New-York tribune., 1876-04-07
PURIFYING THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

PURIFYING THE FOREIGN SERVICE.
ANOTHER HONEST GENTLEMAN TO BE RECALLED
FROM LONDoN-A DISPATCH AGENT WHO BRINGS
BUSINESS TO LONDON HOUSES AND TAXES THEM
THEREFOR.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, April 6.-At the evening session of
the House last night on motion of Mr.. Springer.
Chairman Of the Committee on Expenditures in the
State Department, the following amendment to the
Legislative Appropriation bill was agreed to:
PrOrdtd That so far compatible with the public In
teress, all letters PAPERS and public sent ~
fcers Of the United states residing IN countries Win
which the sSo st @ mas 7 R be
through the regular mails and be- prepaid WIN on'ea
stamps.
The object of this amendment il to abolish the
office of Dispatch Agent at London. The entire cost
OF that agency for the year ending June 80, 1870,
was as follows b. f. Stevens agent, salary IN goid
$1,000; expenses in gold, S25, $50 total, S2I,33o.
A responsible gentleman, who has taken pains 10
inquire into the administration OF the London us
patch Agency, writes to Mir. Springer that there Is
no more propriety in sending dispatches from
Queenstown or Liverpool, where they are
landed, to London, to be distributed, thah
there would be in sending Washington dis
patches arriving at New-lork to some one
at Philadelphia to be opened and forwarded 10
Washington. The work, he says, could Dc dohe
better. economically, ana nloIc cih'i'h''S az
Queenstown. This gentleman is not surprised NJ INC
efforts made by the officials of the State department
TO prevent the abolition of the London Dispatch
Agency. Mr.. Stevens, he says, has placed nearly
every public man who has been at London Tor years
under personal obligations to him for the purpose oi
retaining his place. He also says that IT ls currently
| reported IN London that the American Dispatch
Agent has demanded and received from tradesInen
commissions Oh purchases made through him by all
officials well those made by private tra'ee!s'
The house which furnishes naval and military uni
forms to nearly all the United States officers III
formed the writer of tho letter that it il compelled
to pay the Agent 10 per cent all business Of tins
character it receives, and members of this house
Justify its high prices by tho payment OF these
commissions
A gentleman familiar with the business estimates
that this agents commissions from tIilors dry goods
houses, jewellers, and coupon purchases made by
American officials and Others who visit the Agency
at several thousand dollcrs in gold One dry goods
house in London. II is said pays him ID per cent Oh
all orders for India shawls purchased by Americans
sent by him. In addition to this it is asserted that
he reaps q profit all stationery supplied to the
State and other departments. Tho gentleman rec
ommends the transfer of the bulk of the business
to Queenstown, where it belongs, and the appoint
ment of one of the consular clerks agent at Lon
dom The change, he says, would quiet great deal
of scandal and save to the Government at least
$4,000 a year. The writer adds that Secretary
Fish OF course knows nothing personally ABOUT the
management Of this Agency.