New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-27
"REFORMn IN EUROPE.
HOW THE AMERICAN CIVIL SERVICE Is
DEALT WITH.

Long SITS of President Cleveland's removals and
appointments in the diplomatic and consular
branches of the public service are telegraphed rom
America and published in the London papers. Az
the same time comes the account OF Mr.. Pcarsons
denomination to the New-York Post-ofice. Ihis'
remarks one admiring correspondent, meets Win
universal approval, being regarded as proof OF the
Presidents devotion to the cause OF civil serVico
Reform, notwithstanding the opposition OF Demo
cratic politicians. am as glad as ANYBODY can DO
of Mr. Parsons retention in the Office he admins
ters. as Americans abroad have good reason TO
know, with energy and intelligence. Many OF u.s.
moreover have been delighted to hear OF the
Presidents action In other cases. where he mas
refused to turn out good Republicans in order 10
make room for less good Democratic applicants.
This we were told, enraged the office-seekers anu
pleased the people. and we agreed with an Engiish
critic In his remark that both results were satis-
factory.
Still there are some of us who at this distance
from home are puzzled to form clear conception OF
the Presidents theory of Civil Service Reform
We think Civil Service Reform an excellent thing.
What we cannot understand is why it should be 80
excellent at home and of no consequence abroad.
If President Cleveland retains good public servants
in the Post-ofice or the Interior. why should he
dismiss them because they report to the State
Department. Something may be said. possibly, In
favor of a change In the chief foreign legations
II Mr.. Cleveland or Mr.. Bayard is going TO have
foreign policy of his own, he may think himself
entitled to choose the agents who are to carry IL
out. Here in England must say. 1t Is not likely
that Mr.. Lowelps will achieve all at once
a position enabling him to do more for his country
than Mr.. Lowell has DONE No moro will Mi.
Morton's successor in Paris induce the French to
forget Mr. Morton make Paris content to lose the
salon over.which Mrs. Morton so long presided with
all the cordiality OF an American and all the
brilliant tact of Partisan These great posts DO
not seem even to have been used consolation
prizes to disappointed expectants Of Cabinet Office;
still. 1t is conceivable THAT the changes made In
them may be consistent with some view of Civil
Service Reform not yet fully disclosed.
But what can be the meaning of these wholesale
removals in the consular service The consular
service is not diplomatic; it Is commercial and
administrative. American consuls in Europe are
not diplomatic agents the opponents OF foreign
policy If foreign policy there should happen to be-
They have well-defned duties. They are the
guardians of certain business interests. Here in
England those interests vast The Treasury In
WashiD gton is dependent in no small degree on the
ability and fidelity of the American Consul
General for Great Britain. Tho collection OF
revenue in New-York is largely facilitated or
largely hindered by the efficiency or inefciency OF
the consular service In England. There have been
times when il was hindereI. We have had consuls
here who neglected their business scandalously.
Unless the current belief in the City be wholly
wrong. an American Consul-General has been
known to farm his Office TO a subordinate who did
the work of the Office and paid over a f.ed sum
per annum to his chief The consequences OF such
a system need not be dwelt on. It Is enough 10
remark that a vice-co who took over public
business on such terms would be more than human
if he did not seek TO make the bargain profitable
as possible to himself
When General Merritt took charge CT the Amer
lean Consulate General In London II is no secret
that its condition unsatisfactory. It's business
methods were slovcnly. to no stronger term.
Neither the authorities at Washington nor the
Custom House at New-York, the business com-
munity of London thought themselves we'll served
General Merritt recognized the onlce from top to
bottom. lie abolished existing abuses and INTRO
duced reform after reform. until. from having been
one of the least efficient and busnessike establish
nents in London, the American Consulate became |
the best He gave 10 il the whole OF his time |
energy, experience and remarkable knowledge OF
business. He inspected infinitely the consulates |
throughout the kingdom, and introduced into the |
service discipline and order OF which 1t stood |
sadly in need. There had been varying scales Of |
fees in London. People had been charged, at times,
different prices for the same consular or notafial
services according to their supposed ability to pay
Under General Merritt there has been no caprcious
Dr. sliding rate. but If an American who wanted
anything done could not afford to pay the regular
Tee no paid nothing. mention this as one instance
,ut of many which from time have come to my
and as showing the spirit in which the
,fiice was administered. Certain 1t is that before
General Merritt hadlbeen many months in London
he had won the respect and confidence OF the
business community here, and of his own country
men. This respect and confidence he has retained
Town to the moment whom his dismissal is 80
abruptly announced
The question, therefore, one hears asked on all
'des Is: On what principle OF Civil Service Reform
s so excellent civil servant General Merritt
turned out OF object read not long ago In some
American paper that Mr.. Pearson's restoration was
% DO q cover for numerous removals. Certainly
he removals abroad are numerous enough. Every
Minister is dismissed. The American represents
ives In London. Paris and Berlin. the three chief
.apltals Of Europe were the first to 20. Those In
IT, Petersburg, Rome and Vienna have not been kept
ong IN suspense. The minor legations fojow,-ln
hort there is a clean sweep. Consuls fare better
han Ministers. Paris excepted, every great Con-
ulate General Is deprived of its head. Two OF the
most important consuates in England are similarly
ealt with. Mr. Packard has to quit Liverpool ond
>Olonel Shawss expelled from Manchester. where
or many years he has filled an onerous position
With ability. The Manchester papers express,
NOW. the regrets OF the community IN general at
his sudden ostracsm of q popular official 1t
ppears that President Cleveland esteems il no part
f his duty to give the least warning to the victim.
lie learns his fate when he opens his morning paper
t breakfast and sees his name in the long catalogue
4 the condemned and executed. Can it be that
mong them ll,-all these diplomatic and consular
representatives. Of America in Europe,-there was
lot one good and faithful oflceri Not one worthy
OF be retained Not one whose long services or