The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-20
Will Be No Ornamental Places
in Foreign Service.
State Department Determined
to Improve Diplomatic Branch.
WEALTH NOT NEEDFUL
Men will Be Chosen Who Can
Do the Work.
No More Appointments Made
Until Next Fall.

Washington. July 20-Hereafter there
will be no purely ornamental places in
the foreign service of the United States.
Although that cannot be said to be new
policy it is the declared intention OF
the present administration, and especial
" Of the state department. that there
shall be no deviation from it.. The rule
will be made to apply not only to the
diplomatic service. but to the consular
officers of the United States from the
highest to the lowest.
In years past there has been a general
complaint that the consular service of
the United States was generally inet-
flcient and of a lower grade than that
of many foreign countries having rep
resentatiVes in the United States. The
state department officials themselves IN
previous years have acknowledged that
and although the service has improved
of late 1t has not made the rapid adj
vance that is noticeable in the service
of some of our foreign trade competi-
tors.
At present this government has in
foreign countries 29S consulss and con-
sui generals, with large number OF
vice and deputy consulss clerks, inter
prefers. etc, making. a total OF about
1900, and 1t is the expressed determine
ton of the present officials OF the state
department to elevate the service in
every possible way. working famii-
arity with the subjects with which they
have to deal is demanded to greater
extent than ever before. Consular ofh-
GERS are expected to keep this govern
rent informed of all matters in which
manufacturers in this country are in
terested. short time ago general in
structions We're issued requiring them
to use the cable freely in communicate
ing any important commercial infor-
nation, the purpose being to make i'm
mediately available the information
communicated.
Another thing the department is very
much in earnest in its efforts to secure
for every branch of the service vigorous
Inen of capacity, who are willing tol
work and able to SHOW results, and mol
effort will be spared to bring about
that desired result.
The same general policy will also bel
mada to apply to the diplomatic service
i'll the selection of ambassadors ana
ministers Great wealth will not be the
determining factor. nor vii! 1t be re-
garded as alto gether desirable.
1t is announced that no further APP
T ointments of ambassadors will be made
Until congress reassembies next De-
ccmber. In the meantime the depart
ment will make use of every aVal4apIe
source of information in order TO OBJ
tain the right men for number OF
embassies which will probably become
vacant about that time.
The Washington Herald says:
Speaking of the dangers of automo-
billing in certain parts of the coun-
try, and particularly in Kansas, Dan |
iel S. Miller, of Clay Center, Kan. |
who was seen at the Riggs, said that |
the most dangerous devices which the |
auto owners have to contend with are |
large poles laid across the roads, US |
ually at a sharp turn, and planks re- |
moved from small bridges or culverts, |
which bring the machines to sud |
den halt with a jar that sometimes |
throws the occupants out on the 7
road.
Men have driven over road in |
the afternoon" said Mr.. Miller, land /
returning after nightfaII have run in
to deep ruts that were not in the |
road when they passed over it few
hours before.
'They think that the persons who
thus tried to wreck their machines /
saw them pass, and soon after night
fall purposely made the ruts to wreck