New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-13
IGNORING MR.. GRESHAM.
SOME OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS DlSRE-
GARDED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.

ITEMS ARBITRARILY REDUCED OR 1NCREASNp-
NO MORE MONEY FOR RENT OF LEGATIONS
refusing A SECRETARY TO TIE
MINISTER AT HONOLULU.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington, March 1.-THE House committee
on Foreign Affairs. by pairing some of the esu-
mates submitted by the Secretary OF state by
d;sapproying other items and by increasing still
other items regardless Of the estimates, proposes
70 effect a net Saving" Of 6706 "a in the
amount granted for the support OF the diplomatic
and consular service OF the United States. as
compared with the appropriations for the cur
rent fiscal year. So proud is Chairman Nc
Creary over this prospect that in reporting the
Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation bill TO
the House OF REPRESENTATIVES. he remarks that
after deducting the consular fees collected Tor
official services (Which fees are turned into the
National Treasury. "the net cost OF the dlpio-
matte and consular service Of the United states
for the fiscal year ending June 3d. 1895. VIII prob
ably be less than 100000
An examination of the bill and OF the offlclaI
estimates shows that this result is TO he ac-
compshed not only by rejecting many OF the
estimates outright. but by arbitrarily reducing
some items and increasing others contrary 10
the recommendatio OF the Secretary OF state
made after careful investigation and cohsioera-
ton For example. he recommended mat 'he
salary Of the Minister TO Liberia be increased
from S. 900 to 900 a year which recommended
ton is dsapproved by the House committee:
but the committee proposes to increase the
salaries az the Minister 10 Portugal and the
Minister to Switzerland from $1,000 to $500
each. in the absence Of any such recommends
ton.
Whether the lberaity Of the committee In one
Of these cases is due in any degree 10 the lac'
that brother OF Representative Caruth' OF
Kentucky (from which State the chairman also
hails) is the incumbent Of the Portuguese mis-
sion is not known
Another example OF the almost contemptuous
disregard shown by Chairman McCrcafY ana MS
Democratic colleagues for the recommendations
of the Secretary OF State is in the items for
rent of buildings for the Use of the United states
Legations in China and Japan. For the former
an estimate Of $500 was submitted, which was
an increase of $500 over the last appropriations
This increase was asked. as the Secretary cX-
nla,ned. on the ground that extensive improve
,oents have been made by the lessons, due 10 the
necessities of the Legation and tho requirements
Of the public service at Picking" He added:
In view Of this enforced outlay the part Of the
lessons in erecting hreproof building tor the
preservation of the valuable archives or ne LIZA.
ton and making other improvements believe tnat
they are justly entitled 10 slight increase n we
g. 1915. the Secretary OF state IS authorized TO pro,
vide for rent not eT ,Sef s. 3 now asked may
be granted.
INSTEAD OF increasing the appropriation 5000
the majority Of the committee has recommended
that /, be reduced to $500 5000 less than Is
now paid.
The amount now paid for rent Of the Legation
building at Toxic japan is $4,000 year. The
building Is owned by the japanese Government
and the lease requires that it shall be kept IN
good and sufficient repair by the lessor. Secre-
tary Gresham explained that the lessor had
sometimes found II difficult 10 obtain the neccs-
sary appropriations for that purpose. and added:
Hence il is agreeable 10 that Government to
alter the lease so as to accept for rent $780,
and permit the United States 10 retain 5000 an
nuaHy to make needed repairs. This can he
done If the language OF the item be followed In
the appropriation bill when submitted to Con-
gress" The response Of the committee 10 this
reasonable proposition Is a recommendation TO
reduce the appropriation to $500 a year. an
amount which. as in the case OF the Pekng
Legation, is absurdy Inadequate.
Again the Secretary OF State recommended
appropriation Of $500. with authority to APP
point Secretary Of Legation at Honolulu. and
said: mo provision exists for clerical other
assistance to our Minister in these islands Such
assistance is az this time necessary"
This recommendation has been ignored BY the
committee.
Under the act OF July &c. 1892 the Secretary Of
State is required to submit specific estimates.
ho head Of T. Ia red for al
ries for all consulates and commercial agencies
when the fees collected or the compensation al
lowed for the preceding fiscal year exceed 81 .OOO
50 that such consulates and agencies may be
transferred TO the salared list. In compliance
with this law the Secretary Of State submitted
estimates for twenty-five new salared consulates
and commercial agencies, only eight OF which
are included in the bill. Why eight included
and the other fourteen excluded 1t Is difficult If
not impossible TO conceive. Among the eight in
Guided In the salaried list is Limoges, France.
the fees Of which in 1892 amounted 10 $2.06. and
among the fourteen not included are Newcastle,
New-South Wales, the fees OF which amounted
to s2.5S2 in 1892. and Curacao Netherlands. the
fees Of which amounted to 81 0G1 the same year.
The official fees collected at Auckland and Ber-
muda amounted TO $l.433 and $1,G43. respectively
Chose consulates being already in the salaried
lisU and the committee has recommended that
the salary Of each shall be raised from 81, 800 10
81 600 a year, although no increase asked
by the Secretary OF State.
These are only few OF many examples that
Nigh. be cited to show how the majority Of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs has ignored, and
in other cases nagranty disregarded. the official
estimates ana recommendations OF the head OF
the Department Of State. in most without
having taken the trouble TO give any reasons for
doing so. Perhaps Chairman McCreary Is hold
ing them in reserve for use when the bin is sub
mitted to the House OF Representatives for It's
consideration.
1t is a niggardly and dscredtabe measure
JUSTICE WHITE SWORN IN