The Globe-republican., 1905-11-16
DIPLOMACY MADE A CAREER.
For Positions Of $1,000 Year and Up
wards, knowledge OF One Modern
Language Besides English is Re-
quired--WiII Encourage Fittest.

the government service so as to make
them more valuable than they now are
to the business interests of the coun-
try, the president, at the instance Of
Secretary Root, announced two new
rules. The first Of these has not yet
taken concrete form, but its sub
stance, as made public, was that here
after any applicant for appointment as
secretary Of embassy or legation must
possess knowledge Of at least one
other language than English, and must
be otherwise examined as to his
competency. This rule is closely in
line with the English practice and in
Its development will involve the pro-
motion Of the bright young men in
the diplomatic service in the degree
that they justify 1t by hard study fit
ting them for new posts.
The order as to the consular SER
vice amends the existing rule which
requires the examination Of such con-
sular officers as are limited in com.
pensation to the maximum Of $4,000
per annum, and minimum of $1,000.
In President Cleveland's admits
tration an effort was made to examine
all applicants for consular positions,
but this was soon abandoned, and the
Limitation now in vogue was adopted.
The purpose of the president and
Secretary Root is to take the consular
service away from political prefer
ment and to make promotion as well
as appointment dependent upon abso-
lutte merit. These things are aimed
at the following executive order:
with a view to further Increasing
the efficiency of the consular service
by extending the method now en-
ployed for ascertaining the qualifica-
lions possessed by candidates for ap-
opintment in that service:
ut is hereby ordered that the execu-
tive order of September 20, 1895, in
regard to examinations for the con-
sular service, be and it is hereby
amended and extended to include all
consulates generals, consulates, COM
mercial agencies and consular agri-
cies, the annual compensation Of
which is not less than $1,000. Said
order therefore will read as amended
as follows:
ut being Of great Importance that
the consular officers of the United
States shall possess the proper qualifi-
cations for their respective positions,
to be ascertained either through sat
isfactory record of previous actual
service under the department of state,
or through an appropriate examina-
ton.
1t is hereby ordered that any va
cancy in a consulate-general, con-
sulate, commercial or consular agency
now or hereafter existing, the salary
of which is not less than 81 900, or the
compensation Of which, If derived
from official fees, exclusive Of no.
tarial and other unofficial receipts,
does not fall below $1,000, shall be
filled by a transfer or promotion from
some other position under the depart
ment Of state of a character tending
to qualify the incumbent for the posi-
Ition to be filled; or by appointment of
"a person not under the department of
state, but having previously served
thereunder to its satisfaction in ca
pacity tending to qualify him for the
position to be filed; or by the appoint
ment Of a person who, having furnish
ed satisfactory evidence of character,
responsibility and capacity, and being
thereupon selected by the president
for examination, is found upon such
examination to be qualified for the po-
sition.
For the purpose of this order, no
torial and unofficial fees shall not be
regarded, but the compensation of an
Office shall be ascertained, If the office
is salaried, by reference to the last
preceding appropriation act, and If the
office is not salaried, by reference to
the returns of official fees for the last
preceding fiscal year.
"The examination hereinbefore pro-
yided for shall be by a board Of three
persons designated by the secretary Of
state, who shall also prescribe the
subjects to which such examinations
shall relate, and the general mode of
conducting the same by the board.
"A vacancy in consulate will be
filed at discretion only when a suit
able appointment cannot be made in
any of the modes indicated in the Sec
ond paragraph of this order.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
1.-THE White House, November 10,
1905"
Appointed Apostolic Delegate.