TITLE xvm.—DlPLOMATlC AND CONSULAR OFFICERS.—·Ch. 2. 305 shall be removed from omce, except for cause stated in writing, which shall lbe submitted to Congress at the session first following such remova . Sec. 1706. The President may allow consuls-general, consuls, and com- Actual expenses mercial agents, who are not allowedto trade, actual expenses of office—rent, m¤Y be Nl0W9d to not toexceed, in any case, twenty per centum of the amoimt of the annual 2’""“]”,;¥°“°'“l· compensation allowed to such officer, whenever he shall think there is ,,i°i{}W`;d °Q,::dg°t' sufficient reason therefor. --. --. . [ 18 Aug., 1856, c. 127, s. 22, v. 11, p. 60. 22 Feb., 1873, c. 184, s. 1, v. 17, p. 473_ Sec. 1707. Consuls and vice—consuls shall have the right, in the ports Protests. or places to which they are severally appointed, of receiving the protests _ or eclarations which cap-ltains, masters, crews, passengers, or merchants, 24,s. 2, v. i, p. £55. who are citizens of the nited States, may respectively choose to make there; and also such as any foreigner may choose to make before Lu,-, 12 wb_ 769; them relative to the personal interest of any citizen of the United i States. Copies of suc 1 acts duly authenticated by consuls or vice·consuls, under the seal of their consulates, respectively, shall be received in evidence equally with their originals in all courts in the United States. isn s mu Sec. 1708. Every consular officer shall keep a detailed list of all sea- Listsandretums men and mariners shipppd and discharged by him, specifying their of Mmss. vessels, names and the names of the vessels on which they are shipped and from &°· which they are discharged, and the payments, if any, made on account 18 Aug., 1856, c. of each so discharged; also of the number of the vessels arrived and In B- 2 » V- IL P- departed, the amounts of their registered tonnage. and the number of u2' their seamen and mariners, and of those who are protected, and whether citizens of the United States or not, and as nearly as possible the nature and value of their cargoes, and where produced, and shall make returns of the @1118, with their accounts and other returns, to the Secretary of the Treasury. [Sn $5 4561- 4580-] Sec. 1709. It shall be the duty of consuls and vice-consuls, where the laws of the country permit: First. To take possession of the personal estate left by any citizen of Estates of decethe United States, other than seamen belon ing to any vessel, who shall d°“*“- die within their consulate, leaving there nodegal representative, partner 14 April, 1792, c. in trade, or trustee by him appointed to take care of his effects. 24. s- 2, v- 1.p- 255. Second. To inventory the same with the assistance of two merchants of the United States, or, for want of them, of any others at their choice. Third. To collect the debts due the deceased in the country where he died, and pay the debts due from his estate which he shall have there contracted. Fourth. To sell at auction, after reasonable public notice, such part of the estate as shall be of a perishable nature, and such further part, if any, as shall be necessary for the payment of his debts, and, at the expiration of one year from his decease, the residue. Fifth. To transmit the balance of the estate to the Treasury of the United States, to be holden in trust for the legal claimant; except that if at any time before such transmission the legal representative of the deceased shall ap ar and demand his effects in their hands they shall deliver them u , King paid their fees, and shall cease their roceedings. _ _ Sec. 1710. Flin- the information of the representative of the deceased, N3:¤6<>¤¤0¤ sf the consul or vice—consul, in the settlement of his estate, shall immedi- ately notify his death in one of the gaazettes published in the consulate, 14 Apri|,1792.¤· and also to the Secretary of State, t t the same may be notified in the 2‘*·°·2· "· ‘·P·255· State to which the deceased belonged; and he shall, as soon as may be, transmit to the Secretary of State an inventory of the effects of the deceased, taken as before directed. Sec. 1711. When any citizen of the United States,dyingabroad, leaves, _Decedsut’sdir¤<=- by any lawful testamentary disposition, special directions for the custody {long, w be ‘°l' and management, b the consu ar officer of the port or place where he .°$..._... dies, of the personahproperty of which he dies possessed in such country, 12;% A¤8·· 183% 0- snch officer shall, so far as the laws of 'the country permit, striety 63 · " 28* · P‘ observe such directions. When any such citizen so dying, appoints, by '
