New-York tribune., 1907-04-15
CONSULAR EXAMINATIONS.

Much interest attaches TO the actual working
Of the executive order OF June %, 1905 requir-
Ing applicants for consular positions to pass q
Civil Service examination. Last month this re-
form was first put into practice, when an out
wardIy anxious crowd of candidates took pen
in hand 20 answer a hundred and odd questions
on eight different subjects. An inspection OF
these questions and also OF the other factors
taken into consideration by the State Depart
ment in picking its appointees shows that an
excellent beginning has been made in reform
ing the consular service.
'SThe New York Evening Post" reports sew
eral OF the questions put TO the candidates.
The examination on the resources and COM
merce Of the United States contained questions
Ike these: % What causes have contributed TO
the growth OF the iron and steel industries IN
the united States? a. State some OF the re-
Quirements for the development Of a large for
eign commerce and what countries are our
chief competitors for foreign trade Most OF
the other queries werei statistical and could be
answered by anybody with a sound memory.
Each OF the eight examinations covered, as far
as necessary. problems demanding both intel
Mgsnce and memory power in their answer
ing. Judging from "Fhe Posts" report alone,
the arithmetic quiz seemed 20 be the weakest,
only very elementary problems there being
raised. According 20 ''The Journal OF Com.
merce," the language examinations were thor
oughly satisfactory, both oral and written trans
lations into English and into the foreign tongues
being required. Although these tests were not
very severe, they could not have been sue
cessfully endured without sound elementary
knowledge OF at least one foreign language.
when fhe linguistic attainments OF many Of
our consular representatives abroad are eonsid-
cred even these limited examinations arouse
great hopes OF better things.
Designation by the President or Secretary of
State Is needed In order 20 win the privilege OF
appearing before the examiners But it IS alb.
surd 70 declare, as some critics have done that
the lists should be unresuainedly open 70 all
cOmers, and that the highest scorers should re-
celve the coveted places Nothing Is more nee
essary than the present custom requiring an In.
spectlOn OF each candidate's character dispo
'sition, address, manners, health, personal ap
''pearance, readiness, judgment, discretion, ne
''s0urcefulness, accuracy ot information, eE
''perience and business capacity" When ''Ihs
journal OF Commerce" expresses the opinion
that this requirement makes any written ex
animation nugatOFy Il seems 10 ignore The sores
needs os the consular service and the relative
values ot technical information and a well bal
snced, seasoned character.
While q business man anxious 20 build ur
a foreign trade expects a consul 10 be an eve
animated census fAl1er for hls benefit, be mus
not Imagine that mere familiarity with Stats
ties and tariff schedules makes an eficien
consul. As n matter OF fact, a consul mus
be much more than a countersignaF OF pass
ports and clearance papers. The service hal
suffered quite as much from representative