New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-05
AN IMPROVED CONSULAR SERVICE.

The American consular service in Brazil ana
Spanish America needs to be greatly lmpioVeu
in order that the Reciprocity policy may plouuce
the largest results in the extension OF the export
trade. The first measure of practical reform
To be adopted is the suspension OF political ap-
noi1tments and the enlistment Of men OF high
character and marked business capacity in the
service. Every Secretary of State from Secre-
tary Evarts to Secretary Blaine who has sought
to put new blood into the service has been en-
barrassed by the necessity OF offering salaries
which are inadequate for meeting ordinary
living expenses, especially In Brazil, the West
Indies and Spanish America. One OF the most
capable business men In the service OF the
United States. who has held office since Presl-
dent Grants second term, is barely able to pay
his house rent with the salary received from the
Government. Many an American consul in
those Southern countries, with which CONNER
cial reciprocity is now solicited, is paid salary
barely equal to that of the chief clerk OF inc
English. German or French consulate III inc
same town. The American consular service IN
wolves increased labor with one-half or one
third of the rates of compensation allowed 70
representatives of the European maritime
Powers Before the service can be recruited
with men of business training and high char
acter the salaries for nearly all the Offices niuSU
be largely increased.
Candidates for admission to the service must
have moreover, some assurance that they VIII
be irremovable except for misconduct. "A sys-
tom of political appointments bears on its face
TIA own condemnation. What encouragement
ran there be for men OF intelligence and amDl-
| tion to ioin the service when there is no system
of promotions and pensions and when chahge
of National Administration involves long
series of political appointments? An EngnSn
or German consul enters the service as pro-
fession. is transferred from less to more lmpor-
tant posts as he gains experience, and Is pen
sioned off IN old age Under the American
system the few lucrative offices are never De-
slowed upon veterans who have grown gray LII
the Government employ. The rich prizes are
flung to political favorites who have never seen
single day of consular service
II is an encouraging sign that consuls who
distinguish themselves by efficient service are
retained under successive Administrations. Con-
s-Ceneral Adamson has been in office con-
tnuously for twenty-nine years having been
transferred from Pernambuco to Honolulu and
Melbourne, and then promoted to his present
rank at Rio and subsequently transferred 10 the
Isthmns. During the canal construction penod
he made a most adroit use OF his diplomatic
talents, and his prompt and decisive action IN
1865 saved Panama from the fate which had
overwhelmed Colon. At Havana Consu-Gen-
elal Williams has become 50 useful as lawyer
and dnlomat that no Administration can afford
70 dispense with his services Committeeman
Sutton OF Nuevo Laredo is another accomplished
momhor of the service who has been retained in
Office from one term to another. The nahes OF
Consul Baker of Buenos Ayres and Others mgho
be added to this list Of permanent members OF
tho service. To it's credit be it said that the
present Administration has retained IN ONCE III
Cuba and elsewhere the most competent Demo
cratic consuls appointed by President Cleveland
Consuls are not hustled out Of office as they once
were after every Presidential election.
If the retention Of few competent men from
term TO term be a signal advantage, how bene-
fetal would he the general adoption of perma-
nent tenure as the leading principle Of the SER
vice WHY should not the candidate for en-
ployment in the American consular service have
the same guarantees Of security in his profession
with which his German and English associates
are armed? The principle of permanent tenure
forfeited only through misconduct or incom-
petence must ultimately prevail. 1t may be
inexredient to keep competent men too long in
the same place, but it Is not mistake to retain
them in the service. The best men should be
transferred from post to post and elevated IN
| rank A system of promotions is Indispensable
This with adequate rates of compensation will
complete the Transformation of service which
is now too political by at least one-half and will
vastly increase its efficiency as an instrumental
| L.. Cor nromotino the develnnment of trade