The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-14
consular service Reform.

The Adams consular reform bill which
has been reported favorably in the House
is a step in the right direction. 1t is in
line with the reforms in the consular ser
vice instituted by President Cleveland
some two years or more ago, except that
the Adams bill goes further than the
Cleveland order. which cut off the fees
Of consular Offices in certain instances. 1t
viii be remembered that there was con-
siderable pressure brought to bear a few
months ago by President McKinley's
cousin Osborne, consul general at London
to secure the restora ton of the fees which
had been cut off by Mr.. Cleveland. The
Adams bill takes away the fees from all
consular offices, and places the consuls
$1,000 for consuls general of the first class
to $1,000 for consular clerks, which, ii
seems, ought to be sufficient to induce
competent young men to enter the ser
vice especially as it is proposed that pro-
motions upon merit shall be provided for
The bill, indeed, places the service under
the civil service reform system and
makes fitness to hold the Office a re-
quisite for preferment in place Of polti-
cal pull. 1t is provided that the service
shall be reorganized in two years, under
a commission made up of members from
Congress and the state department No
person younger than 81 years nor older
than 50 is to be admitted 10 the service
Two-thrds of the incumbents of the con-
sular offices shall pass an examination
within three years. All fees are to be
turned over to the federal treasury, and
consuls are TO have no compensation ex-
cept their salaries. All consuls or COM
mereial agents must become American
citizens, if they are not such already.
Promotions are to be made by regular
grade No grade may be skipped. but the
highest grades may be attained by merit.
The United States have reached the pc
Rod when it is recognized that foreign
markets must be secured for American
manufactures The consular officers are
the government commercial agents. So
long as the. consulships remain mere po-
liucal pawns to be paid out for political
favors, it cannot be expected that we
shall have the very best business service
in our commercial agencies. England,
France and Germany fill their consulates
with men trained for the service. They
know precisely what information is need
ed by the manufacturers and traders of
their respective countries. They are able
to judge what treaties are wanted TO the
end of developing their home trade, hence
they are of almost incalculable benefit to
the commercial interests of their govern
ments. England's supremacy in trade is
largely due to the intelligent and timely
efforts of her systematically trained corps
Of consular servants.
In contrast with the British service is
that of the United States. We have held
the offices TO be political plums merely;
good things, to be enjoyed by the party
In power, with no function save to fill the
long felt want of some small-bore polti-
clan. Fitness, or Information with regard
to the duties to be performed, has never
been given much consideration. suffi-
Gent political pull has been about the only
requisite. The Adams bill proposes that
the consular service shall be run as a
business institution. for business men.
The politicians win kick against it, be-
cause it proposes to curtail their patron
age, and consequently their power They
may, indeed, be able to defeat the bill.
Nevertheless it is the right sort of a
move. and deserves the support of pro-
gressive people.