The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-29
Precipitated During Consideration
Of Diplomatic Bill,
Over the Question Of Salaries Paid Consul
lar Officers and Secretaries.
The Appropriations Committee
Sharply Criticised, and the Gov
eminent Denounced for Its Par
simony in That Respect
Amendments Increasing Com
pensation Incorporated in the
Measure.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-A spirited
debate was precipitated in the Senate
to-day while the diplomatic and consul
lar appropriation bill was under con-
sideration. The Appropriations Com
mittee was sharply criticised for not
providing adequate salaries for some of
the consular officers and Secretaries of
Legations of this Government in for
eign countries, and the parsimony of
the Government in this respect was de-
nounced as a disgrace. Hale of Maine
was in charge of the bill, and despite
his protests. several amendments were
incorporated in the measure. The bill
was passed, carrying nearly S1,o0O,O00.
A recess of an hour and half was
taken to enable Senators to attend the
funeral of ex-senator A H. Garland.
A concurrent resolution adopted by
the New Hampshire Legislature urging
the speedy ratification of the treaty of
Paris was presented by Gallinger of
New Hampshire
A resolution calling upon the Secre-
tary of the Treasury for information
concerning the investigation of the Bu-
reau on Printing and Engravings was
adopted.
A bill granting right of way to the
Dakota Southern Railway Company for
the construction of a railway line
through the Yankton Indian lands, in
South Dakota, was passed.
A resolution was adopted directing
the Secretary of War to make a survey
and estimate for the Improvement of
Brazos River, Texas
A resolution was adopted at the in
stance of Gallinger calling upon the
Secretary of State to procure from the
United States representatives abroad
the annual amounts paid by foreign
Governments for pensions, no. civil
The House bill for adjusting the
clothing accounts of deceased soldiers
was passed.
Hale of Maine called up the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bill.
Bacon of Georgia objected, as he had
given notice that he proposed at this
hour to call up his resolution regard
ing the Philippines. and endeavor to fix
a time for a vote upon it.
Chandler of New Hampshire-Does
the Senator desire to dispose of his res
olution to-day?
Bacon-Not if Senators object.
He went on to say that his resolution
was essentially a practical document,
and not introduced for the purpose of
interfering with any other business 1T
will place the treaty of peace" said he,
where We can reach a, basis of agree
ment. If the resolutions were a law
they would entirely dissipate the dam
ger OF war we are now in. 1t is most
grave matter, Mr.. President, and I hope
the subject will be so regarded by the
Senate"
Bacon yielded to the appropriations
bill.
Jones of Arkansas then asked that
the Senate take a recess from 2 10 $3.50
O'Clock, in order to enable Senators to
attend the funeral of ex-senator Gar
land, who died suddenly in the Supreme
Court on Thursday
In this connection Hoar of Massachu-
sets paid high tribute to Mr.. Car
lands ability as a Senator
The recess was ordered.
The consular and diplomatic bill was
then read 1t appropriates $1,71O, 533,
5000 more than the amount carried
by the measure as passed by the House
Gallinger said he desired to again call
attention to the starvation wages paid
to the United States consular repre-
sentatives abroad
Hale, in charge of the bill, EXPLAINED
that the Appropriation Committee had
not considered the compensation of
consular officers. and suggested that
the Committee on Foreign Relations
take up the question and make some
recommendation.
Have you ever known inquired
CockreH of Missouri, ANY applicant
for consularships to object to the sal
aries before taking Officer
Replying to Cockrell, Gallinger said
that his question was not in any sense
an argument. Senators, said Gallin2er,
receive 5000 a year. Many others
would take the position for half that
sum. Some men in Montana and other
States, judging from accounts IN the
newspapers, are willing to pay {. bonus
for a seat in this body. But that is no
reason why Senators should not receive
decent salaries; nor is it a reason why
some of the young men abroad should
not be paid proper salaries Some of
these salaries are meanly inadequate.
Our consular service is verging in this
respect upon what deem disgrace
full"
Morgan offered ar amendment from
the Committee on Foreign Relations,
increasing the salaries of the Secretar-
les of legations IN the Argentine Re-
public, Venezuela, Peru, Liberia and
Corea from 81, 800 to 81 800.
Morgan spoke at length on his
amendment He said that our consul
service in South america particularly
was being degraded and cut down. The
positions were taken by men who either
themselves or through their fathers had
private means with which TO support
the social elegancies. one of the feat
ures of of7ice-holding in those countries
He sharply criticised the United States
Government for its parsiminous policy,
declaring that it was a disgrace to the
country.
After further discussion. the salaries
of Secretaries of Legations to Inc Ar
gentine Republic, Venezuela and Peru
were incresed from $1,000 to 81 500 and
the consuls at la Guayama, vene-
zuela. from 81 800 to $1,000, and at
Pernambuco. Brazil. from $1,000 to