The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-05

been ordered. II is confidently believed
that by the middle or tho approaching
year a sufficient proportion OF this plant
Will have been installed 10 enable us to
resume the work OF excavation on n large
scale.
What Is needed now and without delay
is an appropriation by the congress 20
meet the current and accruing expenses
OF the commission. The lrst appropriation
ot 10000 900. out OF the SiS5. GOO. 900 au-
thorized by the Spooner act. was made
three years ago. IL Is nearly exhausted.
There is barely enough OF IL remaining
to carry the commission 10 the end OF
the year. Unless the congress shall APP
propriate before that time all work must
cease. To arrest progress for any length
~ time now. when matters are advancing
so satisfa ctorily would be deplorable.
There viii be no money with which 10
meet payroll obligations and none with
which TO meet bills coming due for ma
terisl and supplies; and there viii be de-
moralization OF the forces. hero and
on the isthmus. now working so har-
moniously and effectively. and II there ~
delay in granting an emergency sppro-
priation Estimates OF the amount neces-
ssry Will be found In the accompanying
reports OF the secretary OF war and the
! commission.
STATE DEPARTMENT.
I recommend more adequate provision
| than has been made heretofore for the
work Of the department. OF state. Within
q few years there has been n very great
| Increase I'm the amount and Importance
! OF tho work TO be done by that depart
ment. both In Washington and abroad.
| This has been caused by tho great in
crease OF our foreign trade. the Increase
| OF wealth among our people, which on
H. 4l.<.sa
heretofore; tho increase OF American cap
ital which is seeking investment in foreign
| countries, and the growth OF our power
and weight in the councils OF the civilized
world. There has been no corresponding
increase OF facilities for doing the work
afforded to the department having charge
OF our foreign relations.
| Neither at home nor abroad is there
| sufficient working force to do the businss
properly. In many respects the system
| which was adequate to the work OF Is, or
even ton. years ago. Is inadequate now,
| and should be changed. Our consular
| force should be classified and appoint
ments should be made TO the several
classes. with authority to the executive
to assign the members OF each class tn
duty at such posts as the interests OF the
| service require instead OF the appoint
| nents being made az at present TO spcci-
fed posts. There should be an adequate
| inspection service, 80 that the department
| may be asole to inform itself how the busi-
| ness OF each consulate Is being done. in
| stead OF depending upon casual private
| information or rlmor. The fee system
1 should be entirely abolished and a due
| equivalent made in salary to the Officers
| who now eke out their subsistence by
means of fees. Sufficient provision should
| be made for a clerical force In every con-
sulate. composed entirely OF Americans.
| instead OF the insufficient provision now
| made, which compels the employment or
great numbers OF citizens of foreign coun-
| tries whose services can he obtained for
| less money.
At a large part OF our consulates the
office quarters and the clerical force are
| INADEQUATE TO the performance OF the
onerous duties imposed by the recent pro-
| visions OF our immigration laws as wei
as by our increasing trade. In many parts
| OF the world the lack OF suitable quarters
| for our embassies. legations. and consul
| lates detracts from the respect In which
our officers ought to be held, and serious
ly inlpairs their weight and influence.
| Suitable provision should be made for
the expeIse of keeping our diplomatic
officers more fully Informed OF what is
| being done from day to day In the
| progress OF our diplomatic affairs with
other countries. The lack OF such In
formation. caused by insufficient appro-
priations available for cable tolls and for
clerical and messenger service. frequently
puts our officers at a great disadvantage
and detracts from their usefulness The
salary list should be readjusted. II does
not now correspond either to the import
ance Of the service TO he rendered and
the degrees of ability and experience re-
| auired I'm the different positions, or TO the
! differences in the cost OF living. In many
cases the salaries are quite inadequate.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, Dec. 8, 1906.