The Washington herald., 1912-06-23
Diplomatic Serpice
Open to Young Men
Pay Is Good to Those Who Can Qualify MANY
Have Risen from Ranks to Positions
of Great Importance

ana now - the ufne 10 dpPAy Aot ehctAA-
1t is a fine chance for hve-wire, alert
young men. The State Department has
not even any eligfbles at hand to MI
these places. oddly enough-whereas IN
the consular service there Is long list
Of eligibles. waiting for vacancies to
occur.
One reason for this curious situation
seems to be that in the lower grades OF
the diplomatic service the pay Is not
so good as in the consular branch, while
expenses are greater A young secre-
tary, especially IL attached TO an embas-
sy in a gay European capital, Is liable to
| find himself burdened with social obliga-
tions which are an embarrassment to a
slender purse: and thus II Is that in ma
! jority Of instances such positions are
held by men who have some means OF
! their own.
On the other hand. the service offers
number Of very considerable prizes,
attainable by good work and through
the exhibition Of efficiency. OF forty
/ three ambassadors and ministers on the
! list, fifteen have been promoted TO their
present rank from secretaryships, and
| four from consular positions. The
"spoils system has been done away with
| (barrfng the fact that men are some
times appointed to the highest ranks
from outsider. and the service has been
|
the last two Republican administrations
there has been a large increase in the
number Of Democrats on its roster.
Sure of Opportunity.
A young man who enters the service is
always sure Of an opportunity to show
efficiency. IL he possesses It, and good
work brings certain recognition and
rapid promotion. Our present Minister to
I ~
Rider in the war with Spain. He az
terward sought a diplomatic career. and
while first secretary OF the legation at
Pekin distinguished himself by setting
on foot the important negotiations having
to do with loans by this country to China.
Edwin v. Morgan, our Ambassador 10
Brazil, and Charles D. White, our Min
Ister TO Honduras, both rose from the
ranks.
Principal among the prizes to be won
in the service are ten ambassadorships
at 1880 apiece. They are seven min
listers plenipotentiary, at $1,000. and
twenty-four at $4,000. The diplomatic
agent at Cairo Cwho Is incidentally con-
sui generaD receives $500 a year, and
the minister resident at Monrovia Oi-
beria), 5000.
There are ten secretaries OF embassy
at 1900: seven secretaries of legation
at S2,s25. and twenty-fOur at 5000; ten
second secretaries OF embassy at 5000,
and two second secretaries Of legation
at 81, 500 OF third secretaries Of embassy
there are seven at $, 800. But there is to
be a rearrangement and regarding OF
these minor places before long, It is ex-
pected-though without augmentation of
salaries.
The Sulzer bill, now before Congress.
which has the hearty approval of the
Department Of State, authorizes the
President to appoint all diplomatic ON
GERS to grades, and not TO places. Thus. |
II this measure becomes law, a man will
be appointed not secretary of embassy
to France, for example. but simply sec
retary OF embassy. The President will
then be at liberty to make transfers in
that grade without action by Congress
or similarly in any other grade, sending
a secretary from The Hague to Brussels,
or vice versa, just as he might assign
an officer of the army or navy to one
post or another. as he deemed most ex-
pedient.
Keep EmeIency Records.
The Sulzer bill requires the Secretary OF
State to keep efficiency. records. and to
place the names of the most efficient men
before the President. II compels the |
reports of the board which examines |
candidates for appointment in the ser |
vice to be made public; and it definitely |
grades the minor places, in order that a |
man. when transferred from one post TO |
another may know. and that everybody |
else may know. whether 1t is a promo |
tion or not. This is a matter Of impor- |
tance for its moral effect upon the indi-
vidual
The most vital feature Of the Sulzer |
bill. however, Is the translation into /
statutory law Of the principles Of the
various executive regulations, promul-
gated from the White House at different !
times, by which the service as it now
stands has been built up. When these |
principles have been placed in due form
on the statute books, they will not be
subject to change or interference. As
things are now, a President might wipe |
them all out by a stroke of his pen.
Any American citizen between the ages
of twenty-one and fifty may apply for
employment in our diplomatic service.
For this purpose he should write to the
Secretary of State, and in reply he will
receive a letter OF acknowledgment in
closing an application blank. The latter
he fills out with some briefiy-stated
points Of information IN regard to him
age, whether married or single,
educational training, BUSINESS experience,
il any. and so forth. This should be
by letters Of recommended
II
ity; and it is highly desirable that he
Furnish letters also from one or both of
the Senators from his State-because, II
they will be called upon to
act upon his case, and are liable to pre-
vent confirmation II they know nothing
about him personally.
Must Translate Language.
The letters and data he furnishes in
this way give the department some sort
Of notion whether or not he is a suitable
man. If the decision be favorable so far,
he Is notified OF the date Of the next
examination OF applicants. Such exam
nations are in future to be held once a
year, in writing, at the Pension Build
ing, in Washington, under the direction OF
the civil service.
The written examination comprises the
OF at least one modern Ian
guage, such as German. Spanish, or
French, and answers to questions in re-
gard to modern history, international
law, diplomatic usage, and the resources
and commerce Of the United States For
example. the candidate might be asked
what important battle was fought after
the treaty terminating the war with
Great Britain was signed. Or the price =,
OF a barrel Of -four in 1855 being 81, and }
at the close of the century less than s. L
how was the decrease brought about?
There Is, in addition. an oral examina-
ton, held at the Department Of State,
which counts 50 per cent, or as much as
the written examination. II a business
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