The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-12-11
fine POSTS TO Fill
PRESIDENT WILSON WILL HAVE
SOME FAT JOBS

5-sc@ .st VVHts4 INA oVNS
NOT In CIVIL GBVlCE|
coasressnan Joseph 7. Johnson Oh
This State, Expresses Himself very
Plaidy on the Matter Saying inA'
the Present System Is q Mere ne
publican Pretsnse.
s The Washington correspondent VI
Fhe News and Courier says since inc
republican party began its sixteen
: vears OF uninterrupted control OF the
saamin,stration In 1897 it has set up
: system OF examination for appi-
cants for positions in the consuial
zseryfce. The impression has oeen
generally made, therefore, that .ne
!. coasnls ere under civil service resa-
lations. Ike the clerical forces OF ehe
var,ons Government departments.
4.he fact is that the consular places
ar, IN the Presidential class, and no
.oSca. that is filed under the Constltu-
f,on by Executive nomination can De
sronsht within the compulsory ops7-
sion OF the civil service without an
amendment Of the Constitution itself.
Examinations may be required TO
Z: az . list OF ehgibles il the President
Is willing, and such a system af1ec'-
;,e appointments and promotions Oh
eonsnls was created by an order VI
president Roosevelt In 1908. But
s any succeeding President can disre-
eard or abrogate snis system at Will.
REPRESENTATIVE Joseph T. Johnson
an South Carolina, one Of the present
Democratic leaders in Congress- had
this to say when the matter was men
toned to him:
sThe Republican papers and a
GOOD many Of the Democratic papers
are urging that the consular service
sbon,d not be disturbed by the In
coming Wilson administration, stress
ing the alleged fact that this service
has been taken out OF politics and
3. su1nder the classified or civil service
regulations and should there remain.
4sSuch statements are amusing. 1
can understand why the Republican
papers are so anxious to MAINTAIN
{ the status quo; but I am surprised
!. that any Democratic paper should
fsll into the trap. I believe strongly
In the civil service, but detest n.y.
pocrisy and deception. Here is the
rea, situation: There are many con-
su,s and consular agents Of the Unit
ed States. The compensation ranges
from 81, 600 to $4,000 q year.
At time when every consular OIL
fee probably was filed by : aepuoli'
can the Republican Administration
made pretense Of taking the con-
sular service out Of POLITICS and put
ting IL on the merit system. Since
) that time few Democrats from the
# Southern States have been permitted
TO stand very rigid examinations as
Ito their scholarship. and where they
eaased successfully have been ap
:no;nted to some Of the eorsulates oi
1he lowest grade.
For instance. from South Carolina
preber, Haskell, Cook and Jenkin:
hare been appointed to $4,000 posts
which is the minimum salary. After
8 year or two in these undesirable
places, two or three Of these mer
G have been promoted. Dreher, Has
keiI and jenkins have been advanced
to $500; Cook remsIns at $4,000
It would be many, roany years before
any OF these Democrats Of the Low
grade could ever reach any one OF tht
high and desirable places, 1t the Re
publicans who now FIJI them are per
m;tted,to remain until they die out.
.tI think President Wilson woule
be perfectly justified IN upsetnns
such 8. partisan, unfair and sectona
arraog cement II the places had no
all been filed in the most partisan
and sectional manner 1t would be al
right to take the consular service ou
of politics and place it upon merit
But one serious objection to the form
Of examinations that have been con
ducted here in Washington is tina
the examinations require men OF YER!
high literary attainment, and Wouif
har, some Of the very best business
men In South Carolina. How man!
OF the very best business men II
South Carolina, who could be lnstru
. mental z extending our foreign
- trade, can speak ruently $50 Ian
guagesa And yet that is one of the
prerequisites to appointment as con
sui.
aIt may be Of interest to you K
know who fill the most important
consular Offices. Let me give you the
posts, their respective salaries, the
persons who ELL them and the States
they hail from in the consular ser
vice in the grades from $4,000 yea'
: uptto $4,000 a year:
Londan, $4,000, Grifhths, New
York State.
Liverpool, $4,000, Washington
District Of Columbia.
Paris, $4,000, Mason, Ohio.
Rio de Janerio, $4,000, Lay, Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Shanghai, $4,000, Wilder, Maine.
Havana, $4,000, Rodgers, Ohio.
Hong Kong, $4,000, Anderson. Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Berlin, $4,000, Thackers, Penn
sylvanfa.
= Hamburg, $4,000, Skinner, Ohio.
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