The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-06


welt and IL is to be earnestly hoped that
there Is foundation for the truth of this
report and that the outcome may be
radical change I'm the manner which our
system is carried Oh at the present Those
who are familiar, more or less. with this
branch OF our civil service. have. since
its organization. realized fully that it
never has been, and decidedly is not at
the present what II should be, for as
far AZ the mode OF appointments, tenure
OF Office, salary. ct ceters, are concerned.
there Is little doubt that our country has
one Of the weakest OF consular systems
In comparison with the same branch
OF other nations, even many Of the small
~ ones, our system shows It's imperfec-
tions I'm various points, and the sooner
our government makes material change
of what can but be clearly seen IL badly
arranged. just SO soon will the United
States consular system compare favor
ably with other countries abroad and
in our land. Probably the one redeenling
feature OF our consular seFF+eeT-aS H. eS--
lists lies in it's personnel-ths men Who
hold the various posts-and with them
rests the credit Of giving favorable out
ward appearance 10 a branch which in
its other appointments is lamentably
weak
IL can be truthfully said that II Is more
by good luck than good management that
our posts abroad are filled by such high
class officers, and tho people OF the
United States and our commercial men
may congratulate themselves that IL is
80. Whether this can or will always be-
that ls the question.
A number Of prominent men have criti-
ciscd our service severely and spoken of
them as "our discrediiable representa-
tiyes in foreign lands" and going as far
as To say that accurate knowledge. in
telligence. hroadmindness and c0mpli-
ance with customs OF the part
OF our consular service were as
much to be found in that consular service
as are grace and elegance on the part OF
bull i'm CHINA shop Such criticisms
are made without true knowledge OF the
exact conditions and are tainted with
prejudice.
Like any other body OF men there are,
doubtless some who are untitled TO repre-
sent our country i'm a proper manner
but taken as "a whole the personnel Of our
consular service mas compared and does
compare in intelligence and good breed
ing with any other country. As 10 the
intelligence OF our representatives in the
service one has but 10 consider the rapid
advances we have made I'm the CONNER
cial world arr we not daily forging ahead
with eyes NJ the world upon Ms and upon
whom does the welfare Of our foreign
interests depend Truly upon con-
sular officers,
Yet let II be understood that our ser
vice IL far from perfect and while its per-
sonnel Is of the average this even might
he brought to higher grade OF perfec-
tion were We TO have a permanent ser
yice-one I'm which our representatives
might grow. expand. making life study
OF all the various points, be promoted sc-
cording 10 their merits and eventually
have q service where the men I'm IL would
be there by merit alone and hold posts as
TO their knowledge and worth.
We want a service where the American
whose talents 1T him for a consular or
diplomatic career can enter such service
with the idea Of STAYING there, making 1t
a life work. and not with the knowlesiye
that sooner or later he is 10 be turned
down and out with the change of an ad-
as Is the case today. The in
security of tenure OF office is one of the
great drawbacks and obstacles that nat
urally discourage many bright men from
making a study and embracing the con-
su!sr service as profession. With how
much more heart would man enter its
ranks. strive 10 rise I'm its work were
ne sure that his efforts were 10 he noticed
and appreciated materially and how long
wotild Il he before we would have hodv
% n3~n with IN accurate knoN,cdss o.
everything in connection with the duties
surrounding q consular position.
As IL exists at the present man is ap-
pointed to post and while he may have
land the majority of them have keen
business instincts and all the necessary
qualifications it takes him more or less
time 60 educate himself TO the duties of
his office aud just at that point perhaps
here he finds himself conversant fully
with all matters pertaining 10 his position
the administration changes, out he goes
10 make q place for new man who in
iura has 10 become familiar with the du-
ties.
Another great wback and one that is
q bette noir" TO every officer i'm the SER
vice is the miserable compensation that
pur cousuls receive and IN many cases the
United States looses good men by this
false economy. Ia nearly every instance
were ~ not for some private income our
-orlSuis wutrfd find IL ffot-orrft- tnfpa%~fhtv
TO live i'm manner that is befittins 10 a
of the United States. Our
country expects Its representatives 10
lrhold the dignity Of their country and 10
10 this on the mere pittsnce thai is paid
hem, which especially if the consul has
} family, is utterly impossible.
The calls for his funds are many. As
10 pay travelling expenses for them all.
yet the government only allows enough
FOR his own personal expenses and IN
many instances this amount does not
meet the demands. For example, there is
post IN southern Europe that takes ~
east Is DAYS TO reach from New York a
'onsul's transportation is based on his sal
sry i'm ratio 10 the time taken in transit.
rhe above mentioned post pays si000.per
snnum labout ss3 per month"; and II IL
akes him ~ days 10 reach there he is en-
titled 20 one half n months salary of
bout SO This amount will pay but about
,ne-half OF what II costs him 20 reach his
post and tho balance must come out of
ns own private resources.
Then there are the demands FOR house
-ent which other governments ALLOW their
but which the United
states makes no allowance for. and in
some cases our consulS are not even al
owed office rent. Just think Of itl A rer-
-esentstive Of the United ststes In for
ian city and not one cent allowed him
Tor n place I'm which 10 transact govern
mental business and yet he is carefully
instructed 10 uphold the dignity Of his
IN the land TO which he is sc-
'redited
To think Of a man and especially one
With = family. meeting his travelling cx-
o4