New-York tribune., 1906-03-15
FOR CONSULAR REFORM.
THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS.
Says Service Should Be NOn-Parti-
san and Better PMd-ROOfS Vie7rS.

Room, and the President addressed the delegates
follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen: 1t is a very
great pleasure to greet you to-day. l need
hardly say that our chance for getting the
consular service put upon really effective basis
lies with just such organizations this. We in
washington must rely upon you to make
people pre-emlnently business people; l do not
hlnk that Is by any means all they either are
or ought to be, but think they must have and
ought to have very strong business side TO
them-appreciate that the consular service
should be in its essence a part of the general
scheme of business development of the country.
Of course my own view is that that applies TO
all the affairs of the State Department, and
DER both Mr.. Hay and Mr.. Root that department
mas been managed. and is being managed. with
whole.
have not. I am sorry to say, been able to
persuade people thus 10 look upon even such
question as the Santo Domingo treaty which is
purely non partisan measure; for If il was
treated as 1t should be, purely its merits there
would not be one shadow Of opposition to or
criticism of it. But while we have not yet been
successruI In getting the work Of the depart
ment looked upon quite in the non-partisan
spirit that should be our national attitude in
foreign affairs. and have not been successful in
getting the consular service made by law what
we strive 10 nave II made-an absolutely nom
partisan serVtce-still, have made a certain
amount Of progress and with the help Of you
and those like you, shall be able TO make
great deal more progress.
one point let me dwell upon. You cannot
pect 10 get permanently good service when that
mad great deal of difficulty with our consular
service in China 1t came partly because men
were appointed for political reasons. with scant
regard to their qualifications partly because
the men found themselves in remote Eastern
ports where there was not much that made life
attractive, where there was very little super
vision over them. and yet great temptation
Gentlemen We all know that under such condi-
tons 1t is necessarily difficult TO secure honest
ana etncient service. We made a pretty thorough
cleanup there. But cannot keep the service
as as hlgh as 1t should be kept unless We have
adequate salaries.
There must be a better monetary provision for
our consuls. think that some such scheme as
tnat SO admirably advocated by Mr.. Loomis.
whose experience peculiarly fits him to speak
on the subject of charging a graded fee for in
voices, would furnish such solution. But in any
event, in some way or other, we should provide
for better salaries for the ConsuIs for better
facilities for doing their work. Remember that
the dearest kind Of public servant is a servant
cheap service. Also feel most strongly that
IN the consular service, which stands entirely
apart from the diplomatic service proper. en-
trance should be made by law into the lower
grades and that the higher grades should be
filed by gradual process of wedding out and
promouon; remembering, gentlemen, that the
wedding out process must not be interfered with.
It IS not any too easy to get rid of kindly
natured, elderly incompetent at best and If you
add to the difficulty by lax, he then permanently
stays. Make the entrance to the service far
as possible non-partisan, and make it at the
lower grades. SO that desirable positions shall
come to those who have rendered good and faith
full service in the lower grades, and that those
entering the lower grades shall feel that II they
do well they have a long and worthy career
ahead of them.
SECRETARY ROOTS ADDRESS.
Soon after the convention met to-day secre-
tary Root was introduced. He assured the dele
gates that the government welcomed most CRATE
fully the interest of citizens in every branch OF
activity. 1t is not possible he said. for the SER
wants Of the people to conduct the affairs of the
government successfully unless the people take
an interest in them. He said he was especially
interested in the subject which had brought the
delegates together. He said the bill which passed
the Senate and is now before the House was
good and would greatly improve the service
He expressed the hope that the action already
taken by Congress would be indorsed by the
convention.
The consular service. he said. most
even one. having grown out of the time when
the people expending their energies at
home. great many men were appointed to the
service he continued. who were good nlustra-
tions Of the best quality of American people
strong, keen, active and intelligent men. fond
of work and desirous Of doing good work. Many
others sought the places because they were tired
of the conditions under which they living
or had failed in business or wanted the places
in order TO rest or TO educate their children
abroad. Thus. he said. there were two classes.
The service should be manned by those who
have not burned out the fires the ambitions
Of their lives. The turning point has been
reached. he said. and the present is the time to
take up the organization which did well when
there was little to do In closing he said he
could pledge to the convention that the Presi-
dent and the State Department would do their
best to accomplish the most desirable results.
URGE PASSAGE OF LODGE BILL
The convention unanimously adopted a me-
mortal to Congress, which is in part as follows:
1t is the opinion of the constituent bodies OF
this convention that the consular service of
the United States should be reorganized as pro-
vided for in Senate bill 1,S45, introduced by
Senator Lodge. December IL. 1905. Every feat
ure Of that bill is. in the Judgment of the busi-
ness organizations of the country, most essential
and in harmony with the growing need of the
United States
of the most vital provisions Of that bill have
been removed from II. but they none the less
recognize step in the right direction the
Improvements to be made in the service by the
bill as amended and passed by the Senate on
January 80. In view Of the gravity OF the in
terests involved. they earnestly demand that the
bill be passed at this session Of the Congress.
Your petitioners deprecate that the bill as re-
DOrted by the Committee Foreign Affairs Of
the House Of Representatives eliminates the pro-
vision authorizing the President TO transfer con-
suIs from one post to another in the same grade.
This is a most desirable feature and your petit
tioners earnestly beg that il be reincorporated
in the bill.
A publicity and promotion committee was de-
cided on. to consist OF the finance committee. the
chairman, secretary and three members of the
executive committee II also was decided to in
vfte every commercial body in the United States
to become a member and where there is no such
organization IN any Congress district,
prominent individual will be designated a
member
SPEAKER CANNON IN DOUBT.
Washington. March H.-Speaker Cannon gave an