The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-20
For Sals by E. G. tOWisr ard
 F.v. Hunter. "
THE CONSULAR SERVICE
sLAYDEN PLAYS PERSONNEL OF
 THE CORPS.
Says in Mexico American Repre- sentatives are Notorious for Their Inebriety-Appropria-
 tion Bill is Passed.

Washington, Jan. 1s.--The House trans acted considerable business today sev eral miscellaneous measures were passed. among them the Senate Hawaiian fire claims bill. The consular and diplomatic appropriation bill. the third of the regu- lar budgets. was passed and fair prog ress was made with the District of Co., lumbia appropriation bill.
 During consideration of the diplomatic bills. MT. Mcclellan (N. Y) precipitated a discussion concerning our diplomatic and consular service which took a wide range and led to some rather scandalous charges against our consular representa- tfves in Mexico by MT. Slayden CTex) Mir. Mcclellan submitted figures to show that our consulates, compared with those of other first class countries were under paid but over-manned- MT. Grosvenor (O9 declared the charges against our consular officials were un1ustitied. main tatning that 1t was the opinion of Euro pean publicists that we had the most efficient. consular service in the world.
 Mir. Slayden criticized very severely the character of our consular officers abroad especially some of those in Mexico. Some of the Mexican consulates, he said were made regular asylums for 'invalids and drunikards.'
 Tt makes an American blush," said he, ito hear the stories that are told of some of our official representatives"
 Proceeding. he narrated how United States consul at Saltillo, Mex. with two companions last summer entered the of- flee of a newspaper editor to assault him.
 Were any charges made to the State Department against this of1cial?' asked Mir. Adams Pa.l
 Charges have been repeatedly made" ." replied Mir. Slayden. This particular of- ficiai left town between night and morn- ing while I was in the city"
 "The 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 Pres ident some years ago who he said 'got drunk at Fl Paso and painted broad streak down to the City of Mexico. 1.0OC miles to the south.' He also told of a consular official who, he said, some years ago pawned the American flag for 4C cents in order to buy drinks The con cluding chapter of his arraignment was the charge that an American vice con sul had been charged with being impll- cated in the theft of some coal.
 On point of order made by Mir. Me Clellan the provision for secretary of le- gation to Switzerland was stricken out MT. Grosvenor (O.) denounced some of the statements made earlier fin 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 publicists abroad that the United States had the best consular service in the world.
 The bill then was passed and the House took up the District of Columbia appro- priation bill. It carries $7,6lS449, being $S44.474 less than the appropriation for the current year and $S.25S,92S less than the estimates. Half of the bill was read and at 5:O5 D. m. the House adjourned,