New-York tribune., 1901-03-24
BCSTNESS ABILITY SHOULD WEIGH
HEAVILY IN CHOOSING
A CONSUL.
BY FREDERIC EMORY.

very IoFclDlN 10 ms phase of consular activity
should have much greater weight from other points
of view. SO far my experience goes. Colonel
DENLY seems 10 have indicated the chief defects of
the service and TO have suggested a very simple
remedy-that is to say. stability of tenure. II does
not seem 10 that We are so much concerned as
10 how this stability shall be secured-whether by
legislative enactment by the adoption of ad-
rnnistrative policy. So far. there has not been
much progress toward obtaining action by Con-
gress. Possibly this is due, 10 a considerable
tent 10 the variety Of remedies which have been
proposed and 10 the lack of agreement among the
advocates Of reform upon simple and unob-
iectionable plan. II is unfortunately true think.
that many Of those who have been most prominent
in urging reform OF the consular service have relied
more upon theory than upon actual fact and have
gone before committees of Congress with state
ments which were found TO he misleading or Of a
character 10 excite unnecessary prejudice.
IT'S THE PUBLIC's BUSINESS.
Administrative action has been taken from time
"a time with the view to the Improvement Of the
service but a policy to definite and continuous
must necessarily be supported by an influential
rodv Of public opinion Now that the United
States has established itself formidable COM
pettor IN the markets of the world, il may be as
slroed that our manufacturing and exporting in
-erests will exert themselves to support the effort
% get good consuis and keep them in office. ooca
sionaly il has happened that consular officers
have been appointed upon the recommendation OF
,-ade interests When such appointees have actu-
sny had business experience they have pro'ea 10
he zalusbl In my judgment. 1t is not the oeslre
~ ar,, -holghtful official to remove capable con-
.sul The pressure usually comes from without ana
g the commercial interests will exert themselves
with their political representatives II Is most Aes
thar The incentive removals will he largeH
modified
r7anence Of tenure that consular officers be CHOSEN
upon examination by competent boards Choouol-
edlv II is desirable that the educational fitness OF
but
method Of appointment, the important thing IL
seems 70 me, is practical training, and not only
should consul who shows himself 10 oe able ana
willing 10 profit by experience in Office be retained
but in choosing consuls previous experience IN ous
ness should be made a weighty factor. speak
merely from my knowledge OF the work or the
consular service il has been constituted In the
past am full sympathy with the recent move
ment IN the universities and colleges Tor specia!
schools Of commerce having as one or their chleI
objects the education Of young men for the con-
sular service but there to be some danger in
relying TOO much upon academic qualifications
MORE THAN SCHOLARSHIP NEEDED.
the chief business Of the consular service is 10
promote American industry and trade. 1t may be
doubted whether men who have had merely scho-
lasic prepar ration viii prove the efficient in
struments In point Of fact the best opinion abroad
seems now 10 be inclined 10 regard the American
consular service with all its alleged or actual de-
fects as being much superior TO any Of the Euro
pean systems in the practical work Of promoting
rade Strange as il may seem, this verdict applies
sot only to what may be termed the business
activity of our consuls. but 10 their literary work
IN making reports upon wide range Of industrial
and commercial subjects Of course by literary
work do not mean excellence Of style or fastidi
ousness in the choice OF words, but the ability 10
state facts in the simplest and most Instructive
manner.
The United States consular service may be said
10 be composed Of typical, everyday Americans
Some Of them have been newspaper men. some
have been active in politics in business. and all
~ them have rubbed about in the world and have
the American faculty of acquiring new ideas and
making the promptest use OF them But few OF
them are literary men L is exaggeration TO say
that their reports have become very generally the
subject Of emulation, and 10 certain extent. Of
imitation by countries like Great Britain and Ger
many which had previously attached the greatest
importance 10 scholastic attainments. Without wish
ine 10 claim that the American consular service in
its commercial work a model one, or that 1t is
incapable Of substantial improvement. cannot out
think that what II has accomplished suggests the
conclusion that, in any system 10 be devised Tor
raising the general standard. great weight should
be given 70 business experience and personal Mt
ness
Granting This. We come back to Colonel Denby's
main proposition which is that the chief desid-
eratum IS the retention OF good men In office Com
bine with academic examination insistence upon
practical adaptability, which presupposes the lars
est liberty Of choice by the appointing power among
those who may have passed the eAahnlIaIOi' anu
with permanence OF tenure IL seems 10 me, me
ton II the business interests OF the country wouo
support some such plan il would probably MAKE
more headwaY than have some of the more elap-
orate schemes OF reform
THE SERVICE HAS IMPROVED
OF interest in this connection TO note that IN
his letter OF January 26 last. transmitting the an
nual reports of the consular officers 70 the Presi-
dent. the Secretary Of State said that while
variety Of propositions have under discussion
for The Improvement OF the consular service, the
service has 10 a very considerable extent. i'm
proved itself and Is winning frequent expressions
~ conmendation from business interests which
have received substantial aid not only from the
published reports. but also from the individual
efforts of consular officers TO meet the growing re-
Quirements OF Americas industry and enterprise.
The practical character OF -le commercial intorma-
uon obtained by cOnsulS and the celerlty win
which il is given the public continue to excite
lhe emulation OF foreign governments. ana during
the last year steps have been taken by both Great
britain and Germany 10 engraft these features OF
OUT consular work upon :heir consular systems
me president, In transmitting ttle SecTeIdig ; ie,-
ef and the accompanying reports 10 congress- sald;
Fhe advance in the general efficiency OF our con-
sniar service In promoting trade, which was noted
N my message Of March ]. 1890 transmitting the
The promptitude with which the reports OF the
consuls printed and distributed: the generous
recognition which Is being increasingly accorded
by business interests 10 the practical value OF
thelr efforts for enlarging trade and the continued
testimony OF competent foreign authorities TO the
general superiority Of their commercial work, have
splar corps whole, and experience in the dis
ciency."
mr.