The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-10
Mr.. STOVES RESIGNATION.
The ConsuT's Action No Surprise to
the Stnte Dcpnrtment.

the >I8Ee depart U1Fn1-
The resignation of James G Stowe the
United States Consul General at Cape
Town, because OF the Inadequate salary
allowed by the Government, is no sur
prise to officials Of the State Department
cCEnizaut of the extraordinary calls
made on American consuIs i'm countries
where war prevails, and for which 40 pro
vision is made in the emergency fuHd
available for diplomatic purposes.
The post has been regarded as one Of
the poorest paid in the consular service.
aud at all times requires an official with
private means to support himself in re-
spectacle style outside of his Government
pay Remote from Great Britain upon
which it depends for large part of its
supplies, Cape Town has always been an
expensive post. and since the South Afri-
can war began living expenses Of the Con
sui General have doubled while calls for
assistance made on him by individuals
have been pressing and pitifUI in many in
stances
An official Of the State Department
whose work Is intimately connected with
the consular branch depIores the fact that
no provision Is made to meet eXtraordi-
nary expenses of consuIS such as were
entaiIed by Mr. Stove. He believes the
NTDH tAILlt-i-t SHOULD at ltaSt @ii'@ tlsAN
ing expenses to and from posts. and not
compel consuIs TO take often quarter Of
their annual salary to reacs- their station
and return home. Mr. Stoves salary,
this officer said was but 5000. which
would make it impossible for him to live
even moderately. with the high expenses
resulting from the war In discussing the
general subject OF inadequate pay given
American cousuls he said
If the service were on q permanent -ba-
sis and Congress made provision for the
transportation Of consuls, their salaries
would still be inadequate. but would ap-
proach more nearly TO the necessities Of
the Office than they now do. It may be
taken as a general condition that a con-
sui on receiving an appointment has no
money, or at least is not well to do. II
he had means as a rule. he would not
desire 20 be a consul Mr.. Stowe is an
exception. and it is understood he has
some means outside of his Government
salary. The number of cousuIs, however.
who have money beyond their pay is so
small as to be iHtinitesimaL The law al
lows the consul no money for travelling
expenses. and he is obliged to go often
from one end Of the country to which he
IS credited to another at an expense often
approXimating 5000 to $So0
From the tine he receives his appoint
ment h is allowed his salary. and il goes
ON during the period he IS en- route to his
post The usual time allowed IS forty-fivc
days from the day the appointment Is
made until the consul reaches his post
He is able to reach his post. If near by.
on this advance money but the posts at
Pretoria and Cape Town are such dis
taEces that a large hoie Is cut into ths
couSuIs' salaries before they reach their
stations When he reaches his station
consul is obliged to ecOuOmize, and live
often in 4 niggardly manner. to recover
Then again no allowances are made for
unusual circumstances arising in his dis
trict, either during war or peace.
Mr. Macrum was embarrassed by de
pending on his salary Of 5000. and the
calls upon him were such he could not
possibly meet them. That is why he re
signed. Mr.. Stoves case Is not dissimi-
lar 10 this His responsibilities have in
creased. and the duties connected with the
consulate have been overwhelming since
he war began. involving him in heavy
expenses FOR which the State Department
has no fund hat is true concerning
him Is equally true concerning a number
Of other COnsuIs-"