The evening times., 1900-02-03
CONSULAR APPROPRIATIONS.
Features of the Foreign Aanirs Com
wittee Bill.

The appropriation bill to provide for the
Diplomatic and Consular Service for the
year ending June 30, 1901. which has just
been reported from the Committee on For
cign Affairs. follows the existing law in
its general features with some modifica-
uons made necessary by changing circum-
stances. The amount estimated for and
recommended by the Department of State
Tor the year covered was 81. .S95. $3.50, and
the amount appropriated last year was
$L711. .523.76. The amount appropriated
by this bill is S1.7l3 1876. or $l52, ,44o less
than the estimates and $31,S more than
the appropriation of last year The item
OF $6.OC0 in the act of last year for the
execution of the obligations of the United
States under the Samoan treaty is omitted
in this bill being unnecessary under the
more recent treaty, and an item for $4,000
for the reports of the international Rail-
way Commission is no longer inserted, the
work having been completed.
The sum in former bills of $l2S,000 for
contingent expenses of foreign missions
has proved inadequate, requiring items in
the deficiency bill annually. and in accord
ance with the request of the Secretary OF
State this is made in the present bill $780,
OO0 but in the details prescribing the pur-
poses for which it is, to be expended is
included the inspection of embassies and
legations which has heretofore been pro
vided for by a special appropriation Of
s.. 600: that separate appropriation OF
s.. 600 is omitted from this bill.
The sum allowed for the Mexican Boun-
dairy Commission is increased $1,000, at the
urgent request Of the Attorney General and
the Secretary of State, to make investiga-
tions needed Immediately in the trial of
case involving important international in
terests
The general item Of allowance for clerk
hire at consulates where clerk hire is not
specifically provided for is Increased from
S30. coo to S55. GEO. OF half the increase ask
ed for in the estimates of the department.
number of consulates which were for
merly provided for by the consuls retain
ing the fees are salaried in this bill, in
creasing the appropriation, but the differ
ence in the actual cost to the Govern rent
is very small Thus. Alden, at the mouth
OF the Red Sea where the fees now amount
to Sl.749. is made salaried post at $500.
chihuahua. Mexico where the consul now
receives upward of 81 $50 from fees. is
salaried at Sl500 as recommended by the
Secretary. Kehl. which is now paid only
81 500 and where the fees of $2.434 show
largely increasing business. has been in
creased L accord with the estimates Of the
department Ia S, GOO Ensenada. in MeXi-
GO. which has a rapidly increasing busi-
ness. is salaried at 81 GOO, half the amount
estimated by the department. and Duran
go. where the business is also increasing
with much rapidity. owing 10 railroad con-
struction. is salaried at $l.500.
The allowance for clerk hire at London,
where the business is the largest OF any
consular post in the service. is not suffi-
cient or nearly sufficient to pay those
actually employed. and 81, 400 additional
is allowed by this bill.
There is a new item Of So inserted as
the contribution OF the United States Gov
ernment 10 the support of the hospital at
Cape Town. on condition that American
sesnen and citizens will be admitted.