Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-08
IMPROVING THE CONSULAR SERVICE.

| ho' INu JHC tONSCLAh SEW IJE.
Under the present administration a
greater number of changes were made
in consular officers than under any other
administration for years, chiefly for
partisan reasons, and had not the pres-
dent given heed to public sentiment and
called a halt it is probable that not 4
consul who had been appointed as u
| republican would now be representing
| the United States abroad. The admin
| istrltion has in n measure atoned for the
course pursued during the early part of
its term by instituting a plan of ap
pointment to class of consular offices
which it is confidently believed will be
productive of good results. This plan
provides that any vacancy in a consul
late or commercial agency with an an
nual salary or compensation from Off
cial fees of not more than $4,000 or less
transfer or promotion from some other
position under the Department of State
of n character tending to qualify the in
cumbent for the position to be filled, or
by the appointment of person not
under the Department Of State, but
having previously served hereunder
and shown his capacity and fitness for
consular duty, or by the appointment Of
a person who, having been selected by
the president and sent to a board of eX-
animation, is found upon such eXamina-
ton to be qualified for the position.
Tins fhn 1lrinninln of civil sppyina
form is applied to these appointments
and while the plan does not wholly pre-
vent political discrimination it excludes
a majority Of consular positions from
being used to pay political debts, affect
ing, as it does 1876 of these positions.
This step toward improving the con.
sular service ought to be followed as
soon as possible by an extension of the
reform principle to the entire service, so
that within few years it shall be
placed on a similar basis with the serv-
ice of European countries whose eX-
ample in this respect the United States
may wisely emulate. This is what the |
commercial interests of the country de- !
sire, knowing that in order to be useful |
and efficient in promoting our foreign |
trade the consular service should be |
composed Of men specially fitted for it, |
with experience and training in its |
duties and requirements, and with a
liking for it, instead of politicians who |
know little and care less about practical |
affairs and many of whom seek these
positions purely to crafty a desire to
live few years abroad. The consular
service is peculiarly business service
and no man should be allowed to enter
it who is not thoroughly familiar with
the domestic and foreign trade of the
and has a good knowledge of
and financial affairs gener-
ally. The government should pursue
the same rule in selecting consular Off
,crs that manufacturers and merchants
hem in foreign markets, making ca
)acity and fitness the sole tests, and
he tenure of such officers should not be
subject to change OF administration at
but depend solely upon
heir faithfulness and efficiency. If, in
|
or the consular service. it Is necessary
o increase the compensation, it would
be found profitable to do so.
The president makes but one recon- I
nendation in connection with this mat
er, and that is for legislation providing
or consular inspection. unquesrIonaDIy
his would be good thing, having the
fleet to stimulate consular officers gen
rally to greater care and vigilance in
he performance of their duties. On the
Whole, this service is at present in very /
air condition. 1t must not only not be
llowed to retrograde, but whatever is
ecessary to increase its usefulness and |
fiiciency should be promptly provided.
here is no sound reason why the
tandard Of the consular service of the
Jnited States should not be as high as
hat of any other nation.