The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-24
THE CONSULAR SERVICE
WILL IN FUTURE INCLUD-
ED UNDER THE CIVIL SER.
VICE SYSTEM.
HALF The CONSULs AFFECTED


All Those Whose Salaries or Fees
Range From 81 200 to So, 800 are In-
ciuded Under the Order--The Change
Gained by Reviving an Old Order Of
Is73--yacancies Will be Filled by
Promotion or rTransfer-New AppOin-
tees Must Pass Examination.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept % The
President, by an executive order issued
to day, but dated September 20, h2s ex-
tended the civil service system in a mod
ifed form to all consular officers whose
compensation directly or through fees
range from 81, 900 to 50, 500 This will
include about one half of the total n M
Der of consuls who receive more than
$1,000 This change has been gained by
reviving in substa lce an cd order Ct
1878 Vacancies III the service will be
filed hereafter by transfer or promotion,
by appointment of qualified persons
formerly in the employ of the State De-
partment and by appointment Of persous
selected by the President after passing
a non competitive eX mination. The Or
der reads:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Sept. 20, 1895.
1T being of great Importance that
the consuls and commercial agents Of
the United States shall possess the pro
per qualifications for their respective
positions to be ascertained either through
a satisfactory record of previous actual
service under the Department of State
or through an appropriate examination:
1T is hereby ordered that any va
cancy IN q consulate or commercial
agency now or hereafter existing, the
salary of which is not more than 50 500.
nor less than 81, 900, or the compensa-
ton of which, if derived from official
fees. exclusive Of notarial and other un
official receipts, does not exceed So, 500,
nor fall below $1,000, shall be filed
(A) by transfer or promotion from
some other position under the Depart
ment Of State of character tending to
qualify the incumbent for the position
to be filled; or (B) by appointment Of
person not under the Department of
State but having previously served
Hereunder TO its satisfaction 10 ca
pacity tending to qualify him for the
position to be filled; or co by the ap-
pointment of a person who, having fur
nIshed the customary evidence of char
acter, responsibility and capacity, and
being thereupon selected by the President
for examination, is found upon such ex
animation to be qualified for the posi-
ton
For the purpose Of the order notarial
and unofficial fees shall not be regarded,
but the compensation Of consulate or
commercial agency shall be ascertained,
if the official is salaried, by reference to
the last preceding appropriation act and
if the office is not salaried by reference
to the returns of Office fees for the last
preceding fiscal year The examination
heretofore provided for shall be by
board Of three persons designated by
the Secretary of State, who shall also
prescribe the subjects to which such ex-
animation shall relate and the general
mode of conducting the same by the
board
"a vacancy in consulate will be filed
at discretion only when suitable ap
pointment cannot be made in any of the
modes indicated III the second paragraph
of this order.
(Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND."
The action of the President in making
this order was based on a report on the
subject by Secretary Olney who has been
giving much thought TO the matter and
has had very careful examination made
by Mr. Renick, the chief clerk of the de-
partment, of the history of all that has
been attempted in the State Department
in former years towards placing the
consular service upon business like
basis and. securing the services of thor
oughly competent men as consuls. The
evils of the present system are set out
tersely by the Secretary i'll his report to