Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-08-20
BACK FROM HIS POST
OUT IN MADRAS. INDIA
Mr.. Garter on Vacation
From COnSuIShip.
Wants to See More
Georgia Boys Seek to
Enter the Service.

Mr.. Nat Stewart, United States con-
sui at Madras, India, was in the city
yesterday, the guest of his friend
James Taylor, Esq Mr.. Stewart
and Mr.. Taylor were classmates at the
University of Georgia After leaving
that institution Mr.. Stewart entered
the government service and has ever
since been connected with it in some
capacity. At present he is home on a
two months furlough, visiting his fam
lily at Ellaville.
Mr.. Stewart entered the consular
service two years ago. Prior to that
he had been in the Philippines for sew
eral years, acting as a disbursing Off
GER. Before his experience in those
islands he was in Cuba, under the
American administration of its affairs.
and was disbursing officer at Havana.
His experience has accordingly been
a somewhat varied one.
On the establishment of the new
system of selecting consular officers
Mr.. Stewart decided to try for that
branch. He was one of class of
thirty-eight that were examined at
Washington, and was number eight
among the thirteen that passed Soon
afterward he received an appointment
i'll Italy and about a year ago was
transferred to Madras
Mr.. Stewart is delighted with the
consular service and, like many other
Southern men, does not understand
why more Southern young men do not
seek to enter it, Quite a rigid exam
nation must be passed, but there are
undoubtedly many young Georgians
who could qualify themselves. The
George Washington University at
Washington has a chair devoted to
preparation work for this service
The knowledge of one language be
yOnd English is required, and there is
a strict inquiry into the candidates
knowledge of international and com
mercial law, political economy, COM
mercial geography and the history of
the past fifty years, especially with
reference to the Orient, where so
much of our new trade relations must
be established There are nine differ
ent grades in the service, the lowest
paying $4,000, the next $4,000 and so
on. Those passing the examination
are qualified for positions in one of
the two lower grades. Advancement
depends on the degree of proficiency
shown in the execution of the work
entrusted to the consul
There are only two Georgians hold
ing consular offices at this time it is
stated, Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. Garter,
the latter being stationed at Tama-
lave, Madagascar
1T is an exceedingly attractive SER
vice. said Mr. Stewart, "and worthy
of the ambition of any young Geor-
gian. 1t enables one to have a broad
experience, to become acquainted with
the world under favorable conditions,
and at the same time to feel that one
is of genuine service to his country
in seeking to expand it's comemrce
and broaden it's trade relations with
the world at large. | believe if our
young men knew more of the service
they would appreciate the opportunity
better and there would be more of
them seeking to enter it through the
civil service examination required"
While it is uniformly hot in Madras,
Mr.. Stewart stated that he had not
suffered during his year there. Every
arrangement was made looking to
comfort, both as to clothing and as to
personal surroundings. Il sleep un-
der a large revolving electric fan, .
said he, keep my offices cool and my
health remains good. The district for
which | am consul has some 60,000,-
600 people in it, and a small army of
American missionaries. Our trade in
terests are quite large, exports and
imports from the Madras district rum
ming into several millions a year"
Mr. Stewart stated that no Amer
lean cotton is imported. The In
dia crop of cotton is adequate for the
needs of that country and some of it
is exported to Japan and to England