New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
DEMOCRATS PLAN WRECK
Of STATE DEPARTMENT
ATTEMPT at MutiIation Mixed
with Creation of New
Tariff Board.
Under GUISE OF ECONOMY
Measure Would Sweep Out OF
Service Some of Ablest and
Most Experienced Men
in the Department.
From Tho Tribune Bureau ]

Wellington May 1.-THE Democratic
.,,iority in the House, actuated by
denomination to obscure its reckless ex-
.-ovagance in certain directions with
N imitation of economy in others,
.,vuck a vital blow at the Department
- state when it passed the legislative,
.vocutlve and judicial appropriation bill
N its present form. The mutilation Of
tho state Department proposed by the
7,orocrats constitutes, in the estimation
n those competent to speak, another
and clinching evidence Of their utter
;rcanacity to conduct the foreign affairs
~ the nation or. indeed, to grasp any
n-ohlem broader than the confines OF
their several bailiwicks.
The attempt to mutilate the Depart
ment Of State would be promptly dis
missed as simply another example Of
Democratic insincerity, and would occa-
sion little surprise to those who have the
foreign affairs Of the nation at heart, f
Il were not that the proposal is ineXtric-
sbIv mixed up with the creation Of a
new tariff board, which the Democrats
would substitute for that now in exist
ence. and which they hope 10 abolish
AS the maintenance Of some form Of
tariff board or commission is a funda-
mental principle Of the Taft tariff policy,
the proposed mutIation of the state De
partment is the occasion Of serious anX-
ietv to those who have its welfare at
heart.
The humiliation of several important
divisions Of the Department of State is
proposed in the legislative bill and this
has aroused a storm of protest in ad-
ministration circles which, it is believed,
will be re-echoed by the business world.
II being pointed out that the bill VIII
practically wreck the reorganized de-
payment.
The bill, which has been described as
astounding reactionary legislation"
wipes out the divisions Of Latin-Ameri-
can, Far Eastern, Near Eastern and Eu-
ropean Affairs and the B1reau OF Trade
Relations at the same time sweeping
out Of the service some Of the ablest and
most experienced men in the department.
including the officials who are handling
the Chinese loan matter. the Mexican
situation, the new japanese treaty, the
Russian Jewish problem, the Latin
American commercial interests and vari-
GUS other important propositions.
criticism Of the legislation is based on
the fact that the state Department has
been thoroughly reorganized along lines
ur economy. but with a view TO secur-
ag greater and more efficient service to
an interests II is maintained that the
'a,armcnt is on a thoroughly sound
...rIs iu every respect. and could well be
taken as model 10y other branches Of
the government. Hence It is regarded as
neither a legitimate field for economy
uo~ proper subject for partisan ex-
Fermentation.
Major Charles Delano Hine. who re-
organized the Hartman railroad system,
ma King il a model for similar corpora
lions. and who ranks as an authority
Of the highest type on questions Of sound
economy organization, has this to say
about the state Department, after its re-
organization:
a brief survey Of the administrative
working of the State Department indi-
Gates the most modern type Of organiza-
ton and an intelligent development Of
the most progressive methods which log
ically follow as a corollary when the
main proposition. orga IMITATION, is estab-
Hshed SO far from the State Depart
ment needing much expert assistance, it
Is in a position 10 set sn example as 10
the fundamentals Of organization and
methods for many large business cor