National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-06
United states ConsuIs Underpaid.

To the Editor Of The National Republican:
The United States realized a profit of about
$4,000 last year from our consular service indi-
eating the possibility that it is being conducted for
speculative purposes. In no part of the world do
our consulS receive as much salary and allowances
as do those of other natiOnatieS, and particularly
is this true in the East. In China, our present
great objective point, commercially and otherwise,
where our Ministers and consuls are expected to
work wonders, they are the poorest paid and most
meagrely appointed of those of all nations.
For example, our Minister receives SD 900 per
mum: the English Minister receives $4,000, with
an allowance of 5000 year for ntertaining pur-
poses In addition. he has a splendidly appointed
establishment. He has likewise large retinue of
well-paid attaches and servants together with q
military escort to accompany him upon official
visits. The German, French, Russian, Italian, and
Japanese legations are all nearly if not quite as
equally grand and imposing.
In the consular service at every post the English
and other eonsuls have splendid establishments
well appointed and with plenty of servants to add
dignity and power to their positions, while our
"greatest and beSt" representatives have to shin
around as best they may to get house to cover
their heads and shelter the consular seal and coat
ofarms, which shelter, owing to their meagre rent
allowance, must per force be of the plainest and
humblest sort. The cOnsuls of the smallest
European powers receive far higher salaries than
90 our OWN. III all cases OUT COllSuIS exercise
judicial functions, which involves more dignity
and entails more expense, with no additional pay
ON occount of same.
In Shanghai the English consul receives $500
per year, with almost as fine house and grounds
free of rent, as our White House. His duties are
purely ministerial Great Britain has a thorough
system of courts throughout China and Japan.)
Our COnSul-General receives So 900 per annum and
must pay his own house rent, servants, &c. The
same distinction obtains at all other ports. When
the English consul retres from the service he re-
ceiyes pension for life, equal in amount annually
to the salary of one of cOnsus in active service
Living in the East is very expensive, there is
so much entertaining and being entertained
The habits and customs of the best English
and European society obtained there. Our consul
must do his part with dignity and liberaIty else
his country receives slap in the face. You can
little conceive Mr. Editor, how far these things go
in giving respectable status to our representa-
tives in those countries If our consul has just
personal, or national pride, he must keep up his
end" The result is, he must come home Door or
with the stamp of dishonesty branded all over
him, to the chagrn and modification of his eoun-
trymen. We do not consider our Government as
second class; nor are if not at the very top,
il that 1t is only question of time, and
jealous of what they realize to be the near ap-
-proach of that time.
A nations representatives abroad are regarded
as a reflex of that nation How important to US,
then that ours should be men of a stamp to do us
honor and much commercial good, and enabled
by liberal salaries to live in style betting their
station. hope 8Ir. Editor, that you will at least
give our national legislators occasional "tip"
as 10 your views on the subject, and perhaps in
time they may be induced to do the square thing
by our representatives abroad. Yours truly,
EX-CON