The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-12-05


near eastern, and western European
affairs. To these divisions were called
from the foreign service diplo matte
and consular officers possessing expe-
rience and knowledge gained by act
ual service In different parts of the
world and thus familiar with political
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
to the diplomatic service. In this age
of commercial diplomacy 1t was evil
re ho i,pn nrfo RI frn in
an adequate personnel in that branch
Of the service. Therefore. on Novem-
Der 26, 1909, by an executive order
placed the diplomatic service up to
the grade Of secretary Of embassy, in
elusive, upon exactly the same strict
tem 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 Nonpartican
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 may be
judged from the following: Three
ambassadors now serving held their
present rank at the beginning Of the
administration. OF the ten ambassa-
doris whom have appointed five were
by promotion from the rank of min
lister. Nine ministers now serving
held their present rank at the begin
IF i,,ic l,o
thirty ministers whom | have appoint
ed, eleven were promoted from the
lower grades of the foreign service or
from the department of state OF the
nineteen missions in Latin America,
where our relations are close and our
interest Is great fifteen chiefs Of mis-
sion are service men, three having
entered the service during this admin
istration. The thirty-seven secreta-
ries of embassy or legation who have
received their initial appointments
after passing successfully the required
examination were chosen for ascer-
tanned fitness, without regard to po-
litical affiliations. A dearth of candi-
dates from southern and western
states has alone made it impossible
thus far completely to equalize all
the states representations in the for
eign service. In the effort to equalize
the representation of the various
states In the consular service | have
made sixteen of the twenty nine new
appointments as consul which have
occurred during my administration
from tho southern states. This is 55
Per cent. Every other consular ap-
pointment made, including the promo
ton of eleven young men from the
consular assistant and student inter
prefer corps, has been by promotion or
transfer, based solely upon efficiency
shown In the service.
In order to assure to the business
and other interests of the United
States continuance of the resulting
benefits of this reform, earnestly re-
new my previous recommendations of
legislation making it permanent along
some such lines as those Of the meas
.ure now pending in congress.
Larger Provision for Embassies and
Legations and for Other Expenses
OF Our Foreign Representa-
tives Recommended.
In connection with legislation for
the amelioration of the foreign serv-
ice, / wish to invite attention to the
ACCESSIBILITY of placing the salary ap-
preparations upon a better basais. |
believe that the best results would
be obtained by q moderate scale of
salaries, with adequate funds for the
expenses Of proper representation,
based In each case upon the scale and
cost OF living at each post, controlled
by system Of accounting, and I'M
der the general direction of the de-
partment OF state.
In line with the object which have
sought of placing our foreign service
on basis of permanency, | have at
various times advocated provision by
congress for the acquisition o. govern
ment-owned buildings for the resi-
dence and Offices OF our diplomatic of.
Ulcers, SO as to place them more near.
ly on an equality with similar officers
of other nations and to do away with
the discrimination which otherwise
must necessarily be made, in some
cases, IN favor OF men having large
private fortunes. The act Of congress
which approved on February II, 1911,
was a right step in this direction.
The secretary of state has already
made the limited recommendation
permitted by the act for any one year,
and it Is my hope that the bill intro
duced in the house of representatives
TO carry out these recommendation
will be favorably acted on by the con