cerne. hardship is expected to result from clos
ing this office as Berne and Zurich are only short
| distances away and in direct railway communica-
| ton. In Ontario three consuates be abol-
! fshed-that at Bellevilie, where the office is OF
little Importance: at Port Hope. where is no
! opening for American trade. ard az Port Rowan,
where there American interests. Quebec
! will lose four consuIates in the small towns Of
| Coatcook. Gaspe. ST Hyacinthe and Three Rivers.
all of these offices being practically dead loss 10
! the government.
The cost to the government OF the consulate at
81. Christopher. In tn. West Indies was more than
. $50 last year. while the entire fees collected
! amounted little than 800. and there is
! little opportunity in that island for work along
| commercial lines the office will he dropped An
tiga- in the West Indies. will also be eliminate
| other country maintains a consulate there.
! Windsor. n s. and Woodstock. n. B. will also
go off the list. neither these places seeming to
/ justify even limited expense, and both being
| without any possibilities of American trade The
consulate at Jaapa. Mexico, will he removed 10
business
attended to. while that at Casteiamare di Stabia.
Italy. will be transferred Naples sixteen miles
distant The merely routine duties at Catsnfa.
Italy, make il possible to eliminate that office.
while the same reason applies the abolition OF
office a I-tila Honduras As t.ere is prscti-
csily opportunity for consular work looking to
the extension of American trade in Madeira the
work Of the consulate is practically nothing and
the office Funchal will be closed under the pro-
visions of the bill The office Port Stanley, in
the Falkland Islands is of little consequence TO
the service that its abolition is especially recon-
! mended by the State Department The town has
only no inhabitants and the entire group of islands
/ only more than 1000 The desired location
for this Office Is PlInta Arenas, Strait of
agellan. where American vessels and searen
/ often require the aid Of consul. Tho last of the
/ offices be closed is that AT jamestown St
7 Helena. where the consul is required to perform
practically services. and where only ss was
collected in fees in the last year. The United
States is the only power retaining d consul there
and the closing Of the office Will not is stated
work any hardship the interests of the United
! States.
In place of the offices closed seventeen new ones
/ will be established. all in places where the nc
| cessities of American citizens and trade demand
that some attention he paid American interests.
Few of the places where offices be put have
a population Of less than $4,000 and most of them
far exceed that figure. The consuates Will
be placed in the following towns Aeppo Syria:
Alexandra, Egypt; Antung. China Corinto Nicar-
augua Fernie. British Columbia; Fiume. Hungary
! Frontera. Mexico: Guadalajara. Karachi and
Madras. India: Puuta Arenas, Chill; Rangoon.
Burmah, Salonica, Turkey; San Luis Potosi
Mexico Swatow. China; Tapachua, Mexico. and
TrpoI Africa
Besides these changes in consuates. the Cullom
bill provides many changes of grade for the Offices
now in existence with a view further increasing
the efficiency the The relocation of many