The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-14

ready secretaries Of legation several missions The
bill proposes with a small salary al each
The bin aboishes all outfits and ints and proyides
instead salaries proportioned the expense and dignity
of the several missions provision Tor outfit and init
was originally made In limitations the display that char
seerised the diplomacy OF Europe Court etiquette and
State ceremony formerly occupied great portion OF the
dipomatists time Cabinet secrets confined 10 the
lew and the giving OF presents and costly display in dress
and living were recognised Legitimate and practical
modes OF lnnnenee AT the foundation Of our govern
nent ihereiore these appsndaees may have been wisely
provided for adding the dignity and influence of our
foreign ministers The travel were then more
tedious and expensive, From Washington to London by
e pest ana most expeditions Of conveyance costs
now not more then SlT0; TO Paris $500 10 Berlin S2so
TO Vienna, 5000 and less than this most OF the Other
European capitals There did then st the differ
ent courts OF Europe the facilities for elegance and
comfort in temporary residence and ambassadors from
one country TO another Obliged either carry these
With them or to incur great expense in their purchase
Unthts and inhts for foreign ministers this
furnished by all the governments OF Europe Within
The last years. however great changes have taken
place in these respects in all the European States
In illustration Of the feeling OF the day would recall
TO the recollection of the House the great
experienced by Congress in ITS the reception Of NJ
Gerard the first French minister The subject refer
red to committee composed Of Richard Henry Lee SaI
uel Adams, and Gouvencur Norris whose report the
subject turning points of etiquette discussed
for he days In the end be was received with degree Of
formaify that cannot be read without smile But a short
time before that Sas Dean minister Paris wrote
home from France Congress for of the natural
the 10 be gwen OF
presents to the Queen lie said in his letter speaking
Marie Antoinette
The Queen is fond Of parade she loves riding horse
back Could you send me hne Sarragsnse horse or two
wanu cranberries butternuts de would be great curl
osities" H
During General Washingtons administration presents
Of form given TO foreign minstersgenerally chain
and medal Of gold and there yet exists letter Of Jeter
sons dated New York. April 80 1890 written to Paris di
recting the which the medal be He
laair Wit md tho
date of the republic We accustomed to speak of the
simplicity of these early days without very exact ideas OF
what this simplicity consisted in but late 1916 there
the State Department plates showing the pattern
of dress and amount Of gold embroidery and lace 10 be
by ministers abroad. Diplomacy and the spirit
of the age have outgrown all this and foreign min
ister is not now so much the court conqyatudor as the
agent of his government and it is his exact
knowledge Of the progress and development of the trade
and material interest of his country and the history OF
law and legislation affecting other countries and ndi
eating the spirit and tendency Of public opinion at home
that gives him influence than the cosness of his living
the degree of ustre he contribute 10 the briancy
of court displays
The provision therefore for outfits and nfts does not
accord either with the changed spirit Of diplomacy
the principles upon which other public servants
compensated No longer necessary for its original purpose
only to make unequal the salaries OF our minis
ters and in degree dcmoralize the whole diplomatic
system 1t pays for services before they performed A.
minister plenipotentary under present system APP
pointed represent abroad he remains ut his post
but single day. is still entitled his outfit of $4,000. In
practice has been that person who is thus appointed
remains years. draws outfit of 50 0O0 salary for
years of $lso0O and Unfit Of 1850, making in all
near $4,000 for years-equal to salary OF about
$4,000 then returns home to be succeeded by
uha pranas the same course Where there is an
exception 10 TINS and suffered to remain abroad
respective of party changes from his superior fitness rep
resent the country deprived of the advantage Of this
ft-recurrng every few years-be straggss ritr AN
inadequate salary and in the end in embarrassed
circumstances.
Mr.. SHELTON. Let me ask the gentleman a question:
viii he point to that portion Of the bill which aboshes
outfts7
Mr.. PERKINS. thank the gentleman for putting the
inquiry In the opinion OF the committee the establish
ment Of the regular salaries in the bill abolished outfits
They exist at the discretion of the President II is
singular circumstance that the first appropriation for tor
egn services S4oo0o was placed at the disposal Of Gem
era Washington without any limitation except that outfits
and salaries to exceed $4,000 IT at his dis
creon whether they should should exist The
mittee however anticipating such objection as the gen
eman has made have introduced section in these
words:
'tAnd Be IL te enacted, That the acts, parts Of acts
authorizing the ministers eonuls Of the United
States Of salaries outfits and nts clerk hire and office rent
be, and the same are hereby, repealed
Mr. SKELETON. That is not in the printed bill.
Mr.. PERKINS It is in the copy which s in this clerks
possession
The effect of the allowance outfit when longer
qured has been to prejudice the popular mind against our
ministers abroad in the idea that they favored PEN
oners Of party executives and in point OF fact we may
admit both sides of the House that these appointments
have been often conferred simply the reward Of par
san service and that this fact with the defects in the ex
make what should be the distinct expression OF national
interest the mere expression of executive favor.
From 1910 10 iS5sn twelve yearsthe diplomatic ex
penses of the government 3656202 or this amount
one-sixth expended in outfits. In administration
single individual drewand he drew il rghtfny, under
existing rules-S22O0 in outfits alone The committee
have thought that this evil which should be rene
died. and it is accordingly abolished by the bill Salaries
liberal bnt not extravagani provided for all our MN
The for each has been made TO correspond
nearly possible TO the Importance and necessary ex
pense of getting TO- and residing at the mission Our
diplomatic establishment If remodeed proposed viii
than been its average cost for the last ten
years II will be economy for it win be saving 10 the
treasury defining the due. Of ministers and pre-
venting their outlay reaching anything bike the amount
possible in the frequent resignation and recall OF ministers
under present system.
L. The bill further provides that the salary OF repre-
sentaves abroad shall begin until after their arrival
and actual entry upon the duties Of their post and that
they shall they relieved from those du
ties by 1t has been the custom heretofore tor
salaries begin the day the commission has been received
BY this minister appointed abroad and not start
ing Immediately the receipt of his commission or
starting who delayed his way has been in the habit
OF drawing salary up the time Of his relieving his sue
cessor Thus in addition the evil Of outfits has been
added that of the overlapping of salaries by which two
persons have received pay at the time for the same
service for the actual minister abroad who has been re
called has resigned continues of right to discharge the
duties of the Office and although the government may de-
cline upon negotiations with him ~ his successor
has appointed still be draws salary and is really min
lister until the arrival Of his II has been
puted that average, the ministers appointed from
this country abroad do reach their post until