The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-24
GIRIMONDI The BAD.
Another Warning to the State De-
partment as to the Character a.
..:.s-4 of It's Consuls.
A Report to the Bureau of Naval In.
telligence on ship-building for
Foreign Navies.
?, The journal Burea.s, Room 10. Poss


Washington, Sept. 24.-The strange case
of John J. Girimondi has furnished an
other warning to the state department
that the character Of American citizens
going abroad to represent their country
must be rigidly scrutinized. 1t Is becom-
Ing more and more difficult to get into
the consular service, and with good rea
son. Several black sheep have cast OPP
probium upon their country and brought
great embarrassment upon the state de-
partment A man must now pass strict
| examination to obtain place in the serv
ice. showing his fitness for the place. His
private standing as a citizen, too, Is
quietly investigated before he is appointed.
Something more than the mere recon-
mendation Of a senator is required.
Girimondi was appointed consul at San
tos, Brazil, by President Mckinley on
March 2, 1900, and he was confirmed by
the senate month later Girimondi lived
IN San Francisco, where he became some
what prominent as local worker in the
sWarming Italian colony Of that city.
though an ignorant man, his address and
bearing were those Of man Of culture
| and education. Personally handsome and
dashing, he had a way with him. which
deceived the senators Of that state into
believing him fellow of uncommon abil
1ty. Through the use Of strong endorse
ments he obtained the backing Of his SEN
what hook or crook he passed the con-
sular examinations is not known. At all
events, he went to Santes-reputed to be
the graveyard Of the consular service, an
unhealthy, fever ridden hole-and en-
tered upon his duties.
Within year there were all kinds of
complaints against Girimondi. He was lax
IN money matters; he neglected his bust
| ness: he became entangled in affairs with
the fair SEX and was found to be short in
his accounts. The chief objection to Cir
| imond1 on the part Of the commercial in
| terests was that he spent most Of his
time In saying masses in the various
| churches, to the total neglect Of his con-
| sular duties. Girimondi was the possessor
| OF a fine voice. which tuned we'll with the
| prayers which went up from fair devotees
| in the old cathedrals of Santos. Girimondi
went so far to don the garb Of priest
and celebrate mass himself.
He was discharged from the service, and
| the state department took steps to bring
| him to account for his shortages. He
came to Washington last winter, but dis
| appeared as mysteriously as he came. He
| turned up last month in Italy, his an
! cestral home, where he acted as q priest
| at OmaglaPatrie, not far from Genoa. He
| represented himself as still in the con-
| sular service, and said he was on his way
to Persia, having been appointed sort
| The state department sent Consul Pierson,
| Of Genoa. After him and Pierson found
| him In a church at Omaglapatrfe, cele-
brating mass.
The Italian authorities were after Girl
mondi at the same time. He was charged
with the betrayal Of an Italian girl, the
daughter Of an old house. He was ar
| rested on the charge and thrown into
prison. Consul Pierson reported the facts
| to the state department early this month.
The department., seeing that Girimondi
was in fair way to be placed where he
| would cause it no further trouble. has
| dropped its case against him and will
leave him to the Italian courts. The
| Italian government offered to turn him
over to answer for his Irregularities, but
the state department, finding it's accounts
| badly involI ed, replied that it had washed
| it's hands of him.
Opening for an Architect
In the whirligig of time, will an Amer
| lean architect go to Greece and erect
| there q church. on the very ruins of edt-
| fees that were built by the masters of
architecture when the world was young ?
That may be. the result of contest insti-
tuted by the ecclesiastical authorities Of the
ancient city Of Patras, in which American
architects have been asked to participate.
The church will cost two million
drachmas, $250,0O and will stand upon
| the site of the church dedicated to St.
Andrew, erected in the last century. 1.-The
general order Of architecture writes
Consul jackson, will be Byzantine, after
the spirit Of the east" The contest for
the first degree will close Feb. 49,, 1908
From the selected plans another contest
will be made, and on the award Of the
judges prizes will be given for the best
| three plans
Naval Work Abroad.
Naval progress abroad is clearly sci
forth in report just issued by the bureaI
of naval intelligence, navy department
The new vessels authorized by the British
budget of 1923, and now building, in.
clude battleships, armored cruisers,
third class cruisers. 4 scouts, 9 torpedo.
boat destroyers, and submarines. France
this year authorized the construction o.
1 battleship, Q armored cruisers, de
stroyers, and 16 torpedo boats, beside:
ordering material for battleships to be
laid down in 1903, and practically provid
ing for 13 submarines. Germany's build
ing program will be completed in 1908
when she will have 38 battleships. Thi!
year there will be laid down battleships
1 armored cruiser, small cruisers, tor
pedO-boat destrOyers, and l gunbOat TO-
Chinese waters. The italian budget pro
vides for laying down during the year
battleships, 2 golfers, destroyers, 1 sub
| + oCd6OAH6 pCOO UOdIS, hIIO
repair ship. Japan this year is conf1nin.
her attention to torpedo boat construc
ton at home. Five new boats are to b,
laid down this year. Mexico has ordered
two gunboats to be built in New Jersey
Nicaragua has purchased an armoret
gunboat from Germany. Norway has pro
vided for dispatch boat and 2 torped,
boats. Russia has formed no plans be
yond completing the program of 1899
There have been laid down under THU
program battleships, of which four hav,
been launched. There are now buildinf
in Russian shipyards five protected cruis
ers. A new cruiser, described as de
stroyer Of torpedo-boat destroyers,'' ha!
!. been ordered. Six torpedo-bo destroy
ers> are to be built. Ten torpedo boats ar
being made with submarines on the. Blacl
sea. It Is reported that Russia will TAX
over from China the Peyand squadron ap
: plying the price on the debt due from
China. This fleet consists of cruisers,
torpedo boat destroyers, training ships
and special service vessel. Sweden ha
appropriated money to build one armore,
coast defense vessel, five torpedo boats
and one torpedo-boat destroyer. The de
stroyer will be a 31-knot vessel burnin.
oil for fuel Turkey has ordered two pro
tected cruisers, one from Armstrong, il
England. and the other from Cramp, a
Philadelphia.
---s-~.s w. w. Jermane.
TEMPERATURE OF FORESTS