The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-14
The DiplomntIc Rill.

II would be n good thing IL the Diplo-
matte and Consular bill failed to pass, or
was vetoed by the President, If for no
OF Ter reason than TO show the country the
utter uselessncss of this gilded sham. and
bow easy il is for n great nation to manage
Its affairs without making diplomacy n
political pension Office. The report OF the
last Conference Committee made some
curious developments, which have not at
tracted the attention they deserve.
II appears that when the first conference
met, the managers on the part of tho
u ,use distinctly asked If the Senate in
tended TO make any point on the changes
OF law proposed 10y the House in their
bill, aud the Senate couferees answered
that they did not intend to make any fight
or that ground; SO that at the outset OF the
Engagements which have since followed,
no claim was alleged by the Senate that
TIC change in the law by which retrench-
ncnt was introduced was a cause of differ
cree between the two Houses.
Therefore, the pretence now set up
that changes in "existing laws" consti-
ttod the chief ground Of objection to the
p opposed economy. was an after thought.
they saw forty millions OF patronage in
danger. Then they We're very much
troubled about the letter of the law, which
they themselves had enGrafted on appro-
priations, multiplying Offices and increas-
ing salaries.
The point of difference last made by the
Senate involved II principle which ought
not TO be given up They were willing to
accept the reductions made by the House
IN the aggregate, but with the condition
that the President should distribute II ac-
cordIng To his own discretion, either by
Withdrawing certain Ministers or reducing
salaries. The House proposed an amend
mont that the sum voted should be in full
for the service OF the year, thus excluding
any future claims on the part of those who
might b. left out or cut down. The Senate
would not agree to this fair proposition,
and the conference separated.
Nothing is palmer than that the whole
game Of the Senate is to retain the present
extravaganza, aud to make no honest con-
cession to economy. This Diplomatic bill
has now been kept dangling in the air for
four months, and for no other reason than
because the President, the Senate. and the
lNpubllcun party nave TerOlNtu tuut
abuses shall stand as they have stood, and
that reform shall not be tolerated, recog-
nlzed, or encouraged in any way.
The whole reductions in pay and officers
aggregate s3G3, 900 in round numbers. This
reduction might have been doubled with
out the slightest injury TO the service. We
have to-day more Ministers abroad than
any other 81 eat power, and with less utili-
ty. We receive but twenty-five, and send
out thirty-one. Why should these addi-
tional nine missions be maintained, when
no claim of courtesy and no policy OF in
terest require that costly increase on the
budgetf Switzerland preserves the sim
pllcity of II true republic, and keeps Minis
teTs only where they are actually needed.
We might profit by her example in this re-
fpect, and in Others also. Al all events,
the House cannot retreat from its action
without loss Of credit, and we believe there
l. no disposition to yield an inch Of its solid
ground.