Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-12-17
A VITAL QUESTION Discussed
Are our consuis Comparing ra,orabiy with
European Representatives Require
mcnt. In Keeping with Their Duties.
Wilton for the "Newa."

Written for the News"
Since President Mckinley h. contcm-
plating consular reforms IL mny be
timely 10 study that important qucs-
ton. \ Few months ago chc New York
World published an article with the
rather sensational heading: no Re-
dresu of Robbery by Consul This
article had rs origin In petition said
20 have been presented e. congress- by
"a certain John W. Hinton ~ Aiilwau-
kcc. whose son. Francis. died recently In
Paris. This petition asked Tor lcgisin-
tlon 10 punish American conHuls who
rob cltlEena OF the United states who
die abroad Az iintons potion COM
ttinH "a letter. wrlu.cn By him q the
President. aId also the CORE sp0ndcncc
between himself aud Secretary Day.
The petition declares that at the time
his son died. several thousand dollars In
cash were In hlB possession ana shat
this money was taken By the French
authorities and promptly termed over 90
clyde Shfopshirc. then .ice consul az
Paris. who rave for Il an Official receipt.
lie Furthermore aaaortashat fhn sum of
taHNNN was fMNl"N 10 IiN' ANa NIN NHN .
funeral expenses and that several nuu-
urfu dollars of ih.l hum were retained
nt Shropshire. who. u % alleged. nrNnf
gave any accounting for thg FUNDS thus
coming into hia hands. Ito narrn MS
rCgucat 0u Tie written acfnnWlcdr
ment q Judge bay that. after exam
ming tho charges against Shropshire
with n Wow 70 his prosecution declares
mat The state department has reurh-
80 che conclusion that under our lava
there IN nu penal llnullliy which can
b. enforced against HIM"
The allegations made Ia the ease are
certainly serious and. ~ 10 boz true that
O man. under shelter ~ hla Official poll-
ton, a. nt liberty 60 cfnuUaslv with I'M
punNy funds committed To- him lu ,hlt
capacity, 10 ~ certainly high time ihlt
action should Boz taken reud ring ruth
occurrences Impossible On tho future.
Not only should our citizens D. protect.
eel against any possible fraud. but She
good name uf The country. an well aa
our commercial interests. requires that
~ representatives abroad should be
beyond reprufch.
We are familiar with the dlntrihe-
" ardent clvil service rofnrmurH AGAINST
shr present system OF appointments.
They complain, not without reason.
that this country has iIt ut ltH r'r-
vice, llke European cuuntrInH, trained
dlnllmniiatr This IL true nr ar nu the
hirhrlt poriiuInn nre conc b ird. nl-
though We nrc not prepared - rly thnt
u places Az under any rIseu dirnu.
vantage In the conduct even " delicate
negotiations. a Lowell. lr q Phelps N
perhaps quite nH rood 70 representative
90 man niirtured On rcd snpr par
tlculnrly In these days when tho cable
has brought the governments 81 the
various cuunirisn into such ri0rs con-
rcctinn. We 90 not deny that there n
ample room Tor reform, although q COM
purlH1n OF ellie United states cpnauln
European nations, IN not particularly
To- the disadvantage ~ tho American
representatives.. II goes without saying
TINS we rofur o. cuuaulH and vice cnn-
nulH only. Ministers and Ambassadors
are ~ course out ~ the question.
1aie Chliuc,cr ~ ctndldsscn fIr cone
HuAr upp'lusmeuts are subjected 10 the