The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-29
PLACE, SEEKERS.
The Way to Get in Line
for Consular Job.
Forms That are Made Use of
in the Examinations.
Most OF The COnsuls are Democrats.
Political Endorsements.

WASHINGTON. March 29.-[Special I'm
terest in the consular appointments to be
made by this administration continues un-
ahated The number Of applications for
these Offices on file at the state depart
ment is nearly $4,000. A number of the
readers Of your paper have written TO me
asking for information concerning the con-
sular service. They want 10 know all
about how 10 get appointments both i'm and
out of the classified service, what sort of
examinations candidates are subjected TO
for the latter, and many other facts In
the first place, 10 Is proper to say that un-
less man who Is ambitious TO go abroad
as consul has the strongest kind of polit-
ioal backing he will do well not to waste
his time applying for an appointment.
There is not a senator or representative in
town bat has a list of friends as long as
the moral law he wishes to take care Of in
one place or another, and the pressure for
consulships is something tremendous.
Only those candidates with first class sup
port from senator's and representatives can
expect favorable results, and only one in
ten of these will be lucky enough to get
an appointment.
The Eligible List.
Some misnpprehension exists as to the
classified service as applied To consulships.
As / have already explained in these dis
patches, the consular places are not under
the civil service commission. An examin-
ing board has been created in the state de-
partment TO examine applicants for con-
sulships in which the compensation is not
more than g. 500 nor less than 81 900 per
year.
1t is n common error TO suppose that ev-
cry applicant for a consulship is examined,
and that those who pass at the highest
grade get appointments. II is not so. The
/ ,esident sends TO the state department. the
names of those applicants he wishes placed
on the eligible list, and these, and no 9TH
ers, are examined. The president need not
appoint the men who pass good examina-
tions and are recommended to him by the
board unless he wishes TO do so. The ex-
amining system vs. designed merely To as
sist tho president in ascertaining which Of
the aspirants is best qualified to fill con-
sulships. Everything else is left to him.
The Examination.
The examinations, which are conducted
usually by means of questions and answers
In writing, are upon the following topics:
General education, knowledge of lam
guages, business training and experience.
The country In which the consul or COM
mercial agent is 10 reside its government,
chief magistrate, geographical features,
principal cities, chief production and its
commercial intercourse and relations with
the United States.
The exequatur, its nature and use
Functions of consul or commercial
agent rs compared with those of vice con-
sui or consular agent, relation of former to
latter, also TO the United States minister
or ambassador It the capital Of the country.
Duties of a consul or commercial agent
Ms regards correspondence with the state
department and the form thereof; pass
ports, granting, visaing; United States
merchant vessels In n foreign port and their
crews, whether seeking discharge, deserting
or destitute; wrecks within the jurisdic
ton; wrongs to United States citizens
within the Jurisdiction; invoices, official
fees and accounts.
Treaties between the United States and
the foreign country
Relations OF ambassador and minister to
laws Of the country TO which they are ac-
credited as compared with those of consul
or commercial agent with those of the
countries where they reside.
Acts OF einbassador or minister, how far
binding upon his country.
Diplomatic, judicial and commercial
functions of consuls or commercial agents.
Piracy, what IL is and where punishable.
Consular regulations of the United
States, copy Of which ito be returned to the
department) will be supplied to each can
didatc upon application.
Such other subject or subjects ms the
board may deem important and appropri-
ate in any particular case
According to the executive order issued
by President Cleveland, vacancies In con-
sulates falling within this class are TO be
filed by selection from persons who have
passed examination or who hold positions
under the state department, or who have
previously served in or under the state de-
partment But this rule, as will be no
ticed, Is exceedingly elastic and the presi-
dent can practically I'll these offices to suit
himself.
Points OF Interest.
Many candidates for consular appoint
ments are surprised to discover that they
must, If appointed, pay their own expenses
to ana from their post OF uuty. lney hau
imagined the government paid such ex-
penscs, but tho government does nothing
OF the sort. IF man with "a family OF
three or four persons wins an appointment
as consul at Tamntavc, Madagascar, or
Ceylon India, or in China or Japan, where
the salary is, say, 81, 300 year and no fees
to speak Of he will not find himself much
In pocket by the time he has served four
years and paid all his travelling and living
expenses.
A majority Of tho members Of our con-
sular service arc not Americans, but resi-
Gents Of the country. They are vice con-
suls, commercial agents, agents, interpre-
tiers and clerks, depending in nearly all
cases upon fees for their compensation.
With very few exceptions, all our salaried
consuls on March last were Democrats
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