CHAPTER II.

THE CONSULAR SERVICE.

THE Consular service is entirely different and distinct from the diplomatic service. The envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary is an agent of the government to conduct its business with another government. A consul is the representative of the people to look after the commercial interests of his country, and their business is with local officials, and exporters and importers. They have no diplomatic powers or privileges, and are stationed at commercial centers for the purpose of facilitating trade and preventing fraud upon the revenues of their country.

The consular service is the direct and necessary result of commerce, and in early times consuls were selected by mercantile associations and not by governments. They were formerly judges or arbitrators in the settlement of differences between merchants, and were known as judge-consuls, or consul-judges, taking their title from that of the municipal magistrates of the Roman Empire. This practice was continued for centuries. It is said that the first appointment of a consul by the government of England was at the request of a British commercial organization in an Italian city which could not agree in the selection of one of their own number, and the experiment was so successful that the government assumed the responsibility in other cases, and the practice became general among all governments. By the natural

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evolution of affairs the powers and duties of consuls beca changed and enlarged, and the organizations of courts, a the adoption of codes of international law deprived them their judicial duties.

The consular service of the United States was established law in 1792) but before that date Washington had appoint seventeen consuls and five vice consuls. Under this la the secretary of state had the right of appointment, a no salaries were paid. The consuls got their compensation the form of fees received for the services they performed, a were usually merchants or shipping agents at foreign port In 1816 an attempt was made to reorganize the system ar establish a salaried corps, and it was repeated at subseque sessions of Congress, but the present service was not esta lished until 1856, when the President was empowered to mal the appointments, subject to the approval of the Senat and the consulates were graded according to their importanc The present establishment is awkward, and in many respect defective, and it is universally agreed by all who are familia with the subject that its efficiency could be vastly increased b reorganization. At every session of Congress bills are reporte for this purpose, but political influences and differences opinion as to the best methods to be adopted have prevente the passage of a new law.

Under the laws of the United States no especial trainin or qualifications are required for the consular service, an appointments are made by the President for political and per sonal as well as for commercial reasons. Nor is there an specific term of office, the commission being revoked at th will of the President. But consuls are not expected to tende their resignations with a change of administration as diplo matic officers do.) (They continue to perform their duties unti their resignations are tendered voluntarily or at the reques

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of the Department of State.) There have been several attempts in Congress to make the corps permanent and provide for appointments and promotions on the basis of special qualifications and efficiency, but political considerations have prevented, and the offices are still deemed proper rewards for political services. That the usefulness of the service is impaired by frequent changes and the appointment of inefficient and inexperienced men, there is no doubt; because it requires from six months to a year for a consul to become familiar with his duties, and his ignorance of the language of the country in which he is stationed detracts greatly from his efficiency. To secure an appointment in the British consular corps a person must undertake a course of study and then submit to an examination. He must be able to read and write and speak fluently the language of the country to which he is sent; he must be familiar with commercial usages, have a thorough knowledge of commercial law, and be versed in statistics. Before he starts for his post he must serve at least three months in the consular bureau of the Foreign Office, and is usually required to serve as vice consul for a year or more before he is given a permanent place. In fact the greater portion of the British corps have commenced their career as consular clerks.

The French system is even more severe in its requirements. In France young men are educated especially for the consular service and inust obtain a diploma from the national schools. The first appointment is made to the lowest grade, after an examination in international and commercial law, political economy, geography, statistics, tariff regulations, and the modern languages. Three years' experience in one grade is required before a consul can be promoted to the next, and a new examination is necessary each time.

Similar requirements govern appointments and promotions

in the German, Belgian, Austrian, Italian, and other E pean consular corps.

There are, however, a number of consuls in the service the United States who have been retained for years, and p moted from time to time, because of their especial fitn and efficiency. The oldest officer holds a commission dated 1848, and there are several who have served continuously sixteen, eighteen, and twenty years.

Under the present law the service is classified into seve grades (1) consuls general; (2) consuls; (3) vice consu (4) deputy consuls; (5) commercial agents; (6) consular cler These are subdivided into three classes: (a) consuls w receive fixed salaries, are required to give their entire tir to their duties, and are not permitted to engage in priva business; (b) those who receive fixed salaries, but are allow to engage in private business; (c) those who receive co pensation from fees collected for official services performed a are allowed to engage in private business. All those include in classes a and b must be confirmed by the Senate.

A consul general is usually stationed at the chief commerci city of the country in which he resides, and has supervisio over all the consuls in that country, but there may be two more consuls general in the same country, each with his ow district and jurisdiction. He may appoint his own vice consu and deputy consul and the consular agents in his district, sub ject to the approval of the secretary of state. The vice consu receives no salary and is not required to perform any dutie except in the absence of his chief, but is generally a cler in the office of the consul, and takes his place and receive his compensation during his absence. A deputy consul is a permanent official who receives a fixed compensation from the fees collected in the office, and assists the consul in the performance of his duties.