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Show THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE. Important and specific recommendations recommenda-tions looking to improvement in the method of appointing and promoting foreign representatives of the United States in the diplomatic and consular service are incorporated in an exhaustive exhaus-tive report about to be issued by tho committee on foreign wrvicc of the National Na-tional Civil Service Eeform league. The Philadelphia Public Ledger's New York correspondent has obtained an advance draft of the report, which, if it carries weight in proper quarters, should have influence in bettering a service that, perhaps for good reason, lias been somewhat some-what of a reproach to the nation. Tho committee has made a thorough investigation of the foreign service and has arrived at the conclusion that the ministers to the various countries should be selected, "so far as practicable," practic-able," by the merit system from among tlbQ employees of the service. Naturally, Natur-ally, such selections are not always practicable; neither would they bo al-waj-s wise, for there are many men in civilian life who are peculiarly fitted for foreign diplomatic missions and whoso valuable services, should a hard and fast rulo be adhered to, would be lost to the government. In a foreword to tho report, Richard H. Dana, president of the league, seta forth the "necessity of immediate legislative leg-islative action if American foreign txrvice is to survive with credit the added responsibilities imposed upon it, in common with that of other countries, coun-tries, by the late war." Among the most important recommendations recommen-dations incorporated in the report, as outlined by Mr. Dana, are: First. The improvement of the entrance en-trance examinations for tlie foreign Ferv-tce Ferv-tce and the placing of them more sluct- ly upon a merit basis: Second. Tlie purchase of enib-sie3, legations and consulates: Third. An increase in salary schedules sched-ules in all branches of the foreign service: serv-ice: Fourth. The extension of the n-.erit system of promotion to the selection of ministers. The president of the h'asuo further points out that the lur.dam ?::tal purpose pur-pose of the committee and its inv s:i-gation s:i-gation is to assemble the enoniv-ns mass of facts accumulated tnn.uKh the f'r-eicn f'r-eicn services of this and o:h-:r C"i:ntries for a reasoned and constructive discussion. dis-cussion. The report recommends that the ao limit of entering the service be reduced re-duced so as not to exceed thirty years; that examinations be on a fixed date and open to any citizen of the United states without designation by the president or recommendation by senators sen-ators or representatives; that written examinations, to be published with tho ratings of successful applicants, be conducted con-ducted each year in the cities where civil service examinations are held, an 1 that candidates obtaining a satisfactory satisfac-tory rating be certified to Washington for further oral e .-..'imimi'.ion, after which, if sticccsf nl. t he y be given a perioel of trial and instruction at tlie department of stato before nomination for appointment. After explaining in detail reasons for the various reeominenda'inns concerning concern-ing changes in the manner of appointment appoint-ment and promotion, the report approaches ap-proaches the item of increased salaries in this wisr1: No reform In the forolrn serv!.-e is ni'TP ri-ees'-ary than .'in ade-piate i'l-cr--n:: in salaries in all b:ir. n. The -vil cf:V'-t of the pre-s.-nt neir'Hy . v:-ar.ts v:-ar.ts has br:.-:i e-sp.-e-iaHy f.-lt 1:1 th diplomatic dip-lomatic s'rv:-p. Aflrr y.,r.- of Jaith.'ul work thf hMthr'H-Kra'V .v.-cre-l a r i. i ,-cMvo ,-cMvo the ridiculous salary of i per year. Jn th principal capl'nlK of T'.irope such a sum doe:i not suffice a nine,-!" man to maintain himself in a manner befitting befit-ting r repre'.sentat ivo (,f tins cuun'.rv. Under theso e-lr.-unt a noer. onlv men with independent means can contiiiiiA in tho dipiomf 1 ic se-rvirt:. A similar filiation fili-ation prevails in re-card to the post:- of niini.'iter and nrnhnsenelor. A nr'ion rhat prides itseif i,n beiric; tiemoi-ra::-: should remedy this condition. Hoarding the r.'co:r.:r.enda( ion for tie application of Iho merit principle to appointments at'.n promotions in I lie foreign service, the report r.'ivs: This reoommeri'ln t 'on as a Ker.er.il Prilieiplo. neefjt, ,tl, defense Jlllloni; Hie ni- telliKeiit men of nl7.i!rh; r.evertlir,e;:s. theTe Is some tlifferenee of opinion el,eu It eoiiK-f! to its ;i t'jtlie:, t Ion. An et.arn-Ination et.arn-Ination fIiov.-s tlint all other ere it ,,a-toins ,,a-toins elo npply pilch a rule :o tiie-ir tor- elltn servlee, i nclll'l 1 11? tho hiitlieet. fll'ie of ainleiseii'lor. A oonir.-ti v iu.nt-eH ilon seems to previill In the niiiols of nunv "ennlor-s. v.'ho nllef:e timt the nisloin of e'-rent Urltnln Is to nppoint iii :; iioinivl.e,) etl7.en outside (ho : rviee. In point of fact, there ;i re vi i-y few nie-h iii:--t-inecs. |