The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-20
SOAKED THE FLAG
 ID BUY A DRINK Mcclellan Makes Charges
 Against U. s. ConSuIs INVALlDS AND DRUNkAROS Congressman Says Mexico Has Been Made an Asylum for lnebrates By
 Admlnstration-"It Makes
 an American Blush."
INVALIDS AND DRUNKARDS

Washington January 19.-The house transacted considerable business today. Several miscellaneous measures were passed, among them the senate Hawaiian fire claims bill. The consular and diplo- matic appropriation bill. the third of the regular budget. was passed, and fair pro- gross was made with the District of Co., lumbia appropriation bill. During consid- eration of the diplomatic bills, MT. Mo- Clellan of New York precipitated a discus sion concerning our diplomatic and con- sular service, which took a wide range, and led to some rather scandalous charges against our consular representa- tives in Mexico by MT. Slayden of Texas.
 MT. Mcclellan submitted figures to show that our consulates, compared with those of other first-class countries were under paid, but over manned. Mir. Grosvenor of Ohio declared the charges against our congular officials were unjustified, maintaining that it was the opinion of European publicists that we had the most efficient consular service in the world.
 MccleIIan's Remarks Are Hot.
 MT. McClellan's remarks led to consider able debate. MT. Slayden of Texas criti- cised very severely the character of our consular officers abroad, especially of those in Mexico. Some of the Mexican consulates, he said, were made regular asylums for "invalids and drunkards"
 Tt makes an American blush," said he, Ito hear the stories that are told of some of our official representatives,
 Proceeding he narrated how a United States consul at Saltillo, Mexico, with two companions, last summer entered the office of a newspaper editor to assault him.
 Were any charges made to the state department against this official?" asked MT. Adams of Pennsylvania.
 Charges have been repeatedly made" replied MT. Slayden.
 '"This particular official left town be- tween night and morning while was in the city"
 ",rhe particular vice of our representa- tives." MT. Slayden proceeded to say, "seemed to be drunkenness and in this connection he referred to the case of the special envoy sent by democratic President some years ago, whom, he said. got drunk at Fl Paso and painted a broad streak or red down to the City of Mexico. one thousand miles to the south"
 Pawned American Flag.
 He also told of consular official, who, he said, some years ago pawned the American flag for forty cents in order to buy drinks. In the concluding chapter of his arraignment. was the charge that an American vice-consul had been charged with being implicated in the theft of some coal.
 On a point or order, made by MT. Mo- Clellan, the provision for a secretary of legation to Switzerland was stricken out
 Mir. Grosvenor, Ohio, denounced some of the statements made earlier in the day as islanders on our consular service He declared that they were not justified and that he was prepared to prove by the opinions of leading publcsts abroad that the United States had the best con- sular service in the world.
 The bill was then passed and the house took up the District of Columbia appro- oriation bill. It carries N,61S,449 being