Arizona republican., 1903-01-23

nally fixed upon the expectation that the incumbents would have the benefit cf certain amount of fees to make up what was lacking for necessary ex- penses, but they were all based upon the cost Of living half a century ago, when a dollar would go two or three times as far as now. Certain consul ates which were of importance at that 1 time have since lost their consequence, while other posts which were then in- l significant now have the largest share 1 of the business and require first class ability and a considerable allowance ! for their maintenance.
 The development of the consular ser vice has not kept pace with the chang ! ing currents and conditions of irterna- tional trade, but the service has been 1 allowed to drift from year to year. and has been used as an asylum for broken down politicians as a. means of re- warGinG political activity and partisan ship and for the convenience of persons of influence who desire to live abroad for social or family reasons.
 The new bill divides the consuls into six classes, graded according to the importance Of their posts, Their sal aries correspond, the lowest being S1.SO0 and the highest S10OOO. Appointments can only be made by competitive cx- animation to the lowest grade; vacan- cies in the upper grades are to be filled by promotion and for merit and gen eral efficiency, and no consul can be removed except for good cause.
 high authority upon the subject, who is a consul of superior intelligence, learning and experience, has prepared paper for the information of those interested in consular reform, in which he says
 The productive capacity of the United States has now reached a point at which there is demanded d steady. systematic development of export com merce as an outlet for the surplus products of agriculture and manufac-. tUre. In this development a properly organized trained and managed consu- lar corps can and should render service of inestimable value. The duties re- quired of United States consul who shall meet and utilize the full measure of his responsibilities and opportunities are most various, and often more diff cult than those required of the consuls Of any other nation, few or none of whom are charged with the laborious function of aUthenticating invoices of goods designed for importation, with the market values of which our con suls should be practically familiar. Besides discovering and reporting every opportunity in his district for the extension of American export trade, he should keep a watchful eye upon the industries of his district, describe clearly and cOncisely important i'm provements and inventions which may be of value to his cOuntrymen, and re- port promptly whatever is Of interest dn current statistics and events
 'High-class service, the more ad- vanced, original work of a prominent consulate, requires not only experience but natural aptitude: the trained dis cernment that recognizes promptly and accurately any important fact or event. and, above all, industry, the conscientious patriotic conception Of
 
 faithful at his post and work-qualities of temperament and character, the presence or absence of which no formal examinatiOn, however useful in other respects, can with certainty reveal"
 Our expert explains that "the duties of an American consulate. when faith fully performed, are quite sufficient to occupy the full time and energies of slV1 bon IL ence has amply taught that whoever seeks and obtains an appointment with any selfish ulterior motive will in the end treat his official functions as sec ondary, and give his best efforts to his personal comfort and affairs.
 What the service really needs Is q thorough and fundamental reorganiza- ton upon the lines laid down in the measure TOW before the senate. While perhaps that is not perfect, yet it em- bodies the essential principles of CD careful selection of candidates for the service. CD their appointment to subov- dinate grades and progressive advance ment. in accordance with the duration of service and demons trated efficiency, (3) security from removal except for misconduct or incapabality and the consequent possibility of continuity of service in the same country. after a consular officer shall have thoroughly mastered it's language. industries and commercial conditions capacities and requirements.
 "Consuls general should be chosen only from consuls of mature experience in the service who have evinced high ability, industry and patriotic devotion to duty. A practical knowledge of at least one foreign language should be an essential condition to appointment to any grade in the service. and no man should ever be sent to a German, French. Italian. Spanish or Portuguese consulate who is incapable of reading and speaking the language of the coun- trv to which he is assigned
 Tn the selection of candidates due consideration should be paid to busi- ness experience and ability. An Amer ican consul is required by his duties to be not only linguist, but a man who