Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-05


delay In granting an emergency appro-
priation. Estimates of the amount nee
essary will be found in the accompany
ing reports of the secretary of war and
the commission.
The Department Of State.
l recommend more adequate provi-
sion than has been made heretofore for
the work OF the department Of state.
Within a few years there has been a
very great increase i'll the amount and
importance of the work 10 be done by
that department both in Washington
and abroad. This has been caused by
the great increase of our foreign trade.
the increase of wealth among our peo-
pie, which enables them TO travel more
generally than heretofore, the increase
of American capital 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
a sufficient working force To do the
business properly. In many respects
the system which was adequate to the
work of twenty-five or even ten years
ago is inadequate now and should be
changed. Our consular force should
; be classified, and appointments should
he made to the several classes. with
authority to the executive To assign the
members of each class TO duty ut such
posts as the interests of the service re
quire instead of the appointments be-
ing made. as at present. To specified
posts There should be an adequate
inspection service, so that the depart
ment may be able TO inform itself how
| the business of each consulate is being
done. instead of depending upon cas-
ual private information or rumor. The
| fee system should be entirely abolished
and due equivalent made in salary TO
the officers who now exc out their sub
| siStence by means of fees. Sufficient
provision should be made for Il clerical
| force in every consulate. composed en-
| tirely of Americans, instead of the in
sufficient provision now made. which
| compels the employment of great num-
| bers of citizens of foreign countries
| whose services can be obtained for less
money. At large part OF our consul
| ates the office quarters and the clerical
| force are inadequate to the perform
ance of the Onerous duties imposed by
| the recent provisions OF our immigra-
| ton laws as well as by our increasing
trade. In many parts of the world the
| lack OF suitable quarters for our EN-
| bassies. legations and consulates de-
| tracts from the respect in which our
officers ought to be held and seriously
| impairs their weight and influence.
Suitable provision should be made
| for the expense of keeping our diplo-
| matte officers more fully Informed of
| what is being done from day to day
| in the progress of our diplomatic at
| fairs with other countries. The lack of
such information. caused by INSULT
| Client appropriations available for cable
| tolls and for clerical and messenger
| service. frequently puts our officers at
great disadvantage and detrnctS
| from their usefulness. The salary list
should be readjusted. 1t does not now
correspond either to the Importance of
the service to be rendered and the de
grees of ability and experience requir'
ed in the different positions or 10 the
differences in the cost of living. In
many cases the salaries are quite mad
eCuate.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
| The White House, Dec. ,, 1905.
1