The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-24
NEEDED TO C[|NCH|
REFORM
I<nox Wants Congress 70 Ap-
prove Executive Orders Estab
fishing Merit System.
DIPLOMATS AFFECTED ALSO
senate Has Opposed Idea Be-
cause Of Its Desire 10 Con
troll Patronage.
DIPLOMATS AFFECTED ALSO

ashlnSton. p. c., January "a
with a number OF measures on the
Presidents Legislative program falling
~ the waysidc for lack OF time fo,,
enactment at this session. tile admin
istraloh Is making an earnest effort
70 push through Congress Immediately
q OIL LOOKING to the application of the
rules OF the civil service in both the
consular and diplomatic services The
plans of the administration are cmbod-
led III bill introduced by Representa-
tive Lowden, of Illinois, and in sup
port or the measure, Secretary of State
knox and Director OF the Consular Ser
vice Wilbur j. Carr have wilton TO
members Of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs. strongly commendinc
An odd feature OF tho situation Is
that, except for certain increases O.
salary for the Q diplomatic secretaries,
me changes proposed In the bill are
already temporarily in force under an
executive order. In fact, the consular
service has been run practically on the
desired lines for four years. while
since November % 1903, the same reg
ulaticns have applied TO diplomatic APP
pointments.
several bills in recent years have
been introduced to give legal sanction
TO the executive orders. bu, always
they have failed OF passage through
the Jealous watchfuiness CT the Sena tie.
Now Mr.. iaowdeu has evolved ~ measure
whirh Will practically insure the same
results, but which does not legislate
away any OF the functions of the SEN
ate, and tho administration hopes that
1t VIII pass. Only In this way does
the administratic believe that The
consular and diplomatic services can
be kept permanently from dropping
| back into the old political system.
| The l.oWden measure varies from
| othc. bills OF Il similar sort in that ii
| does not say that appointments shall be
made only for merit or only after
suitable civil service examinations. II
imply directs that examinations shall
Nc held that the President shall be
Informed OF the results. with list OF
I pcrs ons shown TO lie eligible for APP
/ pointinent IN tho first place. or for pro
! notion in the second. and that the Sec
/ rotary 4f State shall publish along with
| such lists table of the comparative
| representation OF states
| AS the list Of cligibles for promotion
| or appointment would be made pubic
| it would be almost incumbent upon tho
/! President in his appointments to b,
guided by It, and political appoint
ments. II Is believed, would bccom,
Impossible.
In addition TO this regulation. III,
I Lowden measure proposes an increase,
/! salary list for secretaries Q fembassic.
ana legations. At present it is recog
Z nized that the under members Of th'
diplomatic corps arc not expected I,
i've on their salaries, any more than i:
an amba ssador mt Europcau court
These salaries run down as low as : !,
600 year, and the pending biz raise:
tins limit 10 5000, carrying The high
est salary--that for n secretary OF en-
i,assy-up 10 $4,000. This increase il
salary is expected 10 widen the list o
rligibes as more men OF small mean:
would be able TO enter the service.