New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-22
BETTER CONSULS WANTED
PROPOSED PLAN OF REORGANIzINC
THE SERVICE.

THE SERVICE.
PROVISIONS OF THE HOUSE BI1Ll-OFFICES TO BE
npcnApEp AND SALARIES RAIsED--AP-
po1NrMENrs AND PROMOTIONS TO
RE MADE AS THE RESULT
OF EXAMINATIONS.
fly TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDuNE1
Washington Feb 2-While It Is not at all proba-
bIe that the bill ito Increase the efficiency OF inc
foreign service OF the United States ana 10 proVe
for the reorganization OF the consular se'N'','
which the Committee on Foreign AHa"S VI '
I House of Representatives. agreed on IhursuaS !"
renort with favorable recommendation. Will be-
come n law or pass the House peio'e ''''
expiration OF this Congress. the ac'ioh u Wv
committee will give the measure better status
in the next Congress. The bill, when was a'e"'
ed somewhat before the committee voted 10 rep'''
/ H. Is a composite one. containing some provisions
recommended or suggested by the Civil service
Commission. as we'll as by experienced o'no"'' anu
OK Officials OF the State Department
Rv the first section the President Is authorized
to opooint a commission to assist him IN 'he IT,
organization of the consular service, 10 w 'o"'
posed of two Senators OF the United states '"'
/ Representatives In Congress (both Oh "t''ii "''
not in either case, to be members OF the S''''o
political party and officer OF the pep' ''e"'
/ of State. ,u
Section 2 provides that the reorganizauo" s""n
be effected within two years AFTER the passes
the act and that the manner OF CARRYING J. o.'
shall be left to the discretion OF the PRESIDENT
where 1t is not indicated IN the ACT VI P'''N
by the commission.
Section prescrbes that the reorganization ''"'
cover all offices Of the consular service ana ha' 'c
office of consular clerk shall be transiefre" "'o
vice-consu and that Of commercial agent ih'o co"-
| sui of the second class
CLASSIFICATION OF CONSCLS.
Section requires that the incumbents OF all con-
sular offices shall be citizens of the United states
and classiAes the Offices follows: Consus-seh-
eral of the first class, with salary OF s"oo 'o'
,sponeral of the second class. $1,000; consnis oi
| tho first class $4,000 consus OF the second CLASS
20 ,oo. vice-consuls Of the first class. slNo; vice.
consus of the second class $1,000; vice-cohs"is Vi
| the third class. 100 ,,
Section requires that all fees. both oH'ca' an"
urofcial received by any officer oil the COM "'''
service shall be accounted for and pald INTO '''e
rreasurv of the United States. and the sole ana
only commentator Of any such officer shaii pe the
salary fixed by law -.
Section 6 saws that no person below the age OF
twenty-one or above the age OF hfty shal pe ''-
m,tted to the consular service after the reo'
ton but persons who have been previously e"n-
,a,od In that service for a period OF four years
NAV he admitted up to the age of sxty-fve years
According TO Section two-thirds OF the ihcum-
bents of consular offices to be gradually recae
within three years from the passage OF the act,
those having the requisite age may be reanm''eu
10 the same grade they held. on passing the pre-
scribed examina tion to such lower grade as 'ey
NAV he found qualified for. and those consular
clerks who the passage of the act are III re-
ceipt of yearly salary of 81 200 shai De Nee-co"
suls of the second class, and those receiving Il
yearly salary Of 81 900 shall be vice-consuis OF Inc
third class.
BOARD OF EXAMINERS
Section provides that the President shall APP
point a board Of examiners. consisting OF hve meH-
bers who are TO be the Civil Service Commissioners
and two officials of the Department of State. This
Board shall determine the methods OF conducting
the examinations for entrance to ana prom0uon IN
the service the scope of the subjects 10 he SUD-
mtted as tests of knowledge. and all other matters
appertaining to the subjects of examinations put
shall have no further connection with the pan oi
By section the subjects of examinations are to
be chiefly but not exclusively related TO me duties
and the work of the consular service. Promotion
the grade Of consul OF the hrst class VIII nav 70
pass an examination In at least one foreign IAN
guage: ,,,,,.os ,,.,o s,,ooess-
fully pass the examination for admission 10 the ser
vice shall become eligible for appointment IN me low
est grade Of the 1 ' s provided
section II declares that in the procedure of promo
ton no grade shall be overstepped. and all places in
each grade shall be interconverble: that Is 10 say
| NAV take place from time TO time at the discretion
Of the Secretary Of State or the President The bonds
required OF consular officers will cover all the PAGES
| they may hold in any given grade ,.
| AS framed and recommended by the Subcommittee,
| the bill cont aimed section providing that removals
or dismissals from the consular service should be
made only on written charges and proof OF msc ,,n
duct or ineicency OF any incumbent, with due notice
should be reviewed and finally determined by board
Of officials Of the Department Of STATE. ana approved
BY the President After full discussion and consider
alton by the full committee this section was ei'm'-
| mated.
THE SUB-COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
| In the report prepared by Mr.. Adams. OF Pennsyl-
van,a chairman of the subcommittee. are set forth
some of the in favor Of the proposed reor-
| ganzaton. One Of them Is that the presen, method
"brings forth poor candidates. while the short and
| uncertain tenure OF office and the meagre salaries
paid deter competent from entering the service.
Besides. there Is no PROMOTION FOR efficient service,
and consul cannot aHPG ,TF ate 'r ren ncroS
of service and there is always the prospect OF return
to resume private business and without prospect of
further Government employment The sub-com-
mi aeSanea " Of the rvce and that in this
the degrading and demoralizng doctrine that to
the yiciors belong the spois Is really not so bad az
the attendant and practice of distributing
the spells for supposed partisan serves ana accord
Little no regard to the qualifications Of the APP
The report continues: "Consuls should be APP
pointed to reside abroad for the purpose of protect
the countries which appoint them and the countries
whittier they are sent Their functions. however,
are not limited 10 commerciS transactions. They
stand as the protectors and advisers Of their
trymen present in foreign lands they act as
judges. notaries and administrators Of intestates
and Of all property Of such as have no legal repre-
sentative they have to prevent frauds the
revenue. TO notice nfractions of treaty stipua tons
relating TO trade to advise the Government of new
laws or regulations within their districts. to pre-
the discipline OF the commercial marine. ia
guard seamen from oppression, and they ex-
pected to aid the destitute for which purpose no
funds available except their meagre salary.
CAREFUL TRAINING a REQUISITE.
"Consuls also required 10 prepare from time
to time reports upon matters affecting commercial
industrial financial and agricultural interests re.
garding labor rate OF wages. hours OF work and