New-York tribune., 1905-07-12
OUR FOREIGN SERVICE.
HO1c to Get Consular System ont of
Rat-Saggestion of r. ". Sezcard.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

olI Inc JudlclouS article OF Senator CnaunceF
NJ Depew, which appeared in your last Sunday
Magazine, deals with'a long vexed and still uI
settled problem. He IS quite right in saying
that in our diplomatic representatives of the
highest class, at London, Paris. Berlin and other
great capitals we and ever have been most
fortunate" He is equally right in pointing
out that our consular service and our methods
OF filling ii are deplorably in need of improve
ment.
But in this. as usual, he has his audience
with him" The readers of The Tribune and the
great mass OF intelligent people in the United
States, especially those OF them that have trav-
elled abroad, already know these facts. They
need no persuasion to believe. Neither does the
Executive the Departmental State. The
ones that need to be convinced are his own
sociates in the halls of Congress, with whom
rests the duty Of making the Improvements de-
manded
Every Senator and every member of Congress
has some in his State district who wants
a foreign post. Naturally he applies to mis- rep
resentative at the Capitol to get it for hin-to
go to the White House and the State Department
and move heaven and earth till it is obtained.
Sometimes he is a worthy candidate; oftener he
rs an inexperienced and unframed one, and
casionaly he is entirely unfit II the
Congressman fails get it. the failure is debitec
II,
on the other hand he succeeds in gratifying his
constituents ambition the first evidence Of
gratitude he may receive will be a letter from
the appointee saying he finds the salary alto
gether inadequate for his needs He wishes it
raised, and as he can only hope TO be continued in
office till the advent Of the next administration
he wants the raise" TO be immediate. Mean
while comes a fire in the rear" from other con-
stituents who think they ought to have been
appointed, and intimating that they may hence
forth be regarded as political opponents.
More than thirty years ago I received a call
at the State Department from some Senators III
regard to the Consular Appropriation bill. AS
had been taking part for some time IN the
appointment and supervision Of consuls, they
supposed I knew something about the subject
One of them, a shrewd sensible New-Englander
asked me TO draft an amendment TO the bill that
would cure some of the defects I pointed out
1 drafted one. 1t was very simple. II provided
that consular officers, instead of being tied to
specified posts should be divided into three or
four grades-so that they could be assigned or
transferred promoted-and that appoint
ments should only be to the lowest grade. This
would make a corps of experienced men, ami
mated with desire 10 win higher honors by faith
ful service
And how much more will this plan of yours
Not cent" said I. The consular service is
self-supporting (by the invoice system).
Your appropriations will be the same now.
only, instead Of underpaying and over
paying another, you viii be putting both the
man and the money where they will do the coun-
try the most good
The Senator rubbed his chin refectively
Well, you see" ne said, we in Congress rather
like &c have some influence ourselves in making
these appointments"
But Senator" I(answered don't you see
that your influence or patronage, or whatever
you call il, would be increased rather than
diminished? Every vacancy would mean sew
eral promotions. just in the army and navy.
Instead of gratifying one man. you would be
gratifying several circles of families and friends
and even the lowest grade, that of consular
clerk. would be lifted into Importance because
it would offer to worthy young man the
promise Of an honorable career Half a dozen
men Of tried reputation would be looking to you
as their patron. Your influence would be much
greater then than now"
Good Lord" calculated the Senator, Y don't
want any more of it. They poster my life out
now with their letters and opportunities. Well
we will lay the plan before the committee. 1t
has some business features, and perhaps some
political ones that may be worth thinking
about"
But whether the amendment got as far as a
Senatorial pigeon hole, or only as far the
Senatorial waste basket. never appeared. Ger
tainy il never was enacted into law
Considering our desultory and spasmodic
methods Of appointment, il is only remarkable
that consular service should be as good as
IL is. Thanks TO American adaptability, quick
perception and readiness TO profit by experience,
some excellent cOnsuls have been developed out
Of very unpromising material British Min
lister, who had served in various countries. once
told me that he always surprised 10 see
how readily an unframed American consul would
acquire knowledge OF his duties. and then. after
he mad become the equal Of his colleagues. he
would be suddenly dismissed 10 make room for a
new as ignorant he had been.
Secretary Hay, whose death the whole nation
is deplOring, made many earnest efforts to in
trOduce the plan of promotions for meritorious
consular service When, a year two since
asked him what progress he making he
related, with his usual genial humOr his ex-
periences in trying TO get appropriation for
two consular clerkships that were much needed.
The committee favored II. But he never got the
appropriation though he received from mem
bers OF the committee plenty Of proposals OF
candidates for the two places 'as they
should be created"
Root rendered great service 20 the nation in
sweeping antquated and jangling customs out
Of the War Department He will perform one Of
similar character II he can lift our consular
system of the old and bring II up 10 the
high plane beftting the worlds greafesr Re-
public FREDERICK W. SEWARD
Montrose-on-th Hudson, n Y. July II. 1905.
.fNMENT EO1 hhn