Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-13

DEFENSE or THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
The statement of Mr.. Samuel T..
Morss, who has been for four years
consul general OF the United States at
Paris, giving his impressions OF the
consular service of this country, will
have the effect to modify the quite gen
eral opinion among those who have given
some attention to the matter that this
service is far less useful and efficient
than it should be and in this respect
is a good deal below the standard of
other leading commercial nations. The
value of the testimony of Mr.. MorSs de-
pcnds upon the extent and thOrOughncSs
of his investigation and he says that lie
has studied the practical operations of
the service pretty closely and made such
comparisons with that of other countries
as opportunity afforded. in period
of four years, with Il most advantageous
position, a person earnestly desiring to
obtain information ought to get great
deal.
Mr. Morss confcsscs that there is room
for improvement in the consular scrv-
ice, but he says that measured by the
results accomplished it is at least the
equal of any other consular service in
the world. If this Is so there Is indeed
little reason for complaint. unless the
consular services of England, Germany
and France have received credit for use
fulness and efficiency beyond their merit.
1t is possible that such is the case, at
least as to England. whose service has
recently been sharply criticised mt home
aS having deteriorated in efficiency but
as to that of Germany and France, par
ticularly the former. the standard has
never been higher than now If it be
true that the consular service of the
United States is equal to that of those
countries not much remains to be done
in the way of improving it, so far as eff
ticiency is concerned, for the consular
system of Germany is an almost pcr-
fectly-working inStllmcntality for the
promotion of German commerce every
where.
Mr.. Morss says that the duties i'm
posed upon American conSulS are more
arduous and varied than those eNactgd
of the consuls of other countries and
this is doubtless true of the service as
whole. 1t is Il matter which those who
are working for Il reform in the service
should not fail to take notice of. Another
fact presented by Mr. Morss is that the
leading commercial nations other than
the United States maintain Il larger and
better paid personnel at their important
consulates than we do. or course the
highest efficiency is not possible where
the force to perform necessary duties is
insufficient and inaSmuch as our con-
Sular service is self-supporting which
appears not to be the case with other
countries, our government ought GER
tanly to provide its consular officials
with sufficient assistance to enable them
to perform their duties promptly aud
thoroughly.
But as already observed. Mr.. Morss
thinks there is room for Improvement
and his suggestion of reforms is the
really valuable part of his statement.
In the first place he says that the method
of selecting consular officers should be
changed and selections made with n
view to character and qualifications.
rather than on political grounds He
also urges greater permanencc of tenure,
with promotion and preferment These
are not new suggestions, but they ac-
qurc added force coming from one who
has had experience in the service and
undoubtedly has given careful attention
to its conditions ana needs. At all events
the statement of Mr.. Morss is certainly
worthy of the consideration of all who
are interested in our consular service
ana nave proper appreciation of its
Importance in relation to the foreign
commerce of the country. 1t is under
stood that the administration is deeply
Interested in the question of improving
the consular, service and it is probable
that the present congress will be asked
to institute reforms deemed to be neccs-
sary to render the service more useful
and efficient The views and sugccS-
tions of Mr.. Morss are therefore timely
AID valuable.