Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-11
TO IMPROVE CONSULAR SERVICE
President Orders that Applicants for
Positions Pass Examinations
as to Fitness.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-With the dou-
BILE purpose Of offering a permanent career
In the diplomatic and consular service to
competent young men and of improving
those branches OF the government service
so as to make them more valuable than
they now are TO the business interests OF
the country, the president at the instance
Of Secretary Root today announced two
new rules. The first of these has not yet
taken concrete form, but its substance was
that hereafter any applicant for appoint
ment OF secretary of embassy or legation
must possess a 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 promotion OF the bright young men in
the diplomatic service.
The order as to the consular service
amends the existing rule which requires the
examination OF such consular officers as
are limited In compensation to the maxi
mum OF $500 per annum and a minimum
of 1900.
In President Cleveland's administration
an effort was made to examine all appli-
cants 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 we'll as ap-
pointment dependent upon absolute merit.
These things are aimed at in the following
executive order
With a view TO further increasing the eff
| fciency of the consular service by extend
| ing the method now employed for ascer-
d a for appointment IN that service; can
| 1t is hereby ordered that the executive
| order of September 90 1895, in regard to the
! and 1t is hereby amended and extended to
| include all consulates generals, consulates,
eSmmerciai agencies ana ND consular l agencies,
| less than $1,000 Said order therefore will
read as amended as follows:
| 1t being of great Importance that the con-
| sular officers of the United states shall
possess the proper qualifications for their
respective positions to be ascertained either
| through satisfactory record of previous
/ actual service under the department of
| state OF through a proper examination.
| Ii Is hereby ordered that any vacancy in
/ a consulate general. consulate, commercial
| or consular agencies now or hereafter eX-
isting the salary of which is not less than
| rived from official fees exclusive OF notarial
| and other unofficial receipts does not fall
| below 81 900 shall be filled by a transfer or
| promotion from some other position under
| the department of state of a character
tending to qualify the incumbent for the
| position to be filled, or by appointment of
| a person not under the department OF state,
but having previously served Hereunder TO
its satisfaction in a position tending to
| qualify him for the position TO be filled,
| or by the appointment OF a person. who,
| having furnished satisfactory evidence of
| character, and capacity and being there
upon selected by the president for examina-
| ton, is found on such examination qualified
| for the position.
| The examination hereinbefore provided
| shall be by board Of three persons desig-
| mated by the secretary of state who shall
| also prescribe the subjects to wnicn exam
| nations shall relate and AZ
| OF conducting the same by the board.
| vacancy In a consulate will be filled at
discretion only when a suitable appoint
| ment cannot be made in any OF the modes
| indicated in the second paragraph OF this
| order, THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
| The White House Nov, TO- 1896