16 THE CUBA REVIEW 



If Consuls possessed no other functions they would justify the expenditures made 

 for their maintenance because of their usefulness in connection with the conduct of our 

 foreign relations, in maintaining constant contact with local foreign officials, business men 

 and individuals, and in enlightening the Department of State on matters relating to 

 foreign policy, the protection of American rights and commercial and other opportunities 

 in foreign lands. Indeed, they are the only officers of the United States abroad main- 

 taining continuous contact with officials and citizens in the localities in which they are 

 stationed in the manner in which diplomatic officers maintain contact with foreign 

 governments at the capital cities. 



These are but a few of the activities of consular officers which relate more especially 

 to the work of the Department of State. Everyone who has lived or engaged in business 

 abroad is familiar with the many notarial acts performed by Consuls. Last year the 

 number reached 235,194. Other functions relate to taking depositions and executing 

 judicial commissions, acting as official witnesses of marriages of Americans abroad, 

 recording of vital statistics and a multitude of other duties a description of which space 

 will not permit. 



Services for the Treasury Department 



Consular officers render to the Treasury Department conspicuous service, particularly 

 in connection with the protection of the revenue and the public health. Part of the 

 machinery for the protection of the customs revenue consists in a requirement of law 

 that the correctness of the invoiced value of merchandise exported to the United States 

 shall be certified by consular officers. 546,239 such invoices were certified by Consuls in 

 1921 and involved inquiry into the cost of production of the merchandise abroad, the 

 selling process, the terms of sale and many other factors entering into the assessment of 

 duty at the American port of entry. Certificates required by our internal revenue laws on 

 the landing of American merchandise at foreign ports were issued to the number of 2.546. 

 Consuls have materially aided the Treasury in the collection of income taxes from Ameri- 

 cans residing abroad. One Consul alone was able to obtain payment of taxes amounting 

 to about $30,000. 



The protection of the public health of the United States is one of the most important 

 duties performed by Consuls at foreign seaports. Every vessel sailing for a port of the 

 United States must obtain from the American Consul at the port of departure a bill of 

 health, describing the condition of the port, vessel, crew, passengers and cargo. INIany 

 times before issuing a bill of health the ship must be disinfected, and, as cargo may carry 

 infection of shipment, all merchandise must be carefully watched and if necessary disin- 

 fection ordered and supervised. Crews of vessels must be required to observe the regula- 

 tions as to the sanitary condition of passengers, especially those traveling in steerage. All 

 these duties assume great importance during epidemics of cholera, plague or other con- 

 tagious or infectious diseases. Last year Consuls issued 39,366 bills of health. 



The public health finds further protection at the hands of the Consular Service 

 through the assistance rendered in controlling shipments of impure food and drug products 

 to the United States, by the detection of the use of harmful conservatives in manufacture, 

 and misbranding of products, investigation of unsanitary conditions in foreign factories, 

 and by the verification of the declarations which must accompany shipments of that 

 nature. 



The duty which has proved of much practical value in recent years is that of pre- 

 venting the introduction into the United States of contagious and infectious diseases of 

 cattle, through the supervision of all shipments of hides, cattle and glue stock and 

 insistence upon their disinfection abroad under consular supervision. Last year 4,282 

 certificates of disinfection were issued by consular officers as evidence of the disinfection 

 of shipments in accordance with the laws of the United States. 



In the study of the spread of diseases, in order to safeguard the United States against 

 them. Consuls render important service by reporting weekly upon the sanitary condition 

 of the ports or places at which they may be stationed. Over 13,200 reports of this nature 

 were made by Consuls during 1921. The Surgeon General of the Public Health Service 



