New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-15
AMERICAN CONSTLS.
THE MINISTER TO VENEZUELA DEFENDS
TIE SERVICE AND MAKES SUCCESS
TIONS FOR IT'S IMPRON EMENT

F. p. LOOMS in The North American Review.
a considerable portion Of the conformation ohor OF
the consular service Is oa,ed on 'lg sr LACY ~
familiarity with many OF he conventions Dp,,ed
b nm o Jas sou N one df or men Of var to dine
with the project Of the department ms 'inpo,
a$n fpmy H. wss cultured rich and
refined in manner and talk lie wa Also 81
and huently In short. he was a many sde9 nlai man.
who deserved and commanded respect; shoa sn3
while the delicious delicately seasoned potage was
being eaten. there was lull i9r isW seT" oice Of
great earnestness: by thunder. Mr.. Prefect this
Is bully soup OF course. the Consurs fellow
countrymen present were sorry ana cnagreS, S M
inc. obviously just. 80 nnocenty utter.n, 49,, 80
pregnant with good faith and Protound, oon''c"o"
that think our host was not dispeasel' ,,,,.
This consul was ehd OF na,pFe M ~Ss 'e ans
unfamiliar with some or me snd. F m ~, IN
conventions of cosmopolitan society Out nc W..
telligent alert honest. careful and kind hearted.
He was the possessor of splendid physique was
endowed with much personal magnetism and was
bristlne with Americanism. lIc had bad practoa.
in ten who saw this consul at the projects dinner
table table would declare nat ne was vas, qnn .hod be- re-
membered that such incidents do not illustrate tne
fitness or unhtness OF consular officer for the
s. rous business OF the service. II would be great
deal better. and far more soothing 70 our piIe. Il
ali our consuls accomplished men u the
world as well as capable Industrious honest com
mercial agents OF the Government, but It IS vain
stage OF our deyciopment The consul to whom
referred was 4 very efficient officer. The Depart
ment Of State thought extremely well OF niIn. ~
was shrewd observer: he and reported win
graphic felicity mag a rSh oP2es 6om Gae snd
manufactures his reports pointed the way ana
oPenea thg GoPTs 10 ac W A. the md Of TWO
years he had acquired the language OF the country
Years he Was turned out OF onice just when his
usefulness To his own country was greatest lhE
many things. one IS that the tenure OF once ono.
should Re longer; 1t does not prove however NAV
2 .lt., b, for q
il is difficult 10 determine what should he the
tenure Of office for consul one great ana,
think. universally acknowl, dyed merit Of the pres
changes we get better work in the WAY Of reports
from our consuls than do those goNernm"nts "nlcl
keep officers Of thi- class permanently I'm Their
send abroad men with fresh eyes and Tiin the
capacity Of taking fresh points ot view This T. -, =
in extending ne mer sys,em 10 me ' othn1t
service. II IS one that cannon DE- ignored N.tnou'
the risk Of rendering the service inf"Xihe. cnmher-
A. step toward putting our foreign service upon
a permanent basis tn appointment Is suggested,
for term Of ten or fifteen years or Tor IRE o. ten
twenty-five Of the second class and forty vice
an exs1,ination Which should be- genuine test ~
their fitness for foreign service and among the re-
more foreign languages with facility. The law
consuls and vice-consus should be appointed from
tho same political party and preference should b"
and 70 those now in the service who have the high
records for efficiency. 'onsuis general should
b. paid $500 year. consui~ OF the first class $500
and vice-consuls from 81 20 10 $40 d year. accord
ing to the length Of their term OF service and ne
importance Of theiI posts. The Nce-consuls should
be- what known IN the service as independent
consular officers and they should be placed in
charge of what are now the smaller consuiates
The adoption Of some such plan as I nave very
briefly outlined would furnish the nucleus for the re-
organization Of the consular corps on permanent
basis. II would enable Us 70 work out IN c sma !
and comparatively inexpensive way, the system OF
permanent organization most accurately adapted
70 our unique and manifold needs. and would re
duce the patronage now furnished by the foreign
service by about . per II would be a distinct
gain for reform, practical forward movement
from which there could be no retreat.