The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-04
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT WILL Ap-
PLY CIVIL SERVICE METHODS
IN SELECTING @eoNsULs
POLITICAL PULLS WON'T &c
Representatives of the United States
to Be Chosen by Competitive
Examinations in the
Near Future
PROMOTIONS FOR MERIT ONLY
GLOBE WASHINGTON BUREAU,
Post building. Room ~.

Post building, Room 40,
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Nov. 3.-For
nifty years, moresor less, reformers have
been discussing ways and means for re-
forming the consular service of this col,n-
try Members of congress have been
trying to find some way to apply merit
tests and standards of efficiency to this
great branch of the government, but so
far they have failed. Men like Congress
man Robert r. Hit, chairman OF the
foreign relations committee, have seen
SO many failures that they have become
cynical, and have ceased to try, or to
care very much about it.. The system of
pulls and politics is regarded by them as
one of the things which has become per-
manent
But this is to be attacked by President
Roosevelt. The consular body is to have
a dose of civil service An eminent
statesman once propounded the financial
truth in regard to specie payments that
The way to resume is to resume. = So
Roosevelt has learned that the way to
reform is to reform. He believes in do
ing things, rather than discussing ways
and means for doing them. And that
will be his method of introducing the
merit system in the consular service.
An executive order may be expected
before very long announcing and pre-
scribing a system of competitive exam
nations for consular appointees. Thus,
at one fell Swoop, the system of pulls
and politics is to be done away with in
the choice of new consuls. The United
States has about forty consul generals,
and about 2SO consuls and commercial
agents.
In 1895 Grover Cleveland issued an eX-
ecutive order which was supposed to put
the service on merit basis. 1t author
lied the secretary of state to appoint an
examining board of three persons to pass
on the qualifications of candidates But
the examination was not made compui-
sorry, nor was it competitive. 1t never
has been more than the shallowest pre-
tense The candidate with proper poiti-
cal credentials never has had any diff
Guilty in passing the alleged examination.
President Roosevelt intends to make
this examination for admission to the
service the real thing. Later he Will
consider an extension of the same sys-
tenn to the servieey so that promotions
may be made on the merit basis also.
New Cabinet officer.
It's part of the presidents plan 70
place the consular bureau under the new
department of commerce which is to De
created by Senator Nelson's bill. This
proiect has been indorsed by the presi-
dent and it is expected that congress Will
take early action By next summer
secretary of commerce will have been
appointed, and the new department will
be in working order. 1t will be neces-
sary to divide the Consular business, that
which is diplomatic in its character be-
inc referred to the state department. and
that which is commerc:al-as is the bulk
of it-going to the head of the depart
ment of commerce.
Many of the men who get into the con-
sular service under the present system
are of a character to bring the United
States into disrepute. A typical lncldent
occurred about a year ago, when the Bel
gian government declined to recognize Il
man who had been sent to that country
to one of the subordinate stations. 1t ap.
peared that the consul was an American
ized Belgian. He had left his native
country about dozen years previously,
after serving term in prison. Coming
to New York he had taken out naturali-
cation papers and had worked into the
politics of the Tom Platt organization.
In reward for his political services he
was indorsed by Senator Platt for this
consularship, and went back to the scene