Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-15
ON CONSULAR REFORM
Lively Row Expected in the
House
WHEN THE BILL COMES UP
Less Patronage to Representatives
Will Be Given.
IHEN THE BILL COMES UP
A PROPOSED CONVENTION HERE
Extract From the Circular by New
York Board of Trade and Trans
portation Calling It.

A lively row in the House is on over the
consular-reform bill. The measure has
passed the Senate, and is likely to receive
the sanction of the House committee on
foreign affairs, but when 1t comes up in
the House will probably meet with oppo-
sition.
The complaint of some of the members
OF the House against the bill is twofold;
first, that 1t provides the Senate with some
very desirable patronage to the probable
exclusion of the House; second, that 1t
continues In Office, under a species of civil
service, all the consular force, and deprives
representatives in Congress from hereafter
filing any vacancies that might occur.
Consu1s General-at-Large.
One of the sections of the bill provides
for the appointment (and, of course, the
senators would make them, it is urged of
five inspectors of consulates to be known
as ''consuls general-at-large," who shall re-
seive each $1,000 year and travelling ex-
penses. These gentlemen shall have a row.
ing commission to go about the world, with
this comfortable salary and In addition the
expenses of travel incident to the dignity
of their office, inspecting consulates. When
ever necessary they shall supplant the resi-
dent consul take over his office and clear
out the entire force of the office
Members of the House say that this will
be an Office which in desirabiity will be
second to none in the diplomatic service.
save ambassadorships and ministers and
they are inclined to fear that the Senate
will get them all. as this is Senate BILL
That one little provision in the bill has ex-
cited no end of jealousy.
The bill, 1t Is further charged by mem
bers OF the House, will install consuls in
office indefinitely and to that extent curtail
the already limited patronage enjoyed by
the lower body of Congress in these days
of civil service reform and retention of
fourth-class postmasters.
Coming Convention Here.
A circular has been issued by the New
York Board of Trade and Transportation
inviting commercial organizations to send
delegates to national consular reform
convention to be held in Washington March
13 and Il, at the New Willard The cir
cular says t is proposed to create a per-
manent national committee on consular re-
form, with one member from each congress
sional district. The circular reads:
From time to time If conditions make
1t necessary, 1t will be the duty of each
member of the national committee to urge
the claims of consular reform upon the at
tention of the United States senators from
his state and upon his own representa-
tive In Congress. This may be sometimes
most effectually done by personal visit
to Washington, or by sending there dele
cation of influential citizens from his state
or congressional district. But IL this should
not be practicable, II would be the duty of
the member of the national committee to
communicate with his senators and repre-
sentative by letter, and to obtain the ac-
tive co-opera ton of the Influential men of
his state or district.
In short. IT will be the duty of each
member of the national committee TO make
sure that the United States senators from
his state. and the representative from his
congressional district are favorably i'm
pressed with the Importance of the right
kind of consular reform and the necessity
of supporting and voting for 1t in the Sem
ate or House of Representatives"