Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-19
A SHOCK TO HIS SYSTEM
What an Anxious Patriot Discovered in
Washington.
CoNSULS TAKEN OUT OF POLITICS
Unpleasant Surprises for Omccscck-
crs-oniy Firty-Three Places mt
the Disposal OF the Presi-
dent-Fecs Cut in Two.

A we'll known republican, who sustaine
such relations to Mr.. Mckinley as to make
him feel that he can get something reason
able, has sustained an unpleasant shock,
writes the Washington correspondent OF the
Globe Democrat. Having mind to serve his
country in a profitable consular position this
republican applied to the State department
for official information about the service. In
that information he has made not one but
several uncomfortable discoveries Appoint
ments to Offices which require confirmation
by the senate are exempted from the opera
tlon OF the civil service law. Consular ap-
pontments are confirmed by the senate. The
natural suppositlon would be that appointees
to these positions are exempt from the eN-
animation which now stands like barrier
to the desire of the ofRceseekers. This sup
position held good until one year ago. Up
to September 20, 1895, consuls were selected
and nominated to the senate on the strength
of the representations by KIND trlehds OF
political influence that they were qualified
That condition has been changed. On the
date mentioned the president issued an eN-
ccutive order. The existence OF that order
was not known to the republican until he
applied to the State department for the in
formation to guide him in the selection of
the position he would accept from the new
administration as recognition for the valuable
aid given to the party in the late campaign.
The first disagreeable discovery was made
when the well known republican received
from Assistant Secretary Rockhill an answer
to his inquiry. There are thousands of re
publicans scattered the country over who VIII
encounter this same unpleasant discovery.
SPREAD OF THE MERIT SYSTEM.
The civil service merit system has been
spreading until 1t has narrowed the oppor-
tunities for OfIce-gCtting. AS these OPP
portunties have become more closely cir
cumscrbed, the seeking has concentrated
on the consular service. Four years ago,
when Mr. Cleveland was about entering
upon his second term, the pressure for
these places Of consuls was very great. 4
throng of applicants Desieged the white
house after the Inauguration. Petitions
poured in upon the department Congress
men were beset. Every state had enough
candidates to fill the whole service. After
that experience the president determined
to close the consular door to the office
seeker. and he has done it quietly, but er
fectually. The Civil Service commission
can have nothing to do with the consular
appointments because they are confirmed
by the senate. There Is. however, nothing
in the way if the president chooses to set
up little civil service rule OF his own to
bar politics out OF the service. That is
precisely what he has done. The letter
with which Mr. Rockhil has surprised the
well known republican will be sent out a
great many times between this time ana
March a. 1t states clearly the full scope of
the reform which Mr.. Cleveland has CON
ceived to save Mr.. Mckinley from the pres
sure he himself encountered four years
ago The circulation of this letter is timely
now 1t may save intending candidates
much trouble, for these are the days in
which many good republicans are asking one
another the question which the late ey-
Senator Jones of Iowa put to the late ex-
Senator David II. Armstrong of Missouri |
Those wheel horses Of democracy met in the |
corridor just outside of the senate cham |
ber just after Cleveands frst inauguration |
when Washington was full of party workers
who had come on to share in the long de |
layed division of the Offices.
David said the venerable Jones, bend |
ing over, putting his mouth close TO Arm |
strong's ear. and then shouting with the |
ardor of deaf man, What are you going |
to ge.?"
These are times In which those who bore |
the burden and heat of the campaign of |
1896 are joGrneying TO Canton, and as they |
meet on the way, are asking:
What are you going to get?"
HOW TO GET IN.
Assistant Secretary Rockhills letter. OF |
which he is prepared to furnish an unlimited |
number of copies as the demand increases |
toward the opening Of the new administra- |
tion, is as follows:
Department of State, Washington, -
1S9-.-Sir: In reply to your letter of -
! would state that under the executive |
OruGr OF september ", 1890, vacancies In |
consulates or commercial agenies, the sal.
airy of which Is not more than 81 500 or les
than 81 900, or the unofficial fees of which do
not exceed the former or fall below the lat
ter sum, will hereafter be filled by the ap-
pointment of either "a Persons holding po-
sitions under the Department of State; (2)
persons having previously served under tht
department: or (S) from among persons
who having furnished the customary evi
dence of character, responsibility and ca
pacity, and having been thereupon selected
by the president for examination, have been
found upon such examination to be quail
fed for the position.
applications for offices falling within the
above limits should be addressed to the
secretary of state, the name of the vacancy
applied for being indicated, as we'll as the
special qualifications for such office OF the
applicant. and this application should be
accompanied by such Endorsements as to ap-
plicant's character, responsibility and ca
pacity as he may be able to furnish
when the president shall have decided to
hll any vacancy occurring among the con
sular offices in the above mentioned classes
such candidates for 1t belonging to the third
class as shall have been selected by him
after examination of their applications and
Endorsements will be notified of the date of
the examination, and of the subjects on
which said examination shall bear and they
will also be supplied with such other papers
as the examining board shall deem neces-
sary for their guidance ] am, Sir, your
obedient servant, w. w. ROCKHILL,
Third Assistant Secretary"
The issue of this order. taking several
hundred cOnsulships and commercial agen-
cies out OF politics, was preceded by long |
letter from Secretary olney to the president
it,
THE MEANING OF 1T.
1.-THE consular Office" Mr.. Olney wrote, sis
Of great importance in its relations to the
interests Of the country. Every
consul should, so far as practicable, be |
chosen for his special fitness for the position
In which he is to serve. aud ii cannot be
denied that. while complaints against con-
suis are in some cases unwarranted. there
are only too many others which cannot be so
regarded. 1t is contended by boards of trade {
chambers OF commerce and other like bodies {
all over the country that II our consular I
service was what it should be and our con- l
suls were officials chosen for their fitness {
'or the duties to be discharged by them, the |
Awarded