The duties of consuls of the United States are varied, and include the shipment, discharge and relief of seamen of American vessels; ad justment of differences between masters and crews; reclamation of deserters; protection of citizens of the United States/ settlement of estates of citizens who may 'die intestate in foreign countries; issuance of bills of health certifying to the sanitary condition of the cargo, passengers and crew of vessels clearing from foreign ports for ports in the United States; /issuing and viseing of passports/ superintending the disinfection of merchandise exported to the United States from a district in which infec tious diseases exist; execution of landing cer tificates; land certification of invoices of merchandise valued at more than $100 exported to the United States. The latter duty is highly important for the protection of the customs revenue, and makes it necessary for consular officers to examine carefully each invoice be fore certifying that the prices stated therein are correct. In case the merchandise is found to be undervalued, notice of the fact is sent to the collector of customs at the port in the United $tates to which the merchandise is destined/ Consular officers are not permitted to solemnize marriages, but they may, when re quested, be official witnesses of the ceremony of marriage where one of the parties is a citizen of the United States. In such cases they give each of the parties a certificate of the marriage, and forward a certificate thereof to the Department of State! Under section 4082 of the Revised Statutes piarriages in the pres ence of a consular officer of the United States in a foreign country, between persons who would be authorized to marry if residing in the District of Columbia, are declared to be valid and to have the same effect as if solemnized in the United States, but the opera / tion of this statute outside of the Distri t of Columbia and the Territories is doubtful The exemptions and privileges of c nsular officers depend largely upon the treaties existing between the United States and the countries to which they are accredited. In the absence of treaties, consuls after receiving their exequaturs are regarded both as officers of the state which appoints and the state which receives them under the special protection of international law. They may claim inviolability of the official property and archives; exemption from military service and service on juries, and the right to place the arms of their government over their doors.
By virtue of treaties and Title XLVII of the Revised Statutes, consular officers in China, Siam, Turkey, Morocco, Maskat, Persia, Zan zibar anci Tripoli are invested with judicial powers. rfn China, Turkey and Siam, consuls are empowered to arraign and try all citizens of the United States charged with offenses against law, committed in that country, and to sentence offenders. They also have jurisdic tion in civil cases between American citizens. In the trial of cases between citizens of the United States and subjects of China or Siam, the consuls of the United States act in con junction with the Chinese or Siamese officials. In case of disputes between Turkish subjects and citizens of the United States in Turkey, provision is made for the presence of the dragoman of an American consulate at the hearing. The treaties with Persia, Maslcat,
Morocco, Zanzibar and Tripoli give consular officers jurisdiction over cases the parties to which are American citizens, and provide for the assistance of consuls in the trial by the foreign tribunal of cases in which one party is a citizen of the United States and the other a subject of the foreign power.
The duties of consular officers with respect to the development of our foreign trade are of comparatively recent origin, but, owing to in creased competition among commercial nations, have become .of special importance within the past few years. Every consular officer is now expected to have accurate latowledge of the conditions of trade and commerce of the place where he is located, and he is required to keep the Department of State fully informed regard ing all matters of interest touching the indus tries, trade, commerce and navigation of the country of his official residence. He must be alert and report promptly new markets for American products or manufactures, the con struction of public works, changes in trans portation rates and facilities, the opening up of new trade routes, changes in economic con ditions within his district, Improvements of old and development of new industries, including inventions or discoveries, development or de cline of commercial and manufacturing centres, projects for great manufacturing or other in dustrial enterprises, river and harbor improve ments, hygienic and quarantine measures, fluctuations in rates of vrages, changes in tariff legislation, the enactment of patent, trade mark and copyright laws, and legislation preventing the adulteration of food, and all other informa tion of value to the conunercial and industrial interests of the United States. The infortnation reported that may be of current interest is printed in a publication known as Daily Con sular Reports, which has been issued daily since 1 Jan. 1898. Till 1903 they were known as Advance Sheets of Consular Reports. The reports are collected at the end of every month and printed in a periodical monthly, Monthly Consular Reports, established in 1880. More comprehensive reports are prepared annually under special instructions of the Department of State with the object of presenting a statement of the trade, not only of the United States with the rest of tbe world, but of the various countries with eadi other, and these TepOrtS are published under the title of (Commercial Rela tions.) From time to time, at the suggestion of individuals or firms seeldng information as to conditions in foreign countries, special reports are obtained from consuls and are printed m separate form.
The volume known as (Consular Regula tions,) the latest edition of which was pub lished in 1896, contains all the laws, treaties and regulations which govern consular officers in the performance of their duties. This is sup plemented by the (Digest of Circular Instruc tions to Consular Officers.) the latest edition of which appeared in 1908. Consult also Senate Report, No. 1202 (56th Congress, 1st Session).