The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-03
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFEilRED DEBATE.
IL SENATE Tuesday, february 81, 1919.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.


IL SENATE Tuesday, february 81, 1919.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.
The Senate, in committee of the whole resumed the
consideration Of the bull making appropriations for the civil
and diplomatic expenses of the government the pending
question being upon the amendment submitted by Mr..
Hllr increase the salary of minister to France
Mr. HALE. l stated yesterday that would modify the
amendment make The fifteen instead of six
teen thousand dollars.
Mr. KING. When suggested to the Senate last eve.
nirg that provision ought to be made change the
mode compensating ministers abroad and verted
particularly to the extraordinary expenses necessarily in
cured by diplomatic agents in foreign countries
under tie impression tina, the subject should be brought
forward separate form, rather than amendment
an appropriation bill And am led the conclusion that
some legislation ought to he had the subject from the
fact that while the compensation which they received
the way Of salary not adequate for the maintenance of
proper style Of living, give them outfit which much
greater than ought be allowed provided We their
salaries and the evidence of the ncorrectness Of the outfit
as compared wh the salary to be found in the fact that
many persons abroad who receive the outfit and
salary ard remain abroad but year and home
ard others appointed Who their RETURN the
outfit well salary. In pecuniary point of view,
therefore, the government loses rather than gains by this
e under which there constant succession of changes
whlcn all beneficial to the public interest for
every that, remaining short time. they
lave opportunity of becoming well acquainted with
their duties and new is appointed who is wholly
unacquained with them. Hence it is, am under the i'm
preston that ought not to increase the salary without
enable diplomatic agent to live as becomes the repre-
sentative OF the country it will be all that is necessary
him. and you should take away portion of the outfit
least leaving merely sufficient convey him TO his lace of
destination. Ii me, thcn that the honorable
tor from New Hampshire would better consult the interests
of the country and the interests of the representatives of
this hereafter te appointed if he would bring
whole subject before the Senate at the session. and
let the matter be carefully examined, and bill passed
placing the subject upon proper foundation agree with
the senator from Ohio IN particular, that 1t Is very I'M
should
made from of reasonable intelligence ut least sufficient
enable them discharge the duties devoved upon them
with credit to themselves and the country but long
you give this snted compensation, you either necessarily
force the President to appoint persons who have large pr
vate fortunes TO expend or you throw the appointments
upon those who make job of it, and husband the little
amount that given them and go oafand live in way
which is scarcely respectable least becoming the
representatives Of a nation like ths--in way which,
great degree units them for the discharge of their duties
those duties should be discharged Ii the senator had had
opportunity of seeing and judging of this matter by
residence abroad himself he would have the great If
ference resulting the interests of the country from the
discharge of the diplomatic duties of representative of this
government those duties should be discharged and the
way in which they-are often compelled to be discharged
for the want of adequate compensation TO enable the
dplomatc agent to incur those expenses which
say place him in proper position for the discharge OF
h. idtes in manner most useful to the country.
on, sir understand this matteihat association brings
you easy communication with those who furnish
you with reliable information, that if there be anything
amss, he corrected whereas, if you have the
intercourse which will enable you acquire early norma-
ton, the is done and when done late repair
the mischief And think that the want of sufficient
pcnsation ministers abroad encouraging species
Of arstocracy the land because the appointments
be confined those who have large fortunes the excu
sion of persons having merit but less wealth, simply
because the latter are not able to expend the large sums OF
money which requisite support establishment of
foreign minister. Now, sir with regard to the exrava-
gance of those who go abroad, Are they extnvagant
have known American minister that
gan-never. They cannot be in the nature Of things,
less they possess private estates, the revenue
of which will enable them to expend more money where
they may be- than ordinarily falls to the lot of Amer
citizens. would be the last man to advocate such
an allowance to ministers abroad would ,b|e them
induce them to vie with the extravaganza of of the
diplomatic agents Of the countries of Europe. is
necessary 1t would be highly improper. And any dipo-
matte agent Of this country who should attempt to vie in
pousencss of expenditure with the representatives of
the monarches Of Europe would show that he did not
truly represent the genius of the American people, and
would not be respected he should maintain that
standing which would place him upon social footing with
those who have IN their power to be essentially useful to
him. Sir, do believe, whatever the senator from
OHIO say that the American people have little pride
character that they would wish the representatives. OF
this government to live meany below what is customary
with ministers of standing and character II he SO lives,
impossible that he be useful and you might just
well send your dispatches the Atlantic in the Al.
steamer to be delivered by your consul would have
better effect than to have minister there who cannot live
In the style in which minister ought to live. would be
In favor of Withdrawing all foreign ministers rather
than subject the country the degradation of having
them bady provided with the of support that they
live in a becoming manner Still, | said last
evening" think would be better that the honorable Scna
tor should not press his amendment now. There are
great many charge d'ofires that are useless consul
general would do Just we'll providing for persons
who do little SERVICE but who would be likely 10
do mischief nation Judged of abroad by the indvid
uas by whom that nation il represented and II must be
confessed that thsre have been great many injurious
pontments | think it would be far better to Withdraw
many OF them, putting the into the hands of thu
consul general and by regulating the outfit to cover
the actual expense of trouble, and regulating the salary
the minister who il necessarily involved great expense
and Is cases, unable to encounter that EXPENSE
great good will have been accomplished BY reducing tr
salaries Of those who have less expenses to meet you vii
he able adequate salary those whose expenses
must necessarily be great.
know by experience the expenses which residence
abroad necessarily requires know that France every
thing has nearly doubled in price within the last twenty
yeashouse rent, board everything. When the country
young, represented in France 10y of thu
ablest the world lie received only his ex
penses and from the public report that his cxpen
SEES as allowed and paid economical as ne was at time
too, when everything cheaper than ut present,
twelve thousand dollars yearly At the formation Of tn
government, nine thousand the may imum allowed
and still have gone on, although the of living
greatly increased making distinction, retaining the
amount to this dey We have made discrimination be
tween those that expensive and those that not
you take Berlin Madrid the expense one-haf
great London Paris, and than two-third
great as at ST. Pcersburgh. The requires
alteration. II duty which the interests Of tn
country the people of this country send proper repre-
sentatvcs abroad, and pay them such comp
will enable them represent the government to the best al
vantage prefer therefore, that the amendment shout
not be pressed now and shall be prepared, if hav
anything do with again, 10 vote for regulating the sal
of our ministers abroad give them that fa
compensation which will command the services of
talent and enable them whether they have private fortune
not live respectfully 1t is worthy of this repub