Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-12-05

and consular officers possessing expe
rience and knowledge gained by act
ual service in different parts Of I'll,
! world and thus familiar with politica
and commercial conditions in the re
gions concerned. The work was high
ly specialized. The result is that
where previously this government
{ from time to time would emphasize in
its foreign relations one or another
policy, now American interests in ev-
cry quarter OF the globe are being
cultivated with equal assiduity.
Merit System in Consular and Diplo-
matte Corps.
Expert knowledge and professional
training must evidently be the essence
OF this reorganization. Without a
trained foreign service there would
not be men available for the work IN
the reorganized department OF state
President Cleveland has taken the
first step toward introducing the
merit system in the foreign service
That had been followed by the appli-
cation OF the merit principle. with ex.
cellent results. TO the entire consular
branch. Almost nothing. however. had
been done in this direction with regard
10 the diplomatic service. In this age
OF commercial diplomacy It was evi.
IDENTIFY OF the first importance to train
an adequate personnel in that branch
OF the service. Therefore. on Novem-
Der 20, 1909. by an executive order I
placed the diplomatic service up 70
the grade OF secretary OF embassy. in
elusive. upon exactly the same strict
non-partisan basis OF the merit svs.
tenn, rigid examination for appoint.
ment and promotion only for eff
cheney, as had been maintained without
exception in the consular service.
Statistics as to Merit and Nonpartisan
Character OF Appointments.
How faithful to the merit system
and how nonpartisan has been the con.
duct Of the diplomatic and consular
services in the last four years NAV he
judged from the following: Three
ambassadors now serving held their
present rank at the beginning OF the
administration. OF the ten ambassa- |
dors whom have appointed. five were
by promotion from the rank OF min.
lister Nine ministers now serving
held their present rank at the begin
ming of the administration. OF the
thirty ministers whom have appoint
Gu eleVen were promoted from the
lower grades Of the foreign service or
from the department of state. OF the
nineteen missions in Latin America.
"nere our relations are close and orr
interest Is great. fifteen chiefs of mis-
sion are service men, three having
the service during this admin.
lstration. The thirty-seven secreta.
RES OF embassy or legation who have
received their initial appointments
after passing successfully the required
examination were chosen for ascer-
Lalned ntness, without regard to DO
llcai anliatlons. A dearth OF candi-
lates from southern and western
states mas alone made it impossible
nus far completely to eoualize all
ne states representations in the for.
'ign service. In the effort to eoualize
ne representation OF the various
'tates In the consular service | have
maze sixteen OF the twenty-nine new
appointments as consul which have
occurred during my administration
rom the southern states. This is *
'er cent. Every other consular an.
continent made, including the promo
Ion or eleven young men from tha
assistant and student inter.
reter corps, has been by promotion or
ransfer, based solely upon efficiency
hown In the service.
IN order TO assure to the business
nd other interests Of the United
tates continuance of the resulting
enents or this reform, | earnestly re.
ew my previous recommendations NJ
'glslation making it permanent along
Oihe such lines as those Of the meas ;
re now pending in congress.
'arger Provision for Embassies and :
Legations and for Other Expenses 7
OF our Foreign Representa-
tiVes Recommended. ;
IN connection with legislation for
ne amelioration of the foreign serv. :
- l wish to invite attention to the =
INSTABILITY of placing the salary ap- :
roprlations upon better basais ;
elieye that the best results would
e obtained by moderate scale of =
aiaries, with adequate funds for the =
spenses OF proper representation .
ased in each case upon the scale and =
'st OF living at each post, controlled =
a system of accounting. and un. =
sr the general direction of the de- b
artment of state. =
In line with the object which | have q
'ught OF placing our foreign service -
basis of permanency, | have at ~
trious times advocated provision by -
'ngress for the acquisition of govern r
ent-owned buildings for the resi- =
'nce and offices of our diplomatic of. y
GERS, SO as to place them more near.
on an equality with similar officers
other nations and to do away with y
e discrimination which otherwise 70
ust necessarily be made, in pome az
ses, In favor OF men having large -, -,