Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-29
Merit Principle and Foreign Service.

During the past few years material
progress has been made in this country
in the direction of creating a consular and
diplomatic service of especial efficiency,
suited to the needs of the United States
in all it's varied interests in relation to
other parts of the world. AS result
of executive orders these services have
been in large part removed from the
field of partisan spoils. and appointments
to them and promotions in them have
been made on merit rather than on in
fuence. AS the system is now conducted,
as result Of executive orders issued In
1905 and 1909, the best men available,
without reference to party or geograph-
ical location, are selected through exami-
nations for original appointments Inc
result has been a marked Improvement
in the character Of the services. and
consequently their value to the country.
But these improvements cannot De re-
garded as permanent as long as 1t re-
mains POSSIBLE that the executive orders
to which they are attributable may be
rescinded or ignored.
Nothing, of course. can take away the
presidential power of appointment TO
office in cases where the consent OF the
Senate IL necessary. This power applies
to all officers Of the consular and diplo-
matte services. and in the final analysis
the maintenance OF the present system
of appointments and promotions on merit
must depend upon the sympathy OF the
chief executive with that manner or Sc
lecting public officers. However. 1t IS
now proposed, through the Introduction
Of bills in both houses of Congress, 10
gf4e the executive orders Of 1905 and l9U9
the sanction OF legislative enactment. In
the House the Lowden bill to this enect
has been favorably reported from the
committee on foreign affairs and awaits
action. In the Senate the bin is still
in committee.
There is urgent reason for writing these
orders into law. even though they nave
only a moral effect upon future occu-
pants of the White House In the selec-
ton and promotion of consular officers
and the secretaries Of legation and en-
bassy. The consequence of such legts-
latfve action would be to demonstrate
that the policy Of the administration IN
respect to the maintenance OF perma-
nent foreign service on the merit basis
has been adopted by the Congress OF the
United States. The influence of such a
declaration Is not to be underestfmated.
Commercial bodies throughout the
country are now recognizing the impor-
lance of the maintenance Of consular
service supplied by q careful process OF
selection and conducted to the end of
retaining the best men and rewarding
them by promotions successfully to posts
of greater desirability. Regardless OF
party. our manufacturers and exporters
and importers are favorable to the devel-
opment Of a strictly non-partisan system
of representation In the commercial CEN
tiers of the world. The folly of the old
custom of utilizing consulates as rewards
for political services is fully understood
by all business men, and the orders OF
1906 and 1909 were universally Endorsed
as in the interest OF a more rapid cult
walton Of American commercial interests
in the world field. Unmistakable express
sions Of this thought have been made by
national assemblages representative OF
the most active elements In our popula-
ton, and 1t Is assured that the passage
Of the pending bills for the improvement
of the foreign service would be ap-
plauded throughout the country.