Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1885 — Our Consular System. [ARTICLE]

Our Consular System.

A friend of Secretary Bayard recently quoted that gentleman’s reasons for his tardiness in making consular and diplomatic appointments. Secretary Bayard, he said, found our foreign servir e corrupt and incompetent in many respects. Immediately upon his induction into office Bayard sent several trusted agents abroad to gather what information they could respecting the service, and to conduct their investigations where it was possible without the knowledge of our represedtatives. Some of the reports which these persons have made show a condi-

tion of affairs which justify the belief that the pervic - needs overhauling. At one of the principal consulates on the continent one consul who receives a alary of $2,500 is found to live at the rate of $15,000 per annum. He has no private fortune, and the most natural conclusion is that he is furnishing two sets of invoices, on one of which prices are marked down from sto 15 per cent, below what the importers really pay on a different set of invoices sent direct to them. As the exports from this port amounts to several million dollars yearly, it will be seen that the government loses a large sum by this transaction, the most of which swells the profit of the importer, the remainder going into the po«ket of the consul. Another consul was found to be charging SI,OOO a year for the services of an interpreter, when no such person was employed. An American residing at +he same place makes affidavit'that he was offered SI,OOO a year to act as marshal of the consul’s court if he would repay the latter 66 per cent, of the salary. The offer was refused, whereupon the consul deputized one of his household servants to act as marshal upon the rare occasion of holding court, and he has pres ~mably pocketed a balance of S7OO a year.

Altoona (Pa.) Tribune: A teacher in one of the Altoona schools recently electrified her pupils, who were annoying her with questions: “Children, lam engaged. ’ Noticing the general look of astonishment, she added, “But not to any fool of a man,” and the excitement died away.