Evening star., 1924-01-06
Real Workers in the National Capital

further. He wanted to SEQ the con-
sular service made first rate, he said.
like every other American. He would
do all in his power to help.
Tho first bill providing for the
reformation of the diplomatic and
consular services was introduced in
1895 by Senator Morgan Of Alabama
along the lines suggested by Carr and
much has been done under the execu-
tive order Of President Roosevelt.
The weakness today Is that while
only men of first rate ability are ad-
nitted to the service. 1t is dinicult to
keep them. A man who has an in
come of MS own and a real desire to
serve Is often found who is willing to
work for half pay. But the good men
who are not SO well provided are COM
PEELED to leave after a few years. The
| salaries are so small that Ii Is not
possible for any consul to save money,
and there is no retirement pay pro-
vided. AS soon as consul thoroughly
learns his business some commercial
money. In justice to himself and his
family he Is often compelled to ac-
cept.
Troubles of the Diplomats.
A somewhat similar condition ex-
lists in the diplomatic service. The
social demands made upon even the
lowers diplomatic ranks are so great
and so constant that no man can hope
that his pay will more than half pay
his way, even with the most extreme
economy. Consequently appointments
in the diplomatic establishment have
been automatically restricted to rich
men or the sons of rich men. Many Of
them are admittedly unfit, for one or
another reason. But the State Depart
ment has been obliged to keep many
of them because of the difficulty of
finding better men on a pay-your-
own-way basis.
Carr Discusses Rogers Bill
"If the Rogers bill becomes a law
said Carr, at will help US retain the
| best men in the consular service.
They will not feel themselves COM
PEELED to seek other employment to
provide for the future. Their eff
cheney will be increased because of
the spur to their ambition. The i'm
mediate superannuation OF twenty or
twenty-five faithful servants Will
lower the age average and increase
the hustlfng capacity of the corps
Another Immediate result Will be a
wedding out Of the white-spat boys
in the State Department. That is
what cruel people call the young men
who are diplomats by reason OF a
generous father and a set of lovely
| clothes. Those of the white-spat sort
who remain will find themselves ele-
waited on their toes by the sudden ne
cessity of competition with line of
lively young consuls. The thoroughly
worthwhile young men in the diplo-
matte establishment will presumably
welcome their changed status. No
| one says more unkind things about
! the mental capacity of some young
/ diplomats than other young diplo-
mats.
For thirty years Carr has been
working to this end. He began by
, furnishing the dope on which other
men were able to urge his plan for
reformation. AS he progressed in
rank he met the pressure eff the poll
, tfcians at time when political pres
sure was almost all-powerful. He
was made director of the consular
service in 1905, and since then has
been busily wedding wrong ones out
and coaxing right ones in. He is the
! final authority on everything that
consuls should know, and they are
presumed to know everything and be
able to do anything. He has given
, his time and energy unsparingly to
| terested to join him in the work of
attempting to improve the service. If
| and when the diplomatic establish
ment is put upon a basis OF matter
! of-fact efficiency the change VIII
! have been due to Wilbur J. Carr more
| than any other man. He has had one
! Of the hardest and most unpleasant
| Jobs in the government service.
| And he thinks he has been lucky.
I, Lucky TO have had the chance to
serve.