The morning times., 1896-11-01

"o"iu oe 'upJecG TO the vicissitudeS OF DO
iit!cai changes and liable TO lose their
posts as soon as their party was out of
power.
Tile consequences have been that they
taught by the experience OF the consuls un-
der whom they serve, refuse to accent
promotions when offered, preferring To
remain consular clerks at a salary OF one
Thousand which is raised to twelve hun
dred at the end of five years-and retain
their positions for life, or as long as their
behavior is such that no complaint against
them can be brought before Congress. So
with each incoming political party new
set of Inexperienced men has gone out to
fill our consular posts, while those who
have by their term of office gained the
necessary Information to be useful to US
return home, and the clerks trained to
the service still remain clerks.
CONSULAR EXAMINATIONS.
During each administration the COM
plants have gone on, and several executive
orders have been issued for the purpose
OF making the service more efficient. Bills
have from time to time been before Con-
gress to remedy this state OF affairs, but
except for the acts relating to the consular
service have been passed
In 1866 the department OF State promul-
gated an order requiring all applicants
for consulates to present themselves for
examination at the Department Under
this order only one examination ap-
pears to have taken place: and in 1879
an executive order was issued to the
same effect. In 1873 the last order was
.sffr flnI I.-- III
recton, providing that consulates might
be filled either by transfer from some
other grade OF the service, clerical, con-
sular or diplomatic, under the Department
of State, or by the appointment of some
person who has previously served under
the Department OF State TO its satisfac-
tion,'' or by the appointment Of some
person who had applied to the Depart
ment with the proper credentials, been
examined and found qualified for the
position.
For two or more years candidates Were
examined under tue order of 1878, and
| fhe system is said to have worked well
| and TO have both improved the consular
| service and relieved tie State Department
| of any embarrassments. 1t was, un-
| fortunately, short lived, and the old order
OF appointment for political reasons only
| came again into vogue.
| IN 1880, however, an executive order
was issued directing that, thereafter, ANY
| vacancy III Consulate or Commercial
agency, with an annual salary or compens.-
| uon from official fees of not uGr,. than
| $500, ncr less than $1,000, should be
| Iiiied by transfer OF promotion from some
other position under the Department of
state "f character tending to qualify the
incumbent for the position to lie filled: by
| tile appointment of person not under the
| Department Of State, but having previously
| served hereunder TO its satisfaction in a
capacity tending to qualify Tim for the
position to be filled, or by tie appointment
OF person VITO, having been sclec ed for
examination, upon examination is founr
TO be Qualified for the position"
Posts which pay less Jhan 81 900 are
generally filled by selection from Amer
lean residents IF the locality, and it was
not deemed practicable to put them under
the new system. Excluding these places,
about stveuty-une in number, and also
the places which pay more than 81, 800
in salary and emoluments, numbering
fif'y-rhrec. the rumbcr of consular posts
affected by this order was 1876.
This ls u!d TO have given great i'm
petus 10 carrying out tie old provisions
of the act of 1856, which provided for
reports from tine to time to our State
Department OF the condition o. trade in the
various parts of the world. Since then,
besides the regular monthly reports from
cunSuIs, which are provided for by regula
tions. there have often come various re-
ports. madc by consuls independently, of
the state OF trade in their respective lCcaI..
ties. This has Teen a pleasing indication
OF their growing interest in and facility
Tor their work-interest and facility which
have been fostcred by their confidence tnos
shey were 20 remain ut their posts indie
pendent of politics.
All of this frightening outlook, which
tends toward our getting our share OF
the worlds commerce, will be brushed
aside entirely for the present. and GER
tainly be put back for Some time TO come.
if our worst fears should prove true. and
| the old order of rotation in Office
| come back upon us once more.
The need of men who are trained by
| long experience To their duties, and who
speak the languages and know the char
| aCteristics and needs OF those who sur
| round them is evident 10 every thouEhtIal
| observer, OF to anyone interested in cE-
| tending our foreign commerce. The GIuce
| of a consul should not merely be TO help
his Cuuntrymen who are in trouble, to care
| for their money or estates if they die, to
| communicate with their friends if they
| are in distress or to rescue tn en- from the
| jurisdiction OF the country in which they
! are visiting should any complications
| arise. His office should be first OF all q
| commercial one.
| ENGLAND'S FINE SERVICE
| EngIand's consuIs perform all the duties
| of caretakers. and perform them well, but
| they act primarily as commercial agents
in the fullest sense of the word. They
enter the consular service early, as do the
few clerks we have, but they rise grcdu
ally and surely through fitness for and
ability in their work. They send to
their home government the fullest and most
Minute reports of the state OF trade in the
countries in which they are stationed, what
prices govern the market, what are tht
tastes of the people, and exactly what vii
be accepted if sent there
From their consuls in India, who know
through years of service the wants OF
the people around them, the English have
learned exactly what cotton cloth to spin
and of exactly what material 1t. must be
To gain the trade OF the vast masses o
natives who dress in nothing else.
This same instance is true of Mexico