The Washington herald., 1907-12-29

The new school for cOnsUis. recently
conceived by Secretary Root. is now open
and a class OF nine men IS in attendance.
This educational Institution, unique IN
America. occupies a room in the Consular
Bureaus suite, on the first f0or OF the
Department Of State.
DR.. Wiley, the father OF the pure food
law, comes over from the Bureau Of
Chemistry and talks 10 the pupils about
the proper invoicing of food imports. and
David G. Fairchild. the explorer Of the
Agricultural Department. instructs them
concerning valuable foreign plants which
he desires them To collect for intrOduc-
ton into this country.
The consular school room Is arranged
70 represent q model consulate. There
are pigeonholes containing al official
forms which the American consul uses
bills Of health. invoices. and the Ike.
arranged as they should be- according 10
the new system OF uniformity which Is
hereafter TO prevail in the consular corps.
There are shelves Of the references books
needed by each consul. and their uses
are fully explained
"a routine Of instruction in the official con-
sular regulations. conducted daily by
Augustus Z. Ingram. who has had ex-
perence in eight or ten OF our important
.consuIates. and who Is an expert in con
sUlar procedure In inStiling the details
Of the regulations he uses the ease sys-
tem.' which some Of our modern law
schools are now substituting for the text
book system
The fun course occupies but thirty DAYS.
Congress years ago provided by law that
a newly appointed consul should receive
his salary during an instruction period
OF thirty days spent in the United States
Just prior TO his leaving for his post
Register Of EIigibIes.
Appointments 10 the new school are
made from an eligible register. as vacan-
cies occur in the consular CORPS. For
merly the President directly filed each
vacancy. but before the appoIntee went
to his post he had TO take a Ienient exam
ination embracing practically nothing be-
yond the consular regulations and a smat-
teTing Of international law
No foreign languages were required. IL
being considered safe for our COnsuIs 10
be az the mercy OF native interpreters.
in lands where they were to guard our
interests and find trade openings for Us.
But now competitive examinations.
modelled after those Of the civil service.
are required Each State has a desig-
mated quota Of appOintees TO the corps,
arranged in proportion 70 population.
No one under twenty-One or over fifty
may be designated for examination. At
intervals all who have been designated
ef~, Ha
20 the civil service commission al Wash.
ingtOn. and are required 10 pay their
own travelling expenses 10 and from the
Capital
Foreign Language n Necessity.
Language is now an absolute essential
to entrance into the service. Unless a
man has mastered at least one modern
foreign tongue be cannot even take the
examination
Upon receiving appointments 10 their
posts the successful competitors are or
dered at once TO the new consular school
and receive travelling expenses at the rate
Of cents a mile for the trip 70 Wash
ingtC2- Their four weeks at the school
being completed they receive their first
months salary and are then allowed
mileage at the same rate 10 their posts
Graduates Of the consular school Will
now go directly 10 posts paying either
S2000 or 800 per year. There are seventy
posts paying the smaller sum and sixty
one the larger
Entering the service. whether as con-
sui or consular clerk. the graduate OF
the new consular school now receives as
permanent an appointment as though he
entered the classified civil service
Appointments 70 the higher grades OF
consulships, paying from 5000 10 $500.
and Of consul generalships, paying I'D 10
$1,000. are 70 be made by promotion OF
course, future President could, under
existing law, restore matters to the old
Spoils system" basis, but this is very
unlikely.