The Washington herald., 1914-05-31
What A CONSUL
OUGHT TO KNOW
Doubted if Even Mr.. Wilson
Could Pass Examinations
Of Candidates.

Do you know anything about the raip-
ing rebellion? What did the treaty Of
Prague accomplish? What 10 your idea
concerning the ordinance Of f7u? Can
you mako any observations concernins
the relations OF nat money to the crea-
ton Of wealth. Can you translate the
English language into Spanish, French
or German. and then translate IL back
again. 30 that the final product win bear
any resemblance to the original one? Can
you tell q merchant what price to put
on his goods so that he may sive q trade
discount OF u 1-2 per cent, lose Is %
per cent BY bad debts. and make a profit
OF II II per cent? What rate of insur-
ance may be legally charged on a respon-
dentia bond? What have you to say
concerning the difference between citizen-
ship and domicile?
Up on Everything.
II you cannot answer such simple ques-
tons a. these. or others that are similar,
there II not the slightest use In coming
to Washington and taking the examina-
ton which las young men are now under
going In pursuance Of an ambition to be
united states consuls. The consul who
gets appointed nowadays must come near
er TO knowing something about every
thing than any other employe Of the gov.
ernment Persons who have looked over
typical examination papers placed before
the candidates for consulships have no
hesitation In declaring that not one Of the
ten members Of President Wilson's Cabi-
net could pass, that even Mr.. Wilson him.
self would probably fail to make 50 Der
cent In possible 100. and that in the
entire membership of the Senate and the
House Of Representatives there II not a
statesman who could make out a paper
that would get past the examiners.
Government examinations for many
places are notoriously dificult, but for
consulshfps the obstacles and the traps
placed IN the path Of the unwSry are
simply appalling. At least three-quarters
OF those who take the examinations for
places In the foreign service OF the United
states fail. They hnd themselves con-
fronted by questions dealing with sub
jects Of which they never dreamed They
are In the position of the candidate for
q government clerkship that paid a very
moderate salary. who found this question
on one Of the papers laid before him:
How many Hessians were sent to
America by England during the Revolu-
uonary War;"
The candidate did not waste much time
over IL. He wrote:
"A damn sight more than ever went
back"
It is said that this particular candidate
landed the job he was after. but II he
was running for consul that sort of an
answer would not satisfy the cold -blooded
examiners.
There are 2n consuIates of the United
States scattered all over the world. and
only twenty-stx Of them are vacant.
There are sixty-four consulates general.
IN which there are only three vacancies
II the present examination produces
enough successful Candidates to supply
the existing vacancies, II will be regard
ed as highly successful one But even
those who pass are not ready to be sent
abroad In the service Of the government
They must first go to school, where
they receive about six weeks instruction
In the intricacies OF their Jobs. It may
develop In this course Of schooling that
some OF those who managed to get past
the examiners show unfitness or inapti-
tude for the work and are weeded ont
before the President ever begins to con-
slider the list Of names that he will send
to the Senate for confirmation.
Must Display Bushes. Ability.
Intending consuIs must undergo oral
and written examinations and must know
at least one modern language other than
English. They must display business
aofiity. alertness, and natural fitness,
must possess moral. mental and physical
and must have the neces-
sary Character. address. general educa-
ton and command OF English that the
government expects OF q foreign repre-
sentative They must be at least twenty
one years old and not over fifty. and are
also required to be citizens of the United
States Even before they come to Wash
ngton to take the examination they must
be designated for that purpose by the
President.
The LIS candidates now In WASHINGTON |
are wrestling with questions that would |
give pause to q college professor. The
first subject they are required TO writa
upon deals with International. maratime, |
md commercial law. In a recent exarni-