Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-14

served at the first audience of foreign min
listers with Congress. When the Marquis
de Lafayette 'returnfd to France in 177S
Congress gave him Ia letter commencing
him to his king. Congress carried on a
regular correspondence with the King of
France without an intermediary, and in
June, 1I79. President Henry Laurens wrote
letter to the king conkratulating him on
the birth of princess, and asking him to
oblige us with portraits of yourself and
royal consort that, by being placed in our
council chamber, We may .iaily have before
our eyes the royal friends and patrons of
our SOIL" In
Congress had somAl d&fficulty in regulat
ing the expenses of it's foreign ministers so
as to give them an Opportunity to appear
with dignity in foreign, courts, and at the
same time to conform flo the economical
ideas that prevailed In the matter of pub
lie expenditure. At the time Franklin was
writing home that he could not make a
respectable appearance at the court of
France the President of Congress was re-
ceiving letters alleging a wasteful expendi-
ture or money by Franklin and his nephew
Jonathan Williams. Some of these stric-
lures may have been warranted, for John
Adams was found including a charge for
the education of his son in an account of
his expenses abroad. The item was disal-
lowed on the ground that the investigating
committee did not find ANY book or pro-
ceeding of Congress, nor are they Informed
OF any general or received custom on which
the charge of moneys for the education of
the Accompanies son can lie admitted, and
though the same is inconsi1erable. they are
OF the opinion that a precedent be not es-
tablished."
Congressional FOrcthought.
In the appointment of Benjamin Frank
lin to negotiate a treaty with Sweden Con-
gress established very curious precedent
The appointment CT Franklin was accom-
panied by the appointment of John Adams.
John Jay and Henry Laurens to succeed
to his office in regular order In case of
death. All Of these gentlemen were then
abroad in diplomatic duty.
Inc department of foreign affairs (now
the State Department. was created in l7SI
ana 1t was provided that the Secretary
shall have liberty to visit Congress-" The
departments of Finances, War and Marine
were established in the same year. with a
superintendent of finances and secre-
taries for the other Offices
The office seekers began to be a burden
to the powers as early as 1887 for John
Jay reported to Congress in that year. on
the application of Sir Edward Newenham
that his son might be appointed consul at
Marseilles, that honorary resolutions a
few offices, very little money and much
land were the only funds on which Con-
gress could draw rewards for its friends
Not long after that a resolution was passed
reducing the salaries of government clerks
and providing that no clerk should receive
more than $3.50 year and no messenger
more than $50. The pampered clerks of
Congress, who draw $500 a year, would
scorn to accept the salaries that were good
enough for their predecessors a hundred
years ago.
There is much more that is interesting in
this voiume-too much to be treated i'm the
columns of newspaper. But there is so
much chaff with the wheat that it is more
satisfa: Dry to enjoy the winnowings at
Sc ono hand.
GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.