The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1912-12-27
TAFT SENDS IN
final MESSAGE
President Starts With Discussion
Of Foreign Relations
WORK DONE BY DIPLOMATS.

Recognition Of Merit System Has Been
Beneficial - Suggestions Regarding
Changes In the Tariff Laws Designed
to Aid Commeree-rurl<ish War and
Troubles In China.
Merit and Nenpartisan Character Of
Appointments.
How faithful to the merit system
and how nonpartisan has been the
conduct Of the diplomatic and con-
sular services In the last four years
may be judged from the following:
Three ambassadors now serving held
their present rank at the beginning
Of my administration. OF the ten
ambassadors whom have appointed.
I've were by promotion from the rank
Of minister. Nine ministers now serv-
Ing held their present rank at. the be-
ginning Of the administration. OF the
thirty ministers whom have ap-
pointed, eleven were promoted from
the lower grades Of the foreign serv-
ice 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 mission are service men. three hav-
ing entered the service during this ad-
ministration.
The thirty-seven secretaries Of en-
bassy or legation who have received
their initial appointments after pass
ing successfully the required exami-
nation were chosen for ascertained 1T
ness. without regard to political af-
filiations. A dearth of candidates
from southern and western states has
alone made it impossible thus far
completely to equalize all the states
representations in the foreign service.
In the effort to equalize the representa-
ton Of the various states in the con-
sular service l have made sixteen of
the Twenty-Five new appointments as
consul which have occurred during
my administration from the southern
states. This is 55 per cent. Every
other consular appointment made, in
GLIDING the promotion of eleven young
men from the consular assistant and
student interpreter 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 Representatives Rec.
commended.
In connection with legislation for the
amelioration Of the foreign service,
wish to invite attention to the advisa-
bility of placing the salary appropria-
tons upon a better basis. l believe
that the best results would be obtained
by 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 a system Of
accounting Tue ScucTdl III
rection of the department Of state.
In line with the object which have
sought of placing our foreign service on
a basis Of permanency, have at vari-
GUS times advocated provision by con-
gress for the acquisition Of government
owned buildings for the residence and
offices of our diplomatic officers, so as
to place them more nearly on an equal
ity with similar officers Of other ma
tons and to do away with the discrim-
inatiOn which otherwise must neces-
Darily be made In some cases in favor
Of men having large private fortunes.
The act of congress which approved
on Feb. II, 1911. was a right step in
this direction. The secretary of state
has already made the limited recon.
mendations permitted by the act for
any one year, and ii is my hope that
the bill introduced in the house of rep
resentatives to carry out these recon-
mendations will be favorably acted on
by the congress during its present ses-
sion.
In some Latin-American countries
the expense Of government owned lega-
tons will he less than elsewhere, and
it is certainly very urgent that in such
countries as some Of the republics of
Central America and the Caribbean,
where it is peculiarly difficult to rent
suitable quarters. the representatives
Of the United States should be justly
and ALTERNATELY nroyidad with dippifiad
and suitable official residences. Indeed.