The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-12

II
as to the improvement of the
~ consular service of the United
States were offered before the
house foreign affairs committee recent
ly by Hon. James r. Du Bois, for four
years consul-general of the United
states at st. Gall, Switzerland. AT the
committees request, these have since
been printed in pamphlet form and are
now available for all who take an in
terest in this important subject.
Mr.. Du Bois agrees with most other
students of this question that the very
first step necessary to the highest de-
velopment of our consular service is to
do away With the present fee system of
paying American consular agents and
put all responsible consular representa-
tives of our government upon an ade-
quate salary basis. There are now 2SS
principal consular offices and the sal
aries paid would not, without fees add
ed, maintain 20 per cent. of their occu-
pants without recourse to their private
means. Even with fees added there are
few of them that really pay. What is
worse, if possible, is the fact that there
are 567 vice consuships. consular agen-
cies and clerkships now held by for
eigners, who naturally are not going far
out of their way TO advance American
commercial interests at the expense of
the commercial interests of their own
countries. Mr.. Du Bos contends, very
properly. that if this service which
these foreigners do is necessary at all it
should be done by American citizens.
Then of course, the next thing to do
is to provide that the American con-
sular officer who shows ability, adapta-
bilty and good results shall be retained
in the service and promoted as rapidly
as possible. At present the custom is
to remove him like an outcast at the
first change in an administration. On
this subject Mr. Du Bois, who is not a
civil service idealist by any means, but
Il man of practical experience, says:
"These men render the state a real SER
vice. The state knows it and the state
ought not, in the mad push for place,
to forget it. If there be an unworthy
in who ought to be out, and q worthy
out who ought to be in, frame law
which will help to dispose of the incap-
ables and take care of the capabes. 1t
is easy to separate the consular drones
from the consular bees The records of
the consulates, the files of the depart
ment. and the inspections of the cour-
ageous and able consuls-general will
readily determine these facts. When
once determined, make it imperative
that they be promptly acted upon for
the good of the service"
The argument used by Mr. Du Bois
to prove that higher pay with insistence
upon good service would be econom-
ical for the government in the end is
somewhat personal but certainly un-
answerabe After showing that the
total expense of the consular service as
late as 1899 was only a little over ST.
O00,OOO he calls attention to the fact
that in one consular district in that
year a certain official by his vigilance
saved for his government, by reducing
undervaluations, more than 81 600 600
We do not think it detracts from the
force of this illustration, and it certains
ly adds Il spice of local interest. to know
that the official here referred to was
Mr. Du Bois himself.
The statement of Mr.. Du Bois is by
all odds the most detailed and lucid
that we have seen. 1t goes to the heart
of every problem raised IN the PROPOSE
tion to reorsanize ana improve the con-
sular service. 1t is to be hoped that
congress will not longer delay taking
forward steps in this direction: though
We grieve TO say that the present out
look is not favorable.