Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-27
OUR PACIFIC TRADE EXPANSION

The Pacific coast states have larger relative inter
est than any other states of the Union in new move
ment aiming to complete reorganization Of the
United States consular system. This movement was
started four Ave years ago. in fact It has lacked
sufficient momentum to make headway in congress. It
is revived by the National Business league of Chi
in a memorial addressed to President Roosevelt
A bill introduced by Senator Lodge in 1900, which
has been Hanging fire" in congress since meets
the requirement Of the Chicago business men and those
of all other cities that have been heard from on the
subject The chief features Of the Lodge bill make
provision for the substitution of salaries for fees in
payment of all consular service Second adoption Of the
merit system in appointments and promotions tenure
of office TO continue only during efficiency and conduct
of the highest grade Third complete Americanzation
Of the consular service also is required that CON
suls be familiar with either the French German
Spanish language" an obvious necessity in a foreign
country.
The San Francisco board of trade recognizing the
Importance of the provisions of the Lodge BILL indorsed
1t strongly directly after its introduction in the
Similar organizations in all the other leading cities of
the United States have taken like action The subject
is urged aresh because of the growing for
reform in matter that is vital to American trade in
terests abroad
In address delivered before the Civil Service
Reform league Washington the needed points Of
reform in the consular service succncty stated
by james T. Du Bois of the department of state. He
sad speaking of the vices Of the present system they
its perncous fee system its inadequate and badly
adjusted salaries its uncertain tenure of Office and
above ALL the startling number of foreigners who hold
positions in the service"
Startling indeed is the statement when substantiated
by the figures submitted by Mr. Du Bois taken from
the official records of the state department Here
of them To-day 567 of foreign birth and for
eign citizenship holding places in the American
consular service, so cent of whom have sympa
thy with institutions and policies, and 70 per
of whom, from natural condition of things, op-
posed the expansion of American trade Today 200
foreigners occupy consular agencies, out of total
of $685. and 12O foreigners occupy consular cerkshps
out Of total of $780, In Germany 60 per cent of
vice and deputy consuships in the hands of for
egners while in the British empire have ia vice
and deputy consus eghythree of whom belong to all
kinds of nationalities except own.
The remedy for this glarng defect is readily per-
ceived. First every American consul should be
American citizen imbued with the Yankee ambition to
push the interests of his country the front n
and out OF season" Second, he should have ade-
quate fixed salary, and all fees received by him should
to the United States treasury Third, he should not
feel that he will be summary kicked out of his position
change occurs in the political complexion of the ad
mnistration
AS remarked at the outset this question of reorgani
zation of the consular service is peculiarly important
the Pacific states because the field for Ameri
industrial enterprise in countries within reach of
ports is comparatively Much of the ex-
pected in competition with foreign nations in the
orient and in the southern republics bordering the
cfc will depend upon the efficiency of the American
consuls