The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-09
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
OF NEW YORK.
CONSULATE OF
THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.

We mounted the stairs, and entering the
Office of the greatest of our corporations
presented our cards. We were asked into
an inner office, and were smilingly received
by a Mr.. Mayer, Bostonian, of under the
middle age, who consul, and also
the acting head of the oil companys branch
In the place of Mr.. Comfort, the manager
then absent.
SALARY PAYS HIS RENT
OF his own motion. Mr.. Mayer told us how
he came to be consul. 1t seemed that the
office of consul to Bombay used to pay $500
a year. What sort Of diplomats were OBJ
tanned for that sum the reader may imagine
If he has had my experience, and has en-
countered or heard of the negroes, half
breeds, Greeks, Armenians, broken down
politicians, drunken journalists, petty shop
keepers and the rest of the motley crowd
that is sent to represent us abroad, his i'm
agination will give him a very clear idea Of
what $500 a year got for us in Bombay But,
TO go on, the place was shabbily hlled and
We were put to constant shame Not long
ago such representations were made TO our
State Department that the salary was raised
to 81, 900. The first incumbent at that Inquire
was a young medical student who had come
to study the plague, and who found II very
difficult to do even that on the newly IN
creased wage Mr. Mayer was the next con-
pointed. When he found that ne must pay
for his passage to and from Bombay, TO less
hesitated He is hesitating still, and the
consulate and Standard Oil Company's Office
remain undivorced.
1t will be seen in this history of the Bonn
bay consulate there is no suggestion of
anything but credit to the oil company. 1t
has not sought the place, and IL has filled IL
more creditably than our government ever
succeeded in doing. Furthermore, / learned
that the salary Mr.. Mayer receives from
our government he pays over for the rent
of his dwelling alone; and | further dis
covered that the great continental powers
of Europe-which are not so great or so
rich as we-pay their consuls 5000 a year,
giving them a chance 20 return in some de-
gree of style the Inequalities and honors
pressed upon them by the British Governor,
Lord Sandhurst, at his palace by Malabar
hill. In the four clasSeS-of1icial, military,
consular and commercial-which maintain
their own higL social circles In a place like
Bombay, the consular set has a dstin-
gushed standing. The consuls are invited
they attend these in their court costumes
are driven to and fro i'm their official car
riages, and are attended by liveried servants
wearing distinctive sashes, with the royal
upon them. Now and then they. in turn.
give entertainments. which the Governor
and his suite proud 10 attend. 1t does
not matter whether they have good time
not count. They lose their personalities in
representing their countries
A PENNywISE POLICY.
Wherever there Is British court the de-
sire Is TO show the most favor to the Amer
lean representative. Ny fellow-countrymen
will be disappointed TO learn that. since all
his salary goes for rent, Mr.. Mayer cannot
vie with the German or French. or oven the
Portuguese. consul in displaying the out
ward signs Of the power and Importance OF