The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-23
CONSULAR
The Service VIII Not He EH1cient
Better Salaries Are Paid.

To THE EDITOR OF THB SUN-Sir: AZ q
delegate to the recent national convention op
consular reform I think I express the views
Of the majority Of those who attended in say
ing that the bill passed by the House yester-
day lie a progressive measure. and will enable
the President to some extent to make q busi-
ness establishment Of the consular service.
It 10. however, to be regretted that the meas
ure does not eliminate the service from poll
tics, and the hope has been expressed that in
the conference betw cen the Senate and House
committees the clause Will be restored which
authorizes tho President to transfer Consuls
from post to post In the same grade. II oan
scarcely be expected that the original pro-
vision requiring appointment to tho lowest
grade and promotion from grade 70 Grade
will be revived. II. however. Executive
authority should be granted to transfer Con-
suls from post to post. the President could.
by Executive order. put In each place the
Consul best qualified to all II.
There are forty-three Consuls In the grades
paying between % 500 and $4,000. and in
these but few transfers are needed: but In
the grades between o., 900 and $500 there are
POT officials. and 1t is here that the exercise
Our consular service finds it's Legislative
H q. i7saa at At t that y time washington called
attention to its purpose and Importance.
3aI country has beer snr 50 3h busy H,6 de'Eelo OF pg,n lie
to the urgency or improving, 4 as q means Of
As respects salaries. Che bin i open to
were each worth upward Of $780, 900 to the In.
Is 100 During TIE last fiscal year LoEndon,
t sSoq pre sl1;4o St fq Tie r %sslart HSU at both y ;C pfsce ene ers
SI2, 600, out Of which the Consul General W III
have 70 pay 81 500 to supplement- the $1,000
ment Of q vice and deputy Consul General.
The necessity is apparent Of having capable
men in these minor positions. There are
teen deputy Consuls- General. and in most OF
tho oonsulates having an officer OF, this char
scter y is either Necessary Tor the Consul
ally q f%oreigner) who will act In an honorary
capacity, except during, his absence. when
OF the unoficlai fees; or. II It is necessary to
employ s11sIS on'id ms5 gBs S tSs psbSrt to pay a him . the
SECRETARY Root, in his statemsnt before
the House. committee. said that there are
nGT sn eGn sTs s pSlSi9s o SSile gsSeIr e saisries s SSt
compensation are not SUFFICIENT to live on"
The salaries under the BIZ are small as
Who are to be each paid % 900 annually; sixty
three each 81, 500 annually, and sixty-seven
When you take into consideration the ex-
pense Of living OF most Of the consulate posts
the Incidental Disbursements attending an
Official position, and the EXPENSE of travelling
to and from the United States to the con-
sulate, an ambitious man, OF even one who
seeks a comfortable living, Is precluded from
entering the service. and to get capable men
the President will have to look for financially
independent men.
with a slight increase In tho fees the con-
sular service would be self-susta lining, and II
Is to be regretted that Congress has not seen
At to make the salaries sufficiently remunera-
tive to attract TO the service, qualified men
such as business houses send abroad.
NEW YORK. March 20. LINDSAY RUSSELL.