The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-20
LIVING EXPENSES TOO HIGH
The Main Reason for Consul Hay 5
Return From Pretoria.

Spent His own and Most Of His Faith
er's SaIary-Not Many Applicants
for the OMce-The Recognition of
Annexation of the Transvanl.
Adelbcrt s. Hay. United States Consul
10 Pretoria, and the son Of Secretary
Hay, arrived in Washington yesterday
afternoon upon a leave of absence from
his post. He viii not return to the Trans
vaal I'm an official capacity, however ana
his resignation viii shortly be announced
if it has not already been forwarded 10
the President 1t was known when Mr.
Hay left the Transvaal that he intendei
resiguiug his position, bat as a Consul Is
entitled to salary until the expiration OF
his leave he was not expected to resign
until that time.
one of the chief causes which led Mr..
Hay 10 return to Washington, it is SAID
is the great cost of living in Pretoria
since the outbreak Of the Boer war. The
salary of The Consul is but $3.50, and it
has been reported that the young Consul
has been Obliged not only to eXpend all of
this amount but the greater portion OF
his fathers salary as Secretary of State
as well. in order to maintain the dignity
of his office as q representative OF the
United States in Pretoria.
While this fact has doubtless deferred
numerous ofIlce-seellerS from applying for
the appointment. there have neverthel ass
Eeen many candidates for the position.
The President has been quite successful
i'm placating them by the story of the eX-
perience of young Mr. Hay in eXpending
his own and his fathers salary in order
to live there. Secretary Hay has himself
admitted that this was true
The President is in no haste to name
new Consul. as he anticipates that it will
bring up the whole question Of recogniz,
ing the sovereignty of England in the
TransyaaI, by this Government. The ap-
pointment under the Interpretation which
this Government places upon affairs in
South Africa must be accredited to Great
eritain, and this is almost certain to
bring on a discussion of the Boer war
in the Senate when the nomination is
sent in for confirmation.
The Review Of the Commerce of the
World, recently issued by the Bureau of
Foreign Commerce. of the State Depart
ment, makes a note to the effect that
the Orange Free State was annexed to
Great Rritain on May 2S 1903, and the
South African Republic on September /,
1902 although the assertion is made at
the State Department that this does not
commit This Government to a recognition
of The sovereignty OF Great Britain in
South Africa. The first act Of such recog-
milton. fl is said. Will. therefore. be the
appointment of a consul to Pretoria. The
consuls OF other nations in Orange Free
State claimed 10y Great Britain as Orange
River Colony. and the Transvaal. still
hold their old exequaturs and these are
recognized by the British Government,
and no change will be made until new
consuls are appointed.
Consul Hay expresses the belief that
the war in South Africa is approaching
termination, and that conditions will soon
be adjusted upon peace footing. AT
present he states. business affairs are at
q standstill. II is impossible for mer-
chants to secure goods because of the
great demands upon the railroads TO car
Ty soldiers and stores for the English
army. He believes that there is u great
opening for capital as soon as the war
ceases, and also for American products.
especially machinery and agricultural i'm
plements. Mr.. Hay would not last night
discuss the military conditions in the
Trsnsvaal and Orange Free State.