University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-03-01
WHAT "A MISSOURI
CONSUL HAS DONE

Record-Herald of Maxwell Blake, a
alumnus of the University of Missouri
Francis E. Leupp, commissioner G
Indian affairs, has made himself in
mortal by recommending that his OF
flee be abolished. His case, however
is not unique. Maxwell Blake of Mis-
souri, succeeded in abOlishing his Offic
when he was consul at the MADEIRA Is
lands. He advised the Department
State that consulate at Funchal wa
entirely unnecessary and that th'
$1,000 salary paid to the incumben
of that office was entirely wasted. Th
Secretary of State acted upon his rec
ommendation, abolished the consulate
and left Mr.. Blake suspended, as Mo
hammed's coffin is said to have been, il
the air. But shortly after his return
to the United States he was Offered
the consulate at Dunfermline, Scotland
where the salary is $4,000 year, an'
where Andrew Carnegie was born. Ant
now Mr.. Blake wants to abolish that
office Also and has recommended that
his job be terminated, because a consul
is not necessary at that point. Dun
fermline is only few miles from Edin
burgh on the south and from Dundee
on the north; the only business that
Mr.. Blake has been called upon to per-
form since he assumed his post there
is to certify invoices. This, he says
can be just as well done at Edinburgh
which can be reached in half an hour
or fOrty-five minutes at the outside at
any time of day. Before the famous
bridge over the Firth of Forth was erect
ed consulate at Dunfermine might
have been necessary, but in Mr.. Blake's
opinion it is no longer required, and
he recommends it be abolished. Mr..
Blaye is dangerous man. If he goes
about abOlishing consulates in this
manner he may reduce the list to such
that Congress will not know
what to do with its money.
But Mr.. Blake has distinguished
himself in other ways also, and has
made good use of his time and OppOr-
tunities at Dunfermline, although the
there may be entirely un-
necessary.
The committee of ways and means,
in searching for information upon
which it may revise the tariff, persuad-
ed the Department of State to send a
circular to all the consuls i'm Europe
asking them to ascertain and report
FULLY the cost of manufacturing alt
goods which are exported from their
districts to the United States. This
5 very difficult undertaking, because
he European manufacturers are not in
lined to give the secrets of their trade
or the benefit of their highly protect
d competitors, and Mr.. Blake is the
'nly consul in the service from whom
! complete and satisfactory report has
'een received.
Dunfermline is the center of the lin
n industry, which is the most impor-
ant in Scotland, and probably two
birds of the linen imports come from
hat place. In fixing the rates of duty,
therefore,, it is very important that the
ommittee of ways and means should
now the relation between the cost of
and the selling price of
he goods. Mr.. Blake has furnished
hem information that is thoroughly
satisfactory.
Other consuls have made an earnest
nd conscientious effort to procure SIM
ar information from the manufactur-
rs in their districts, but have been uni
Drmly unsuccessful. 1t is not their
ault, because they have done their
est, but there is an intense feeling of
sentiment against the trainers of our
,riff legislation throughout all the
districts of Europe, and
ne attempt to obtain such information
as not improved the situation. On
he contrary it has been regarded as
n unfriendly act, and many of the
,nsuls have been subjected to humil-
ting replies to their inquiries.