Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-29
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
The Alaskan Problem Comes
Up in the House for
Discussion.
Pensions for Army Nurses.
Hard Words for American Diplomats and
their Vocation.
Protest from Citizens Of New IsIieo
Against Admission IS 4 State.
WAsBIsoroS. Jan. 2s.
Senate.

Among the memorials presented and re
ferred was protest from citizens of Ner
Measco against the sduaission of that ter
rliory as a state.
The army nurses pension bill was anne ended
and passed. IL allows a pension of s25 q
month 10 all women nurses during the war
| (priOr 10 August 1866, ~ho were approved
BY Miss DIX, superintendsn Mt Of the women
| nurses. or her authorized agent, or specially
appointed by the surgeon ge neral or other
proper United States authority, who per-
formed SIX months service, or were disabled
and honorsbly discharged Those nov re-
ceiving less pension under special acts are
10 be entitled 10 the bs nett. of this act.
The Senate then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton Of the diplomatic and consular sp-
preparation bill.
The following amendments were reported
| by the Senate committee Gu appropriations
and agreed to- Appropriating $1,000 to
be distributed among the families of Japanese
subjects accidentally killed or injured by
the explosion of shells from the United
States steamer Omaha; inserting the item
$1,000 Tor consul general at Apla, Samoa
Islands; striking out consulate general in
Montreal 81 900, making consulate at OF
tawa 5000; consulate general same
salary
Gibson moved 10 ilsert the word "ambas-
sador" instead of the words "envoys extraor
binary and ministers plenipOtentiary, as ap-
plied to France. Germany, Great Britain and
Russia. lie argued that the change would
increase the American agents and render
more efficient the services, as ambassadors
took precedence of ministers.
Plumb opposed the amendment. Who
ever represented America was entitled To
consideration, not because of personal char
acter, but because of representative charac-
ter. Name made no difference. The coun
try had been damaged by its foreign repre-
sentation for the last eight years, damage
in character and self-respect by suboriina
ton which did not consist with the dignity
and power of the American people if the
right men such as Judge Miller or Mr..
rhurman) were sent abroad II was no
matter what they might be called. They
would burst the cerements of diplomacy as
known and recognized by the courts. Men !
general, sent abroad were simply bubble /
on the wave, froth or surface OF the stream /
of iders, loungers and wall-iiowers at re-
ceptions. The proper thing was to strike |
out the entire paragraph.
Gibson suggested that either the whole
diplomatic corps ought TO be abolished or
the proper rank gwen. The word "amoas-
ssior was not foreign. 1t was employed |
in the constitution itself. There was no in !
terest entrusted To ministers. Lowell nor
Phelps had suffered. Probably these gen
tlemen dressed liks gentlemen. had their
r9ar r9srr rtainment, receiving honors from puohc
funcuonaries and demeaned themselves as
gentlemen and scholars i
Hale said the question was an old one and
had been up repeatedly before. lie shouid
with pleasure vote for Gibsons nendmeht'
If the diplomatic relations were TO be main
tanned with the great powers, those relations
had to be maintained after fashion rscoR-
nized throughout the entire world
Regain favored abolishing the entire con
sular service as something which IN tnese
DAYS of steam. electricity, anu newspapers
had outgrown its usefulness
Hawley replied to Reagan and showed 'na'
the diplomatic service could NOT De Trans
acted by mail or telegraph, or through the
newspapers. He favored Gibsons amenu
ment. There was certain aping OF humli-
i,y that was prouder than pride itself Inc
simplest, easiest way was to agree win the
rest of the world about these non-essentiais
sherman advocated Gibson's amendment.
Plumb argued in favor of the abolition or
the entire d. plomatic system. He referred
humorousy to the present vacancy III tue
English mission at Washington, and TO the
fact that Phelps was also to be deprived OF
many good dinners and much insincefty
on account of it, There was not likely TO
be any trouble if this condition OF disItah-
ch;.ement should continue two years or four
years longer.
Evarts, Hoar. Morgan and Call supported
the amendment and Stewart and Biair op-
posed it. ;..
Blair said that when the Senate PICKED
out four great powers Great Britain, France
Germany and Russia and said to them,
we send you ambassadors, but send 70
other nations mi lsters of lower grade,
the Senate did an unrepubican, discreditaoie
and disgraceful thing. He would strike OUT
the word .'envoys extraordinary and minis
ters pieuipoteuuary and simply employ 'he
word ministers" He gave notice tna' lie
would offer an amendment to that effect.
Without coming to vote the Senate ad-
journed