New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-22
4 STEP FORWARD.

Having long treated the consular service as d
| convenient retired list for brOken-dOwn states
men or an available pasture ground for sateI-
lites temporarily out of funds or occupation
members Of Congress are waking up to the fact
that such a service can do real work and must
be put in shape for doing it. Hitherto meas
ures recognizing our consular corps have been
allowed to slumber on the calendars Of the two
houses. and, although n few enlightened leaders
In each branch courageOusly insisted that the
service should be taken out Of politics. Senators
and Representatives were in general content TO
let it run along on the old lines. with period
cal blood lettings for health's sake at the hands
Of some eminent veterinarian like Josiah
Quincy.
It is a welcome indication of the passing OF
the spoiIs spirit in politics that Congress now
shows at least a partial willingness TO drop the
old ofice-brokerage method of appointment to
consular posts. 1t will not 90 the length 1t has
been urged to 60 by the President and Secretary
Root It still opposes the introduction of the
merit system of selection and promotion. The
bill which the Senate originated and the House
approved fails to provide for original appoint
ments on examination TO the lowest grades for
tenure on good behavior and for promotion for
efficiency. 1t leaves the door open to original
appointments in any grade as under the OLD
system Yet it helps 10 close that door to the
proving the service and accepting the view that
1t has a really important function to perform in
promoting foreign trade 1t is always easier to
take the second step forward than the first; and
the administrations programme OF remodelIlng
the corps after the military pattern of tenure
viii doubtless be accepted sooner or later by
Congress. 1t is noteworthy that the chief attack
made in the House on the consular reform bill
as it passed was based on the contention that
its provisions were not drastic enough. Posi-
bly, when the lower branch itself draws reOr-
ganization measure the reforming sentiment Of
the administration and the country Will be more
clearly reflected.
AS it is. however much has been accom-
plished. Our consular officers will be better
paid and the service will be lifted to a
more self-respecting plane. COnsuls are to be
forbidden to engage in private business or TO
retain fees for personal services. All fees are
to be accounted for, and cOnsuls heretofore re-
ceiving fees IN lieu of salary are TO draw fixed
salaries. The useless grade Of commercial agent
"a consular representative permitted to engage
in outside business-is to be abolished, and all
clerks in consulates if receiving $1,000 or more,
must hereafter be American citizens. \ staff Of
inspectors is to be created to investigate COM
plants Of laxity, ineficiency and corruption and
to weed out Of the service the incOmpetents and
grafters who under the old system had little
trouble in covering up their tracks 1t is a great
advance TO have abolished the gross discrimina-
tons in compensation hitherto tolerated. Salaries
in some posts have been excessively high and in
others discreditably low, and Of two officials
doing practically the same work one may now
be paid anywhere from two TO six times as
much as the other. 1t is evident that until we
uproot the perniciOus idea that a consular ap-
pointment is a sinecure to be obtained through
political favor we shall not have a consular
service fully worthy Of the name. But a good
start has now been made toward killing that
particular delusiOn.