The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-11-20
Republican
Constructive
Legislation


most admirable pieces of constructive
legislation to be credited to the Re-
publican party Is to be found in the
vice, which took place in 1906.
The report of the Civil Service
Commission for 1902 stated: Our con-
sular service has attained an import
ance far beyond that which 1t had in
any previous period of our history.
So long as our exports were confined
to a few agricultural products and
we sold our manufactured goods
mostly at home, the foreign consul
was a man of comparatively little
Importance. But we have entered
I upon q new phase of our national
career. We have become the fore
most productive nation of the world.
The chief characteristics of this ma
tional expansion we're developed dur
| ing the five year period from 1897,
when the Dingley tariff law went in.
to effect, to 1902.
| Efforts looking to the reorganiza-
ton of the consular service had new
err been more than half heartedly I'M
dertaken by the Democratic party.
In 1895 Cleveland issued an order
which provided for an examination
board to test the fitness OF consular
applicants. A student of the ques-
ton. Award l.. Bishop. of Yale, says:
Il does not appear that the standard
governing appointments was thereby
much improved, for the examination
was, in many cases, a mere matter
of form-the appointment often pre-
ceding 1t.
In 1906, Roosevelt. Root, Lodge,
and Robert Adams, Jr., of Pennsyl-
vania, took up the question of putting
our consular service on a sound bas-
is. A bill was introduced by Senator
Lodge. the business men of the coun-
try became interested in the subject
and a national consular reform con-
vention was held in Washington,
which adopted the following resolu-
ton: Il is the opinion of the constit-
uent bodies of this convention that
the consular service of the United
States should be reorganized as pro-
vided for in Senate Bill, 1345, intro
duced by Senator Lodge. Every
feature of that bill is, in the Judg-
ment of the business organizations
of the country, most essential and in
harmony with the growing needs OF
the United States.
The Lodge bill was passed April
5. 1906, receiving the solid support
of the Republicans, both in the Sen
ate and in the House. 1t became
operative June 80, following. 1t pro-
vided. for grading of the service
the substitution of salaries for fees
forbade consuls to engage in private
business, declared that all consuis
getting $1,000 or more year should
be American citizens and established
corps of consular inspectors TO
make the consular service still more
efficient, President Roosevelt by eX-
: ecutive order of June 81. put 1t on
merit system basis Vacancies in
the two lower grades were to be NIL
ed by examination. land the eXamin
alton is a stiff one) and in the ser
, vice offered career worthy con
sideration Of high class of men AS
/ political plum tree 1t was severed
| at the foot To use the language OF
!, then Secretary Root, at the hearing
on the bill: So long as the present
D administration is in power there II
every assurance that the merit system
as provided for in the executive or
1 der Of June 81 will govern not onl!
:. onnointments but promotions as wei