The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-05

preserved ana kept IN repair lor year
in the hope that the fund necessary to
reproduce it in marble will be raised by
that time. Perhaps it can-if the ad-
mirai will withdraw.
Changes in tho Consular Service.
| A bill will soon be reported to the
| senate by the committee on foreign re-
lations which, II II becomes a law, will
effect a complete reorganization of the
United States consular service and put
It upon an entirely new footing. The
bill, which has been prepared under
the direction Of the state department,
has grown out of many recommended
lions made to the government during
the past ten years or more, and those
who favor the proposed changes MAIN
tain that II will result in a very marked
improvement in our consular service.
The bill provides a system OF examina-
ton for consuls, consuls general and
| commercial agents. but exempts vice
consuls and vice consuls general. depu-
ties and consular agents from it's re-
| quirements. These latter officials are
to be appointed as heretofore under ex-
ecutive regulations. Under the bill
there are to be two consuls general OF
the first class. who are to receive $4,000
each per annum; eight of the second
| class, at $1,000; thirteen Of the third
class. at 5000. and thirteen Of the
| fourth class, at 5000. OF consuls there
are to be thirty-seven Of the first class,
at salaries OF $4,000 each; thirty-five Of
| the second class, at salaries OF $4,000;
sixty Of the third class, at $1,000: forty
Of the fourth class. at $500; thirty Of
the NTH class. at $4,000: fifty OF the
sixth class. at $500. All fees received
by those in the consular service, except
consular agents. are to be paid into the
treasury.
In order to provide for this consular
civil service the bill creates a board of
examiners, consisting Of state depart
ment oficials. who have authority to
fix the scope and character Of the ex-
aminations. Present incumbents Of con-
sulates are to be gradually recalled for
examination within two years, and az
ter passing they are to be readmitted
to the class from which they were re-
called. Consuls and consuls general are
! to be transferred from one post to an
other at the will of the president, but
no naturalized citizen of the United
| States Is to be transferred to the coun-
| try Of his nativity. Persons employed
In the state department for two years
are made eligible for appointment in
the consular service at the same salary
without examination.
| There has been quite an urgent de-
mand from some quarters that the con-
suiar service be put on a more perma-
| nent basis. 1t has been urged that I'M
| der the existing system of appointment
men best qualified for consular work
are not always selected. and that those
| showing special aptitude for the work
are sent to stations where they may
/ be useful only to be removed by
/ change OF administration. No doubt
there have been instances where poor
selections were made. and II Is probably
true that competent men have some
times been replaced by appointees with
1 very inferior qualifications. But TAX
ing our consular service as a whole, II
efficiency OF its work IT is not excelled
by the service OF any other nation In
the world.
AS rule our consuls have been In
telligent, energetic and always ready to
attend TO consular business. They have
shown themselves quick to study local
Z conditions with view to benefiting
( American trade. and in the amount Of
valuable information furnished to their
government and in this way to the
people. the American consular reports
are far ahead OF those published by
any other nation. An instance Of their
zeal In investigating foreign trade mat
tiers is shown In Germany today, where
the people are finding fault with Amer
lean consuls because OF their activity
In looking after markets In the interest
of American manufacturers and export
ers. IT is by no means certain that long
residence abroad win always make our
consuls more alert in looking after their
home trade than they now are; and
while civil service examinations Will
"A.