The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-17
THE CONSULAR REFORM CON-
VENTTON.

WARRINGTON, March i6.-The capital has
been the s,ene this week OF a convocation
having for it's object the advano ement OF
certain special interests. II was formed OF
scores Of members Of the National Consular
Reform Association. 1t might have been
better had the gathering occurred a little
earlier in the Congressional session, mas
much as the matter discussed has already
been acted on by the Senate and has re-
oeived some, though perhaps not final, con-
sideration in the House.
It is not often that Congress acts in a way
which either is or seems to be directly con-
trary TO public opinion and the welfare OF
the country. We believe that this conven-
ton represented the interests and voiced
the conviction Of probably not less than %
per oent Of the American people. The de-
mand for an improved consular service,
for the best service and the best system, is
practically unanimous. There is probably
no man in Congress who would advocate
an inferior service, but there 10 evident
failure In that body to concur in the opinion
Of the Administration and Of our CONNER
cial bodies regarding the best Q Of Sc
curing a superior service. II seems to US
that the position taken by Congress is quite
indefensible. Admitting that the action
thus far taken on the Lodge bill provides
for a better service than we now have, the
fact stands hat 1t does not provide for as
good a service as we might have and should
have.
In his address TO the members Of the con-
vention the President said:
Make the entrance to the service as far as possible
non-partisan and make II at the lower grades so
that desirable positions shall come TO those VINO
have rendered good and faithful service In the
lower grades, and 90 that those entering the lower
grades shall feel that II they do well they have q
long and worthy career ahead Of them.
In its opposition to this sound recon-
mendation Congress occupies a very lonely
position. The President is against it;
the Secretary Of State is against it; the
country is against it; and Speaker Can
non has declared himself in line with the
views of the President. II Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Cannon would put their shoulders
to the consular reform wheel as they have
to the really less important joint Statehood
enterprise, it is probable that with the back
ing Of the country the obduracy Of the Sen
ate and House might be overcome and the
Lodge bill passed without amendment.
There is, however, n feature Of the case
which requires attention. The interest
taken in devising a consular system should
not be allowed to befog the main issue.
Our consular system is a o~ontributory n
fuence in a larger matter than the system
itself. 1t is intended to aid in the extension
Of our But it should not be
forgotten that such extension is only in a
comparatively small way dependent upon
conditions in the consular service. An
ov~erdependenoe upon that particular con-
tributory force is quite like sitting idly at
home because we cannot ride to our busi-
ness in an automobile.
After all, the extension Of commerce does
and must depend primarily upon individual
initiative Inc activity. A better service
would be a help, undoubtedly, but even
with our present service our export trade
has increased from 1924 800 1855 for the
calendar year 1895 to 81 ,826, 9S3, 542 for the
calendar year 1905, an increase Of practi-
cally 100 per cent. in ten years.
An improved consular service would be
a valuable auxiliary in greater and more
rapid increase In sales for export, and the
country would be glad to see the Congress
brought to a better frame Of mind about
the matter. Nevertheless, foreign trade
may be greatly extended without an ideal
consular corps. In fact, we can do a large
business IL we will, even with q much poorer
service than we are at all likely to have.