Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-15
HOPING MAD.
That's what the L. =. COnsuls Are On
Account of a PAIRING Down of Salaries
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L. -
Account of PAIRING Down of Salaries
Special telegram to tie Register.
WASHINGTON, August 1.-THE re-
SpOseiul aud self-cOmplacent gentlemen
/ VINO preside over the deStinies OF the
State Department in this city are just
now having their delicate nervous or
ganizations wrought up in a most un-
usual manner by the receipt OF cOmmu-
nicatiOns from United States ConSulS
abroad, CouChed in language so plain
spoken, direct and vigorous as TO be
positively shocking 10 gentlemen ac-
customed only to the mild, involved
and courteous periods Of diplomacy.
The cause of this startling departure
from the moSS-grOwn COnventiOuality Of
communications 10 the State Depart
meut from its agents in foreign coun-
tries is that the COuSuls are hopping
mad. And the cause OF their anger is
that, through the efforts Of Judge
Holman and other Democrat
lie economists in the House OF
Representatives, large number OF the
salaries Of cousulS were deXterously
pared down In the consular and diplO-
Under the most ordinary circumstances
nothing is more calculated TO arouse
the ire Of an an American citizen than
TO have MS salary reduced. But when
the American citizen Is located In a for
eign country, thousands OF miles from
home, the reduction of his salary under
these extraordinary circumstances IS
still more calculated TO make him angry.
Asa rule the American consul is paid as
we'll as the COnSuls of other countries,
and his duties, except in few foreign
stations, are of the lightest. All he has
to do nine-tenths of his time is to amuse
himself, for il there is any real work at
tached 20 his place he is supplied with
viCe-cOnsul TO do il for
him. As COnsuls, il possessed Of the
slightest breeding and address, are ad-
mltted to the best society Of the places
in which they are located, they find
little difficulty in passing their time
pleasantly, nor in getting rid Of all the
salary granted them by their indulgent
Uncle Samuel. So that the chief cause
OF worry attached 10 their positions,
unless they are men of private means,
does not grow OF the fact that they are
NOT paid enough for the work they
actually do, but that their salaries are
not sufficient 20 enable them to live in
the StvIe in which their leisure and
their social position make them desire
TO do. The United States COnsuls now
abroad, whose salaries the unfeel-
ing Judge Holman has cut down,
have probably got snugly settled in
their berthS and have so adjusted
their affairs and their expenditures that
they can enjoy the social and other
pleasures belonging to their station by
the most careful handling Of their saia-
rieS. or course, it is rude shock TO
them under those circumstances TO lind
all their calculations disturbed by hav-
inr two or three hundred dollars Topped
OF of the salaries which they are re-
celvmc. As consequence they are
protesting vigorously TO tie State De-
partmeut, declaring il is an outrage and
threatening % resign aud come home II
something IS not done 10 relieve their
embarrassment But the State Depart
meDt. though grieved at their distress,
can do nothing for them. The Consu-
lar and Diplomatic bill was fixed 10 the
dollar Just how much they can be paid,
and not cent more can they
get for the coming year. All
the Indignant consuIs can do is TO carry
ont their threats and resign, but it is
safe TO predict that no large number Of
them will do this. II they should do it,
however, il would probably be a source
of no great grief to the administration.
Their places could be used very nicely
at this iuncture by Mr.. Harrison. He
could put into them men whose families
and friends would in return help the
President in his hard struggle for re-
rejection, and bring TO his campaign
fund much needed contributions. For
il should be known that those consular
and diplomats places are largely given
10 the poor relatives Of wealthy men,
who give up freely TO campaign funds,
and who wish TO increase their social
prestige through connection with the
diplomatic service.