The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-23
OUR CONSULAR SERVICE.
The Merit system Debated by CO.
Iurnbiun Law students.

The Columbian University Law School
Debating Society at is regular weekly
meetipg held at Jurisprudence Hail last
night discussed the question, Resolved,
that appointments TO the consular ser
vice of the United States should be made
by competitive examination The afiirma-
tive of the question was supported by e.
w Frick. Luther NJ. Walter, and J. Il.
Hawley, while the negative was uph I'D
by J. +. Bethune, G. r. Swift, and T. c.
Clendenng. j. ". Cox acted as critic,
and the judges were Il. W. Vincent.
George Pines. and Z. H. Lloyd. The de-
cision, which was rendered on originality
OF thought, subject matter of speech. and
manner Of presentation, was awarded to
the negative, with first honors to r c.
CIrndening and second honors to Luther
II. Walter
The first speaker for the affirmative. r.
". Trick. outlined the contention Of his
side that the United States wanted the
best qualified men to fiji the responsible
positions as consuls abroad. He argued
that political influence prevented this
country from securing the services Of its
best men for these posts, and that COM
petitive examinations should be free from
political influence. and that politics should
Office. Mr. Frick contendcd that the du-
ties of consuls were entirely nOn-partisau
and for the welfare of all parties ire
spective OF politics.
J. F. Bethune. the first speaker for the
negative. replied that the cousuls should
be in political sympathy with the Admin
istration. This, he said. was essential TO
the successful discharge of his duties. aud
would cause no dlscord with his supcrIors
He supported his argument by asserting
that as our cousuls were underpaid the
United States could not expect To secure
the services of highly educated men, and
that was not so much needed as COM
mon sense He also contcndcd that the
history of expansion of American trade
abroad showed that the present system
was satisfactory.
Luther NJ. Walter, for the affirmative,
in answer 1" the argument offered by the
negative, said that IT had always been
the rule to select practical. INSCRIPTIONS
politicians for important foreign posts.
He advocated examinations ia languages
customs. and laws of the land TO which
the official was assigned. This. he said.
would do away with the glaring errors
of the practice in vogue, that of chang
ing the ConsulS whenever the Admins
tration changes. Mr.. Walter claimed that
the reports of the consuls under the pres
eni system viii lee kept in harmony with
the policy of the Administration, without
any regard to truth and reliability.
G.. X, Swift. for the negative cOnteudcd
that England's consular service was the
best and that its incumbents were not
appointed on the competitive exaIniua-
tiOn system. He said that personal aD-
pearance OF the incumbent had "a great
deal to do with the impression he would
be likely to make upon the people to
whom he Is accredited.
j. IL. Hawley, the last speaker for the
affirmative. supported the contentious OF
his colleagues. while 4. c. Clendening,
the last speaker for the negative, made a
very strong argument in favor Of his
side.