Evening star., 1902-01-06
Consular Reform,
desc, 0,js6&13

| To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
The national committee on consular reor-
| ganization, with Harry A. Garfield of Cleye-
| land, Ohio, president. which was organized
| in Washington. December IL, at a meeting
| Of representative business men from differ
| ent parts of the United States, is the re-
| suit of efforts that have been put forth for
| several years by few workers to bring
about betterment of the consular service.
| but had failed to meet the support of Con-
gress that the subject warranted.
Although bill was introduced in 1894
| by Senator Morgan, another last year Q9oO
| by Senator Lodge. also Mr.. Adams, these
| bills died through inertia on the part of
members Of Congress.
| The present system is virtually the same
as inaugurated In 1866, although some mod
| ifications have been made since, notably in
1895. but many evils remain uncorrected.
With the development of this country dur
! ing the last decade. the mercantile interests
demand that men of education, ability and
| integrity be appointed. and such salaries
paid that will enable the government to
secure men who win uphold the dignity of
! the United States and honor Of the flag
| in whatever part of the world they may be
placed
To help this the committee have formu-
| lated a bill, which is intended to put the
| SeINiCt oH IHole puSlIeSSihe OASIS. III l2
urged that everyone must recognize that
no mercantile or manufacturing concern can
get good results If they continually change
| their servants, and there is no incentive to
| good work. without stability of tenure or
chance Of promotion: and men of brains
cannot be secured who will leave friends
and country on 4 stipend barely sufficient
| to afford a living. 1t is not true economy,
and politics should not enter into it.
The importance OF the consular service
| has been brought before Congress in the
past by. Presidents Washington, Adams.
jackson. Polk, Pierce. Buchanan. Lincoln.
Johnson, Grant, Hayes. Arthur, Cleveland
Harrison, Mckinley, and now by Roosevelt: :
| and such practical men as Rockhill, Bige-
low, Stahel, Mosby. Belmont. Schuyler,
| DENLY, Washburn. Truax and others have
| emphasized in their. writings the necessity
| of improvement.
| The country recognizes the value of the
consular reports and the ability of some
| who send them. but they are few in com
parison with the number OF our representa-
| tives.
We are seeking new markets for our pre-
ducts and manufactures. and good men are
| as essential at points where trade is unde-
| veloped as where Ii Is established
| In December, 1873. Andrew jackson said:
Il deem tt proper to recommend to Your
notice the revision Of our consular service.
| This has become an important branch of
the public service inasmuch as ii is ntf-
mately connected with the preservation of
our national, character abroad, with the
interest of our citizens in foreign countries
| with the regulation and care of our COM
/ merce, and with the protection of our sea
/ men" -s,rN
If that was true in 1893 II is of more i'm
portaRce in 1902. President Harrison well
said In 1890. As the scope of operations ex-
| pand, increased provision must be made to
keep ap the essential standard Of seffi-
cheney.
To- quote the words of Benjamin Franklin
of over 100 years ago: Why should not
! the law of nations go on improving; ages
have interyened between its several stems
but as knowledge of late increases rapidly,
why should not the steps be quickened?''
1t remains with the country at large to
see that their representatives in Congress
4 appreciate the necessity of action this ses-
sion, Irrespective of their political creed
J. c. ".