The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-03
FOR CONSUL'S ACADEMY
Resolution Is Adopted After Warm
Debate.

Mr.. Harrison's (AiissourD resolution re-
garding the establishment of a consular
! academy brought out most spirited de-
/ bate The resolution came very near dy-
ing in the committee, but was rescued by
a minority report and presented to the
congress in that shape. At once following
its reading Judge Clark Of Oklahoma made
a motion 10 lay the resolution on the
table, accompanying the motion with a
scathing denunciation of the resolution as
being purely a matter Of politics and
should not be considered by the conven-
ton. He then consented to withdraw his
motion in order that the adoption of the
resolution might be debated, and opened
the debate himself. He said he was op-
posed to putting the consular service of
the country under civil service rue, thus
creating additional life tenure of public
Office.
Mr.. Maxwell Of California replied to Mr..
Clark, saying if there was any politics in
the question at all it was for the purpose
of taking the consulship business out of
politics. He said in his opinion it was a
purely commercial question and that a
commercial congress ought to be permit
ted to handle commercial questions.
Mr.. Lewis, the Oklahoma Democrat,
agreed with his Republican friend, Judge
Clark, in the view that the consular SER
vice ought to be kept out of politics. He
said the civil service commission was a
rank humbug.
Mr.. Harrison of Missouri objected to the
remarks Of his Democratic friend, as not
fit to be considered in the deliberations
Of a commercial body. He said he was
surprised at the action of the committee
on resolutions in turning down this reso-
luton. He said it was strictly a nom
political question and belonged purely to
the commercial interests of the country,
without regard to politics.
Mr.. Whitmore Of St Louis spoke very
intelligently on the question, saying that
a consul had to do principally with COM
mercial questions and should be wholly
and soully a business man. He compared
the work Of a consul to that of a common
employe, and said that no man would want
TO hire an employee to work for him and
just as soon as he became efficient, fire
him and get another to take his pace.
He said it generally took a consul four
years to become efficient in his line of
work and that he should be retained so
long as he gave efficient work
Matte II. Fox Of Denver said that while
she was not exactly in favor of the civil
service commission, she thought no person
should be given employment by the gov
eminent in any capacity unless he could
pass a respectable civil service examina-
ton. She wanted the minority report
amended so as to compel each person ex-
amied for a consulship to pass an exam
ination with a grade not less than 50 per
cent.
Congressman Ridgley Of Kansas sup
ported the minority resolution strongly.
He said: Let US take these consuls out
of politics forever"
Mr.. Clark's motion 10 lay on the table
was then taken up, and lost by vote Of
80 to 80. The resolution then came I'D for
final disposition
Mr.. Cahill of -. Louis said that the
country must educate its consuls. He had
been imposed upon when he was in Cuba
once and could get no redress, on account
OF the miserable ignorance and stupidity
or the American consul. He said that
many great b,unders in our commercial
undertakings We're made on account of
the inability Of the consul to understand
the language and customs of the people
Who he was among.