The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-12-16
THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC BILL
REPORTED TO THE HOUSE.

Kt Appropriates 81, ,6T1, ,0OB-The PrInci-
pal Items of Inorease-PoIicy of tho
Committee Recommendation - Senate
and House PrOOeedings-NationAl.
WASHINGTON Dec. l5.-The consular and
DIPLOMATIC appropriation bill was reported
u the house from the committee on foreign
affairs. 1t apprOpriates for the salaries Of
diplomatic officers and miscellaneous ex-
ponses Of foreign intercourse S642, PAS; for
salaries Snd contingent and miscellaneous
; expenses of consular service Including ap-
pfopriations for Axed salaries, office rent
And contingent expenses Of officers now paid
by fees, 81, ,0s9, 800, making total appro-
priation of 81, ,67l,9O5 The total of appro-
priatiOn for the current year was 81 ,556, ,06S.
The principal items of increase are in the
salary of the minister to the Argentine Re-
public, $25, ,000 secretaries Of legation to the
Argentine Republic, Belgium, Corea and
Netherlands The RoHmenian Servian and
Greek missions, Switzerland and Venezuela,
$4,000. The salary of the interpreter to
Turkey is made $4,000, and $25, 900 is pro-
Yided for tho election of legation building
IN Jp pan There are additional increases of
81, 900 in the salaries of the consuls general
at Kanagarya, Panama, St Petersburg,
Ecuador and Mattamoras Fifteen hundred
dollars of the consul generalship at Mexico;
$500 of the consul generalsbip at Halifax
and increases ranging from $500 TO $4,000
N the salaries Of fifty seven consuls-a total
Increase Of $55,00O
= Additional salaries aggregating $I24,50
ere provided for In conformity with the act
Sf last session requiring specific estimates
tor 6onsulateS and commercial agencies
where the fees collected or the compensation
allowed exceed 81 600 The fees collected by
these officers during the year 1885 exceeded
$3.50, 600, but an increase of $1,000 is made
In the contingent appropriation to meet the
changes made under this account There is
an increase of $40, 900 in the general allow
ance for clerks and consulates making with
certain specific cases of increase a total in
= TINS item Of, appropriation $1,000
The total increase in the consular service
Is stated in the report accompanying the bill
at $26S, $40. The committee took no action
in the estimates for an international bound
ary suracy between the United States and
Mexico; the Haylean arbitration commission;
the Venezuelan and American claims COM
mission, and the Alaskan boundary COM
missions, which items were referred TO the
Committee on appropriations for inclusion in
the sundry civil service bill In its report
tho committee observes that it was COM
PEELED to incorporate in the bill certain
changes which have been recommended by
the department of state, and the adoption of
which is strongly urged in that portion of the
presidents message, which has been referred
to the committee.
"In presenting the bill to the house, says,
the report, (which involves an apparent in
crease over last year OF $Sl5, $40, che amount
Of fees turned into the treasury under this
bill largely reduces the expense to the gov
ernment involved by the increase of salary.
The examination which the committee have
been able to give TO the consular service has
so impressed them with the necessity of an
improvement which can only be etfaced by
en- abolition Of the fee system and the substi-
tuition of adequate salaries that they have
decided to present the bill in this form and
earnestly recommend its passage by the
house. The general policy of the committee
has been to recognize the great Importance
TO our commercial interests of our consular
service and the purpose Of the bill is to pro-
vide adequate salaries to those officials who
are known to be underpaid."