Show REFORMS IN THE STATE DE there Is no branan 0 the federal government which stands in greater need of thorough reorganization than the diplomatic and consular service it Is archaic and ineffective it should be put on a better basis the diplomatic and consular service since the early of the government has been filled chiefly with men owing their appointments to political considerations and not to any special fitness for their duties its personnel has usually been largely or almost en changed by every new administration tra tion its members have been worse paid than the similar representatives of any other great power inefficiency has often been a necessary consequence no business public or private ever was or ever will by well done by men who do not owe their places to their qualifications tor them whose tenure of office usually Is too short for them to acquire those qualifications ficat ions even it they are disposed to do so and who know they will be underpaid whether they do well orl ll until recent years the commercial relations of the united sates with foreign nations were simple americans were so occupied with the development of domestic resources and the domestic market that they had no time or energy for foreign commercial conquests our foreign political relations were equally simple no interest was taken in european talk about the balance of power all americans asked of foreign nations was to give them their good will remember me monroe doc doci i trine and let them alono while they worked out their salvation it made little difference then if the manners of american foreign ministers were UE couth and crude and if the entire diplomatic and consular service was maintained rather to afford soft berths for politicians than to promote national interests abroad conditions have changed in late years american capitalists ta lists merchants and manufacturers have been seeking and finding investments and markets in every part of tho world the united states has acquired extensive posses slona in the pacific circumstances and the altered temper of people and government have suddenly made the nation a leading florid power its relations both commercial and political have increased vastly in complexity and importance abo diplomatic and consular service as heretofore organized and officered has become inadequate properly to handle them it Is fortunate that at athla conjuncture president lias been abl to place at the head of the state department part ment a statesman possessing the organizing capacity which mr root displayed as secretary of war that entire department ought as speedily as possible to be removed from tho domain of political influence to that of merit the laws should be so changed that consuls will bo required before appointment to show that they have some fitness tor the duties of their offices diplomatic salaries should bo raised so that poor but able men will no longer be practically de barred as they now are from the greatest posts and a system of gradation and promo alon should be established which will be an incentive to effective work to every member of the service doubtless secretary root will devote himself with his customary energy to securing these reforms |