The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-16
line of men who left their Alma

long line OF men who left their Alma
Mater years before.
The procession, as IL always is, was
one of the most impressive features of the
days exercises
Exercises at the church. which were
conducted by Prof. Is. #. Clarke, acting
president, were opened by an overture
by Reeves band, and then after the de-
votional exercises followed the orations
of the oight seniors who were assigned
commencement parts.
Reorganization OF Consular System.
The first oration of the day was liy
Frank Oscar Jones and his subject was
"A Plea for the Reorganization of the
Consular Service" An abstract is as fol
lows:
There Is a Prevailing notion that
God takes are OF children, fools and the
United States Nowhere does this i'm
plicit faith in special divine care for
the interests of our country seem more
obvious than in the present system of APP
pointing consuls
The numerous and arduous duties
which consuls areiHaxpocted to perform
first national, certifying to the genuine
ness of papers, especially of invoices of
goods to be shipped to this country; sec
ond, judicial, settling controversies be-
tween officers and crews OF our vessels in
foreign ports and trying civil and crimi-
tcctive. caring for destitute seamen and
sending them home; and fourth collect.
ing and reporting information OF value
TO our merchants and manufacturers.
With these duties incum o tupon then,
II is evident thet the consuls need speciaI
qualifications, that they should to famil-
lar with the 81 .pring laws and CONNER
cial treaties between their own and other
countries; that they should be familiar
with the languages and customs OF tho
country 10 which they are sent and,
above all. that they should be men Of ap-
proved ability and integrity. OF no less
Importance than those qualifications are
the conditions OF adequate compensation
and tenure of office permanent during
good behavior.
Upon comparing the requirements just
enumerated. however, with the actual
conditions, the small salaries the unccr.
tain tenure anu the lack OF qualifications
OF our 'consuis. how disheartening is tho
contrast Many OF the consuls instead Of
having adequate salaries, receive their pay
la part by retaining both official and
unofficial fees. The uncertain tenure of
Office Is also responsible for much of the
inefficiency. While both political parties
agree that the principles Of civil service
reform should be applied 20 the foreign
service both disregard these principles.
Under this partisan policy the constant
ehangcs entail Unnecessary expense, while
the officials themselves no sooner gain
experience thnn they give place 10 others,
new and untried AS II some hing fun
were needed TO secure complete in
competency, we add to this uncertainty
of tenure-itself enough To destroy amhi.
tion 20 do well-a system Of making APP
pointmoBts. not In accordance with quail
ilcatious for Office. but as mere rewards
for partisan services lnasmuch as
through the Incompetence. ignorance and
dishonesty Of our representatives abroad
our foreign interests have suffered. our
consulat.s have fallen into disrepute and
laughing stock OF other nations, there Ger.