New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-24
CONSULS PLACED UNDER TT.
THE PRESIDENT EXTENDS THE CIVIL
SERVICE.
HE ISSUES AN ORDER AFFECTING MORE THAN
HALF OF THE CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES,
OF THE COUNTRY - THE REFORM
STRONGLY ADVOCATED BY
SECRETARY OLNEY,

or THE COUNTRY THE REFORM
STRONGLY ADVOCATED BY
SECRETARY oLNEY.
Washington Sept. 23.-The President has Issued
an order placing all grades Of the Consular Ser
vice with a compensation between $1,000 and
$500 under modified civil service, which pro-
yldes for class but not competitive examinations
This order will affect little more than one-half
Of all those engaged in the Consular Service Of
the United States. The order was suggested and
strongly recommended in a report TO the Presi-
dent by Secretary Olney. Mr.. Cleveland's order
is as follows:
Executive Mansion. September 90 1896
Il being Of great Importance that the consuls and
commercials agents OF the United States shall
possess the pr0psr quadauons fo1 tne respective
factory record of previous actual service under the
Department OF State or through an appropriate ex-
Il IS hereby ordered that any vacancy in con-
sulate or commercial agency now or hereafter ex-
is,ing the salary Of which Is not than $500
nor less than &0oo. the compensation OF which,
Il derived from official fees. exclusive Of notarlal
and other unofficial receipts does not exceed $500
nor fall below $1,000. shall be filed (a) by a trans
fer or promotion from some other place under
qualify the incumbent for the place to be filled; or
d. by appOin;ment Of person not under the d De-
hereunder to its satisfaction in capacity tend
or or c1 by the appointment Of person who. hav:
ing furnished the customary evidence of character.
responsibility and capacity. and being thereupon
selected by the President for examination is found
upon such examination to be qualified for the
For the purposes Of this order. no;arial and
official fees shall not be regarded. but the compensa-
asceraned II the office is salarled. by reference
the last preceding appropriation act. and II the
Of Official fees for the last preceding fiscal year.
The examination herepbefore provided for shall
he by board Of three persons designated by the
secretary of State. who shall also prescribe the
subjects 10 which such examination shall relate
and the general mode Of conducting the same by the
board.
4 vacancy in a consulate will be filed a, dis
be mads in any Of the modes indicated in the sec
VIM GROVER CLEVELAND
In his report to the President advocating the
promugation Of the order issued this morning
Secretary Oney enters into an elaborate discus
sion Of the subject and reviews the history or
efforts in the past to bring about this reform. In
the last Congress Senators Lodge and Morgan
unsuccessfully endeavored TO provide for the re-
organization Of the Consular Service on civil
service basis by means Of rider on the Consular
and Diplomatic Appropriation bill The action of
the President indicates that the Executive con-
siders this a subject for that branch Of the Gov
ornment to deal with entirely under its constitu-
,ional prerogatives without the Intervention Of
the legislative branch.
SECRETARY OLNEYS REPORT.
Secretary Olney has given much attention 10
this matter while on his vacation. and has been
efficiently aided by Chief Clerk Renck. one OF
the most ardent advocates Of civil service In the
Consular branch OF the State Departments WORK
The Secretary in his report to the President.
among other things, says:
Complaints of the Consular Service of the United
of iucOmpetenCy
Injurious consequences 10 great puDc intefests ac
not tnfreouentlv brought 10 the notice OF the De-
partn1ent That they are not always well founded
is clear and instances are by no means , rare ~
%i ccndemnation of officials whose only fault has been
proper adherence to the line OF their iegiimate aae
while complaints against consuls are In some cases
unwarraned there are only too many 9tners m o o
trade chambers OF commerce and other IKE bodies
all the country that # our o9nsGaT we3e o
cals chosen for their fitness for the duties 70 pe
discharged by them the resIS he c"utenion seems
reasonable in itself and Is supported Dy me pthr
tce and experience OF Great BRITAIN anu o'"''
Congress- has 10 some extent recognized its Just,
and consular clerks to be appointed upon satisfac-
tory evidence of qualification derived si these
offcjals originally limited TO twenty-five IN num-
ber and called consular pupils are designa,euh as
and are not 10 be removed from office except 1oI
stated to Congress In writing IL Is ses
70 oee Sngress ~, bIs 10 improve the Consular Ser
ct G 4r by seGgrn&E nto he BY
fves OF both political parties ~ Is 'mS n,,aht
he exrected 10 be most strongly impressed with the
defects Of our Consular Service ana py "Sn WHY , az
nairaiy be initiated Hence it is not surprising 10
find that in 1866 the Department 81 soase for con-
suates to present themselves for examination a'
'nT & Poard ~ Examiners met organized and held
exsminafons under the order, and out OF nine appi
approved seven as satisfactory, s ~ held nm
DER fhs order Of 1855 and the mex, step taken IN
M direction seems e 3 !S haos ow much "
under this regulation not clear and at all eSehas o
4 was soon superseded by ,aee ,ne like that Of April
js 10 Under the civil Service Act OF March s. 1911
and during the life of the commVssl mVscances Occurring
IN any r9sde Of consnates clerkships In the DE De
parmen be filed either py Consular or dpo
matte under the Department o. o'ae, ao nreviousy
sls o. ha Dnparment Of State to It's salts
faction or by the Of some Of PsfsGn sse WtS
has made application 10 CbaTacter responsibility and
capacity in the manner provided or napnpsation is
oo e o Hi WA less than Sc OO0 and who has
on examination been found quahheu i'' ''' ''
ton ,o.rd uas organ
Under this order examination noard %" ~ tSree
lied by the Secretary OF state, at Wash
ington Conformaby regulations mace maze exsmined
order quite num6er % 9f ,I, The system is said
10 have worked wei in practice and aaa 10 a NE De-
Improved the Consular Service ana was neverthe-
less short-iiyed and though the neSess' # seems
lion between the two things is no, With the
Quishment OF its functions by the Siv SivS, abont bv
mission Of 1871 relinqushment ennronria ton
The refusal of Congress 10 inahe any '
FOR that branch Of the service - 4, force as
The Civil Service Act OF iS', ,,attes % authorizes
,se President pTssciss, iD,o 'qSe sSs cy Service
the p.nI.ed E,at.s ~ as NAV best promote the EN-,
csnSy thereof and aseerqn Sssh the character know
esge ave IN respect or u, he branch OF service into
Which he enter and TO for conduct 5ns such
guiries and may prescribe their dueS asons anu who
lish regulations for the conduct 3,u J service II
Be that saiutOry P1Gvs0npSl cd%ples rsor
so utilized to bring out tnaii a,ior Service which
are universally conceded to be desirable of the