The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-02-23
HONOLULU IS
HEARD FROM
Chamber of Commerce
Supports Consular
Reform Bill.

1.-THE Honolulu Chamber of Commerce
hereby indorses and approves the
Lodge bill or other bills whose object
is the reorganization of the consular
service of the United States, and favors
early action thereon, believing that the
passage of said bills will materially as
sist in the development of the foreign
trade of this country"
In the Chicago Evening Post of Feb
ruary 1 appears symposium of en-
.tlorsements by commercial and indus
campaign for consular reform being
carried on by the National Business
League. The paragraph quoted above
is the contribution of our Chamber of
Commerce 1t is amidst the company of
the MASSACHUSETTS State Board of
Trade, the Detroit Board of Commerce,
the Manufacturers and Producers AS
ISOLATION of California, the Philadel-
phia Board of Trade, the Northwest
Fruit Growers Association, the Bati-
more Chamber of Commerce and the
Chicago Board of Trade.
The Baltimoreans passed resolution
impressing upon Congress the neces-
sity of action this session by the pas
sage of the Lodge, Adams or u similar
bill, providing for suitable compensa-
ton, proper classification with chance
for promotion, permanency of tenure
and provision for inspection; also rec
ommends that all fees collected be paid
to the treasury, and in lieu thereof
government employees to receive a sala-
ry commensurate with their ability and
position
The Massachusetts body reaffirms the
position it took by resolution on March
s, 1902, and, in urging upon the rep
resentatives of that State in Congress
the early consideration of pending
measures seeking the end, presents the
following views:
THE personnel of our representatives
abroad is not so much d subject of
criticism as is the frequent lack of fit
ness and unfamiliarty of business
methods, which is necessary incident
of our present unbusinesslike system of
selection.
"A grasp of business methods and the
ability to judge intricate business
problems: the ability to gather valuable
material and return exact and compre
hensive business information; to under
stand the rules and regulations of the
marine service; to advance CONNER
'cial relations and to retain those regu-
lations when secured; that he have
familiarity with the history and Ian
guage of the country to which he is
assigned and be well grounded in the
political, industrial and commercial his
tory of his own country are necessary
requisites of an ideal consul.
ITO obtain the best material, the
salaries should be fixed, and not de-
pendent upon fees; selections should be
than political influence; promotion
should be made from class to class as
an incentive to better work and as a
reward for faithful service; the tenure
should continue during efficient service,
and not be dependent upon the change
of an administration at home.
This can be brought about only
through a complete reorganization of
the service; the establishment of COM
petitive examination; and the retention
in the service of tried officials whose
faithful work should render their SER
vices more and more valuable with each
succeeding year."