The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-04
OUR CONSULAR SERVICE.
A Movement on Foot to Greatly Inn
prove 1t.

prove IL.
Washington, June sO.-A determined ef-
fort Will be made in the next congress TO
secure a radical reform in the consular
service Of the United States. The key
note of the fight was sounded by Sena-
tor Hill, in the closing days of the last
session, in a speech in which he pointed
out the necessity of paying less attention
TO the development of the navy and more
10 the character of the consular and dip
lomatic service. In that speech, delivered
amid the rush and hurry Of the final
hours OF congress, and therefore almost
unnoticed, Senator Hill dwelt upon tho
cost of taxation imposed by a constantly
increasing navy and said:
We are wisely appropriating annually
thousands upon thousands of dollars for
the educating and training at Annapolis
of boys to be naval officers, but what
are we doing for educating and training
those who are to be our diplomatic ana
consular agents?'
1t has already been published that Sec
rotary Olney is in favor of reviving a
rule which originated with President Grant
requiring ali consuls to be examined by
The departmental board prior to appoint
ment Their confirmation by the Senate
would still be requisite, but it is thought
that IL 1t came to be generally understood
that absolute qualification and not politi-
cal influence secured the appointment
there would be few reflections of presl-
Dental nominations. There is no ques-
ton but that mercantile interests gem
orally would be very glad to see the con-
sular service divorced from politics al
together, but whether the President will
go so far as to suggest such a change to
congress is not known. The state depart
ment officials agree that if a change of
this radical character is to be made 1t
viii have to be accomplished gradually,
and then, as the benefits Of
the new system becomes manifest, it will
be comparatively easy to extend it to the
entire service. A properly equipped con-
sui should have a knowledge of the coun4
try to which he is assigned, a familiarity
with its exports and imports, and an un-
Outstanding Of the character of the people.
de should be business man, and, above
all things, alive to the interests of Amer
lean commerce. Under the present sys-
tenn he il only too frequently a defeated
ofhceholder, politician out of a Job, who
seizes another opportunity of drawing gov
eminent money. 1t Is said at the state de-
partment that nine-tenths of the men an
pointed as consuls show more interest in
the possibilities of making money out of
their offices than they do in the rules and
regulations which are to govern their
action.
1t is the history of the state department
that 80 per cent. of consuls are changed
with every administration. The few who
are retained either occupy places that no
body wants or else they are
influence with the incoming Pres
ident to remain undsturbed. Frank II
Mason of Ohio, who has been in the ser
vice ever since 1889, and who Is now consul
general at Frankfort Is generally regard
ed as one of the best consular officers in
t. e,.l
whether his record would have saved him
from official decapitation if he had not
good democratic backing. William j
Black has been consul to Nuremberg since
1880, but he is a brother-in-laW of Senator
Gray OF Delaware, while William F. Grin
nell, consul at Manchester since 1889, is
the brother-in-law of ex-Vice President
and now Gov Morton. All these are good
officials, and by long acquaintance with
their duties have become especially yalua-
BILE. The consuls who have been In office
longer than four years, however, can al
most be counted on ten fingers, and the
retention OF any consul on account of his
good record is extremely rare.
The consequence is that the United
States consul enters upon his office in
most indifferent spirit. He knows that
his lease of life is short, and by the time
that he has mastered the details of his
position he will be called home. Very
different to this is the English system.
where a man enters the consular service
on the lowest round Of the ladder, and by
the exercise of ability secures steady pro,
motions and transfers to more desirable
places. A British consular officer who
has been in the service for twenty wears
has been pretty much around the world.
He knows from actual experience the com
mercial demands of every section ana
mis- knowledge is of SURPRISING value 10
his home government. He is always secure
IN his place during good behavior Lord
Rosebery may be premier or Lord Salis
bury may be at the head of the cabinet
the British consul goes on, untouched ana
free from any harassing doubts as to his
position.
An attempt was made many years ago
in the time of Secretary Seward, to i'm
prove the consular service by the an
polntment of consular clerks, with the
view of establishing a permanent con-
sular force by the promotion of the clerks.
As matter of fact, the plan, so far as
II had that object in view, has been a com
plete failure. Not a single consular clerk
has ever been made consul. There are |
now thirteen of them in the service. los
eph A Springer Of Maine at Havana. and |
CHARLES 2. Thirion and Edward p: Mac |
Lean, at Paris. have each been in the |
service over twenty-five years. and they |
receive to-day the princely salary of 81 900 |
a year When they were appointed thew |
received $1,000. Charles NJ. Wood has been |
at Rome since 1873, and is /
said to be better euuipped /
that anybody who could be appointed ana |
he gets 1920 The total impossibility of
promotion and the inadequate salary
would make il impossible to retain the
clerks If they had not, by their long resi-
dence abroad, built up for themselves A
private business. which enables them to |
I'VE. At the same time, not one of these
clerks would accept a consulate becaus.
that very act would place him in line
Tor removal Secretary Gresham, Just he
fore his death, seriously considered the
anonuon OF the entire force of consular
clerks on the ground that the purpose for