The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-09

Representative Bellamy Storer. Of
the house committee on foreign rela-
tions, whose efforts at reforming the
present inadequate consular system
were recently commended in these
columns has favored THE TRIBUNE
with further information as to the
exact nature OF the bill which he is
now endesvoring to have congress
sdopt Unlike the similar bill Of Sena-
tor Morgan, Mr.. Storer's proposition
does not regulate the salaries of con-
suls aud consular agents. preferring TO
have that adjusted BY separate legisla-
tion. II confines its attention to the
principles first OF reorganization OF
the present system so that all fees Of
every description are to be turned into
the treasury department and the Off
GERS are TO receive n certain fixed sal
sry; second, no person is TO be ap-
pointed to the consular service who has
not passed an examination. the re
Quirements of which are to be fixed by
a board TO be appointed by the prssi.
dent; third, that all appointmsutsshall
be made TO the lowest grade at first,
and all promotions made with respect
to seniority and fitness, aud eXamiua-
tion to be required for each promotion
fourth. that no removals shall be made
except for uuttusss. or other proper
cause, and every removal shall De eX
amined and approved by a board OF
officers Of the state department vested
with this authority
II think, writes Mr Storer. "that il
We could, after hard fgnting, establish
these principles IN our consular ser
vice, We should at once make a great
stride in advance INavs no g, mptthy
whatever with the cry which goes mp
in c ugress, thAt 1t j. absolutely necrs-
sary that tie party in power should no
represented In tGe eyes Of foreign ma
ticu, by It's own partisans. need not
adl however that this bill Is not in
tended TO apply to ambassadors or min e
ist,rs, who may reasonably be expected
10 be IN accord WITH the general policy
of the admin's'ratio. tney serve. Vita
our modern system u e. p.d comuuni-
cItion by TELEGRAPH, snl the -x,r4or.
binary c.osyuess now existing tetwe-u
nations. ! sm more OF the opinion that
our eu'isg regular diplomatic service.
properly 10 called, milut be dispensed
with. alI Ia cases whore negotiations
ard historic Uulumalic rvlces are de-
mas i.l, That % special .nvoy might Ur
sect ou .lt m... n and Tor tymprr
on.c.a. I4. MY ,r-umeut against
luJ, is tlrt II ls ueCa-,Bry 90 have a
representative Of the U.ited States in
cases OF foreign revolution or disorder.
This is hardly to be appr,hended IN the
civilized world rs necessary, aud il IL
be so. do not see why q consul gen
eral, or even y consul could not give
prot ctou Of our fns in places where
We now keep useless Iiplomatic oficors,
in the same way az they do in place.
where we have no other representatives,
OF the United States but consul"
This is the view OF an increasing nj
nority Of citiz-nI who look with grow
ing disfavor on system borrowed from
feuisl times AMI little changed since.
But it is not instantly essential to the
success Of consular reform that this
other question of abolshing the regu
lar diplomatic service should be allied
TO it. The work Of our CO. sular and
consular agentH, unlike that Of our am
basssdors, ministers and envoys. is
meant to be essentially modern and
businesS.like, In theory, il not in
practice, the consular representative
OF the United States are superior soil
citors Of trade and expert promoters OF
Americas commercial interests gener-
ally. The sooner they become these
things in practice, the sooner will that
branch Of our civil service rise in popu
lar respect.