Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-13
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
lspecial to The Bulletin. }

hlS lelLer dQVlSlnS the reorganization | of the state department, measures were on foot in the house foreign af- fairs committee to bring about such l a reform. Congressman John Jacob 1 Rogers of the Fifth Massachusetts 1 district is ranking republican member of the committee and has served as chairman nearly all the past years while Chairman Porter was absent through personal illness and by ill., ness in his family. In an interview today with The Bulletin correspond ent MT. Rogers said it was the inten tion of the committee to act on the suggestion made by MT. Lansing and which had been conveyed to the com mittee some months ago in executive sessions.
 | For several months MT, Rogers, as acting, chcairman has been holding conferences with all those whom he
 believed could speak with authority regarding the foreign service of the United States, and getting their ad- vice as to most effective and efficient reforms. He then co-ordinated the l best features in a bill which he dSaft- ed and introduced in congress, and which is still pending. Thus measures will be the subject of hearings starting about May 1st, I and will continue several weeks. sMuch educational work must be done | before congress is in mood to adopt I a systematic programme of drastic i'changes and it is not thought proba- ble such legislation can be put 1 through by the first of June, when l either a recess or adjournment is 1 planned. Said Mir. Rogers. "We. are going to make the sstate department better worth while for men to go into. I Probable the most important function lrof government is to be adequately
 makes 1t very plain that he believes 1.-the quality of foreign service at pres lent is not what is needed. and be- st1ieyes congress should take steps to make it more attractive to young men Il of ambition and ability He pointed bout that foreign service is divided in
 to two parts-the diplomatic and con- q sular service" The consular service, " I he explainedn takes care of our for I recent legislation our consular of ficers receive fairly adaquate sal sl aries with excellent prospects of pro- motion coupled with permancy of toff1ce.
 sl The diplomatic service is wretched- I ly paid and has absolutely no assur- ance of worth while promotion or permanent tenure of office. A secre- tary in the diplomatic. service starts
 in The illustrated" at $1,50G a<year s and after fifteen or tweny years ir service he has distinctly made good
 and he may hope to get salary o1 g. $3060o a year. That is the maxi
 mum. We have to have high grade
 men of extended education, who car
 speak at least one, and usually two ol three languages beside English. Tht : absence of either future or salary Q means that there is only one appea ] open-an appeal on the social side ell The cost Of maintaining the duties O. Q the position are high. so a poor mar
 finds himself automatically excluded
 The result is, as a rule, only the riel and butterfly class is interested t enter. Snobbishness and spats ar y frequently the only aparent asset 0 some of the secretaries. The diplo
 matic service and the consular ser
 | vice are now two water tight com
 partments. There is no interchang
 between them"
 t Mr. Rogers added: My remedy i if three fo1d-First, to provide for pro worthwhile secretaries. This vii , give them future which is now lack ing; second, to give them a decen s living wage commensurate with tn 0 expenses which they must main ht tain; with the specialized education
 which they must have obtained befor if entering the service and with whic = they must have obtained before en
 tering the service, and with the i'm e portance of their duties This wi d enlarge the field of eligibIes becaus l. Fit allows young men without means { e entered. Third. to provide for the eas l. Inter- change between consuls an o secretaries. Many a secretary woul " make a better consul and many
 consul would make a better secretar, There is no reason why there shoul "a not be fiuidity between those tW er sides of the United States foreig to service"
 e. In reply to question Mr. Roger le said: q would accomplish this b " amalgamating both services into on l. to be known as "The foreign servit m of the United States" would the ,e allow easy and frequent interchang I as matter of administration merel - of secretaries and consuls. TT ss additional experience which wou ot thus result would be of benefit bo le to the individual and the service. ed also hope congress will provide h. training school for foreign servi 10 akin to Annapolis and West Poir ot This plan would insure a large nun - Der of thoroughly grounded men oi the science of diplomacy and foreis V trade. There is nothing of the sort ce this country although France h ed worked it out with good results. :
 Secretary Lansing recently sa .+ some changes must be made in t - department at Washington. Most ei this can be done without legisIatie VII but the foreign offices which I rega i'd as vastly more important, requif es. action by congress. I have introduc on a proposal to give effect to the val ,w ous provisions as have just outlin ,ra them" hel MT. Rogers, who has the matter
 it charge, is arranging for testimony ,le the hearings to include the advice +o such men as John Bassett Moo ~ Former Secretary Lansing, Hen
 White, former Misister to Holla en Gerrett. as well as officials of | ed state department.
 eyi The old fight for jurisdiction oy Ire the commercial attaches which I Ter been the cause of long drawn out co
 tests between the. bureau of forei
 and domestic commerce, under
 Department of commerce, and
 consular service under the state ( me .partment, is in no way responsible sre1 the reorganization programme so I
 Rogers stated. The business int
 ests of the country do not seem req old to entrust the commercial attaches ion the state department service WI
 pressed for a statement on that sl Q ject MT. Rogers said, q think t be- congress and the business interests ave the country are not satisfied with
 department of state. That is why u