New-York tribune., 1876-01-24
DIPLOMATIC RETRENCHMENT.

The proposed reduction in the salaries of the
diplomatic agents of the Government is now
definitely before the House OF Representatives..
1t is not likely to pass, for the reason we have
before referred to; there are too many states
men who expect to be ENJOYS, when they shall
have lost their hold upon the primaries Ill Their
districts. We expect to find little common
sense and less candor in the discussions to
which this proposition may give rise. 1t Is
put forth by the opposition to make capital
for next year, and will be opposed, if opposed
at all. from selfish motives by members who
will claim to be actuated by zeal for the pub
lie service. The truth is, the whole matter is
of slight importance. The amount the re-
trenchers propose to save is not large, though
it is certainly worth saving The public ser
vice will not be damaged in the least by the
cutting down of the salaries of diplomatic
agents, though there is possibility that
putting the Consuls on starvation wages may
lose the State Department some good business
men, or may set the weaker brethren among
them to bargaining with the smugglers or the
makers of false invoices for the means OF sub
sstence.
If we had proper system of Civil Service
appontments or could reasonably loOk forward
to such q state OF things, it would be worth
while to consider seriously the compensation
of dDlomatic officers. If we could be sure of
having at all times even President and
Secretary of State who wanted the missions
well filled and knew how to fill them, 1t would
be a different matter. But what difference
does 1t make whether we pay Gen. Schenck
ST., 800 Or $4,000 for the kind of work he
does in LOudOn7 What does it matter
TO the country whether Mr. Gratiot Wash
burne. the hired agent of q circus company,
gets hundred dollars more or less as Secre-
tary Of Legation I Would there be more or
less of vacuum where Cramer now sits If his
salary were abolished altogether 7 AS long as
our present disgraceful system of appointments
continues, the lower the salaries of Our diplo-
matte agents are fixed the less temptation will
they present to the kind of politicians who now
get them. The present salaries are not out of
the way if the legations were held by well
bred and well educated men, who knew how
to live with dignity and economy. They are
too high so long as they serve as a bait TO the
hangers-on Of Congressman, to congressman Ill
disgrace, and to the abject parasites of the
President.
There would be no trouble whatever in fill
ing the list of our legations abroad with n
better class OF ministers than we have ever
had in recent years if every salary In the
blue-boOk were reduced One-half. To man
of education and intelligent curiosity, ne po
sition could be more useful and desirable than
a diplomatic appointment. which would give
him the opportunity to observe from the most
favorable point of view the life and the Gus
toms of foreign nations. 1t would not require
high salary to induce such men to
accept these places. They will generally
be found ready to mako some little
sacrifice for year or two for the purpose
of serving their country and themselves in
this honorable capacity. But at present there
is no opportunity for this kind of men, sim
ply because the moment q vacancy occurs
there. are dozen clamorous applicants for it,
resembling each other only in their utter un-
fitness, and it is given away at last to the one
whose patrons in Congress happen to be most
favored or dreaded by the Administration for
the time being. We hear great deal about
the salaries being 90 low that flrss-rate man
cannot accept them. 1t Is probable that II
they were made 30 low that tho tenth-Hate
men would not want them, the frst-rats men
might have o chance for An occasional appoint
ment.
A comparison Of our service with that Of