Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-10
Assistant Secretary Loomis
Resumes His Duties.
TO MAKE BRIEF STAY
WILL RETURN AFTER A VISIT TO
OHIO.
Denies That He Said That Many
Changes Should Be Made In the
Department Personnel.

Mr.. Francis q. LOOMS, assistant secre-
tary of state. resumed his official duties at
the State Department this morning. He has
Just returned from visit to Europe. dur
ing which he took a leading part In the
ceremonies in Paris attending the transfer
Of the remains Of John Paul Jones to the
United States government and also made
an investigation of the business methods of
the United States foreign service with "a
view to its improvement In certain partfcu-
lars. After brief stay In this city Mr..
LOOMS will leave here. probably Saturday
evening. for the purpose of visiting his
home in Ohio. He will remain away about
week. and on his return to this city will
take up his official duties and act as Score
tary Of State until Secretary Root returns
from his visit to Labrador. some time next
month.
Misleading Statements Corrected.
There appeared in one OF the New York
papers yesterday said Assistant Secretary
LOOMS to a Star reporter today. IAN inter
view with me which contained some mac
curate and misleading statements.
Referring to the statement that an at
tempt would be made to improve some
phases of the departmental organization
work. 1 was made to say that this would
undoubtedly involve great many changes
in the personnel of the Department of
State. That statement is entirely inaccu-
rate. I said nothing about changes in the
personnel. but referred only in a general
way to certain necessary changes In the
manner Of administration which would be
necessary I'm order to carry out plan for
securing fuller exchange OF information
of an important character between our rep
resentatives abroad.
Il certainly did not wish 10 suggest there
was any likelihood OF changes In the per-
sonnet of the department or abroad In con-
nectlOn with the matter
In this connection IL affords me pleasure
TO say that / have never been brought into
association with a more painstakfng con-
Scientious and capable body OF men than
are to be found now occupying the leading
places In the Department Of State. hope
the government will continue to have the
benefit OF their services for long period
In the future. and that it Will do what It
ought to have done, in mere Justice. long
ago: that Is. compensate them In an ade-
quate manner for the good work they are
doing for the government.
Methods Need Improvement.
Referring to his Investigations in Europe.
Mr.. Loomis said: Il find that our methods
Of obtaining information have been less sat
fsfactory than those of other governments.
For instance. several OF the foreign offices
are equipped with printing bureaus and
print news sheets that are distributed to le-
cations and consuates The telegraph and
cables are used freely to keep the foreign
offices informed. News relating to the Jap
anese war; for instance. is distributed con-
stantly and fully to the legations in japan.
Russia. England. the United States and
China
=. VIA Efficient Officials. !. .,~ s..
Considering our system. however. the
officials of the United States are as eff
cient as those of any other nation, and 1
believe that improvement Is necessary only
so far as the system IS conceived. The
cost of living does not diminish, and as
most of the consular officers of this gov
eminent live on their salaries, think that
the tenure of Office should be much longer
than 1t Is now. The short tenure and the
removal from office at the discretion OF the
President keeps men out of the service who
might be drawn to it If permanent rewards
were offered as the result of merit The
consular officers should be tested and III
proved worthy and energetic should be pro-
noted Appointments should depend upon
10, Homo cl