National Republican., 1886-04-03
THE CONSULAR BILL CRITICISED
An Exhaustive Review by An Attache
oS ,ha narli, r,nauIato canar.I

IAN Exhaustive Review by An Attnche
of the Berlin Consulate General.
EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,; Your
issue Of the 18th of February contains an
|hrticle on the bill introduced into the House
lof Representatives by Mr.. Belmont, looking
to the accounting into the United States
Treasury of all notarial fees collected at our
Legations and consulates, and the very gen.
erous defense the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
makes OF the interests of our officials abroad
Deserves the highest commendation of every
rair minded American citizen.
4 Although not in the service himself the
UNDERSIGNED has always taken warm In
terest H. the welfare OF our country's repre-
Fentatives In foreign lands, and during a
residence in various parts OF Europe, ex-
BENDING ever a period of nearly eighteen
1Sears, has had many opportunities to be-
Nccme acquainted with American officials OF
lll grades and conditions and the result Of
bis observations confirms him in the opinion
n bat the salaries they receive are in most in
btapces altogether insufficient for the posi-
ion they bold or are supposed to hold.
A The ground taken by some Americans,
hat our representatives abroad are better
@pald than their colleagues OF eny other
i Eountry, is quite untenable. The salary, as
6uch, is unquestionably higher; but II II be
|akcn into consideration that In most Euro
bean countries an appointment under the
Government is for life, that an incumbent
)f an Office is promoted instead OF uncere-
Enormously removed, and that he is In
|lemnined even for the rent Of his private
lodgings, and that, finally, he receives a
frpn ha
must be conceded that the European Of
lcials position is incomparably better.
III II be further considered how many
actual losses an American incurs, how
nany golden opportunities he foregoes In
breaking off his business connections at
home to serve his country abroad, and, again
10 how hard q struggle he is subjected to
oregain his lost foothold on returning home,
ID would seem almost incredible that gen
lemen so we'll acquainted with the true
|tate Of our consular service as Messrs.
'helps and Hit should indorse measure
~ o manifcstly unjust. IL our consuls were
obermitted to remain longer In office, the
3alaries they receive would no doubt be
Xufllcent, for they would In time fall into
lhe ways OF economy as practiced in the
Community in which they live; but by the
4 lme they have fairly recovered from the
l|xpense incident TO bringing a family
broad and establishing It comfortably,
hey are removed, and that, too, In man
3er that would disgrace the most autocratic
government In the world.
VI Could the history OF all the annoying, not
10 say humiliating embarrassments many
N our consuls experienced In being so sud-
enly removed, be collected and published,
would at least make very significant read
E b g for our army Of aspirants for these posts.
How many of the readers OF the NATIONAL
.,REPUBLIoAN (or of any other paper for that
hatter) have ever seen an American consul
|eturning home, after q four years absence,
Gith no account In bank proceeding from
avings from their legitimate salariess Ref
. rence.ls here had of course to such officials
~ tho have no private means to fall back
\ pon. II in coming they know the ways
the people among whom they are sent TO
I've, they might with perfect decency avoid
bany expenses In their households, which
when once begun cannot well be dispensed
|ith; but coming, rs they mostly do, among
ew scenes and surroundings, TO which they
re quite unaccustomed, 1t Is not to be won
cred at that they should fall into mode oi
fe which, as 1t Is considered indispensable
ith the dignity of their position, gener
lly ends In debt Economy In American
4 onsuls, newly arrived, generally means
oyerty or niggardliness In the community
which he moves, and both are unpardon.
ble crimes. In order, therefore, to avoid
'he stigma of the one and the humiliation
Il the other, he is led by false pride to in
ulge in expenses, under the plea that they
re focial obligations, which he cannot de
' ently avoid, and the end is recall before
Q has had time to see his error and menc
W That II Is altogether false economy oil
he part OF the government In refusing
t'igher salaries TO our consular officers th'
cry frequent dismlssals from the serylc'
pr cmbezzlement amply prove. II is no
be assumed that the people who recon