The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-01
lMER|CANzE
THE SERVICE.
American Chamber Of Commerce at
paris Wants the United States
Consular Service Thorough
y Reoraanized.
cuLLoM- STERLING ACT
n. Adoption or One Along Similar
Lines Would Give the Desired Re-
lief and Dignity the
Service.

TBy William Philip Simms, Paris Cor
respondent of the United Press
PARIS, Aug. 31.-That the consular
service of the United States is in
need of thorough reorganization un-
der national law is the expressed be-
lief OF the American Chamber OF
Commerce at Paris. A campaign is to
be waged by this body, in conjunction
with other similar ones, to induce the
washington government to take ac-
ton.
The memorial, addressed to the
president of the United States by the
National Business Mems League OF
America, is considered to be step
in the right direction, pleading for
consular legislation along the lines OF
the Cullom-Sterling bill introduced in
congress in 1909, but which to date
has lain pigeon-holed This bill proyid-
ed for the filling of vacancies in the
higher ranks of the service by APP
pointment of candidates after pre-
scribed examination; for the rules OF
examination of applicants and the
scope and method of such examina.
ton; for the complete Americaniza-
ton of the service; for the appoint
ment of consuls and consul-g
to grades instead of to places. the
designation of places being left to the
president; for the payment by the gov
eminent of the actual expenses OF
transferring consul. his family and
effects, when ordered TO a new post.
Most OF these provisions are virtually
IN force at the present time at the
state departmnt, but there is no law
whatever on the subject. Says the
memorial referred to by the Ameri.
can Chamber of Commerce.
To the business interests of the
country 1t seems deplorable that
measure SO imperative to the prog
ress of American foreign trade. and
to the prestige of America as nation
and 30 universally approved, should
linger from session to session and
from congress to congress without
sufilcient legislative action
Efforts to reform the consular SER
vice were begun very many years
ago" says bulletin issued by the
American Chamber of Commerce,
and were continued for long tim.
witaeut success. The needs of our
representatives abroad were either
unknown to those in authority at
nome. or were ignored; the fitness OF
men for the duties expected of them
was. In those days, seldom consider.
Cd, II at all; and frequently the off.
'cial representatives of the United
states were not Americans. These
elements defeated a situation which
was very much accentuated In far Off
countries, where the measure of
capacity of some of our consuls made
sad comparison with that of British,
French and GeSman consuls. whose
INITIATIVE in critical moments. more
over was invariably sustained by
thelr governments. At that time it was
LOT uncommon to hear American traw.l
eiers say that, in case of difficulty in
remote parts, they would receive
more protection from British consul
tnan the representative of their own
country was able to guarantee them"
the bulletin declared:
me American Chamber of Com
MERGE in Paris has witnessed mark
co Improvement In the consular ser.
vice, as well as the increasing de
mands upon that service of an ever
extending commerce. However, it is |
uilflcult to believe that congress can
hiucn longer resist the growing senti- |
inent Tor legislative action which is
most pronounced among business or
mere can be no doubt that men
VINO leave their country to further
no interests abroad, and who thereby
reilnquish opportunities at home for
.neir own advancement, should re
'eive exceptional consideration from
our government. announcement
anouiu De offered to men of capacity I
- enter the foreign service of the
United States; and this can be done
- no better way than by assurance of
of tenure, promotion on
.le.l., and, in case OF advanced age
:, ilness, suitable provision for them
selves and their families"
ne American chamber Of com
-. at Paris is one of the strong
ssa and most influential bodies of the T
A,nu IN the world. Unlike most similar /
ua,ss,anizations, 1t has big Influence !
niu, tne French government as we'll
- 'ne government at home. |