Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-03
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
OWNS FEW CONSULAR RESI-
pENcEs ABROAD
YANKEEsLIVE M0DEsTLY
American Embassies in Most Foreign
Lands Are Rented, and the Expendi-
ture is Usually Comparatively Small
Holy City at Worlds Fair.
TBY H. j. MAHlN.ie

BY Fl. j. MAHlN.ir
Washington. d. c., Dec although ]
Great Britain. China, France and oth-
or powers have seen fit to buy ipreten-
,fious homes for their Washington en-
bassies the United States has invest
ed but little money in homes for its
representatives abroad. All the prop
erty the United States has acquired
for legation purposes is not worth
more than 100000. The United
States legation which is now beng
built at Pekin and which will be oc-
cupied by Minister Conger formerly
of Iowa will cost 100000 and will be
far the best building this country has
abroad 1t Is in the section OF Pc
kin that the Chinese government set
aside for the use OF foreign powers
3 and stands ON a tract given by China
to this country, In Toxic, japan, the
United States has a legation bought
while Mr.. Olney was secretary or
state and which is probably worth
about 100000. At the Korean capital
this government has a small legation
office purchased many years ago and
not worth over $4,000. Ground for.
legation in the capital OF Siam wasI
s given to the United States and 1t has
small legation there which is worth
(. several thousand dollars. This COM
pletes the list Of legation buildings
/ owned by the United States.
Congress has never favored the ex-
penditure Of money for buildings in
foreign countries. The attitude of
=
: Ice has been that of q politician-sAn u
positions in that service are regarded
as the property Of the party in power
and the, state department has never
been able to persuade congress that
the foreign service ought to have
buildings The government allows it's
foreign representatives to spend a
sum equal to only twenty per cent of
their salaries for rent and in conse-
quence the Americans in the foreign
service who are not able to spend
their own money are compelled to con-
tent themselves with buildings much
inferior to those occupied by the rep
resentatives of other countries.
Secretary Wilson had a business call
the other day from an interesting gen
tleman named Alexander Konta, who
is the leading member of a syndicate
that is planning TO reproduce the Holy
City of Palestine at the ST. Louis expo.
sition. Mr. Konta came to see Secre-
tary Wilson in regard to certain con-
cessions needed for the Introduction of
various animals that will be needed to
make the miniature Holy City realis-
tic. His requests We're readily granted
by the secretary. who has great inter-
est in seeing the fair develop into a
big. grand show.
"S think | am safe in saying that our
our attraction will be one of the most
novel ever seen at a worlds fair" Mr..
konta said. 1T is not a reproduction
in miniature we shall attempt TO re-
present, but the salient features OF the
old city itself About twenty-five of the
houses have already been erected and
others are in the process of erection.
We shall people them with men and
s women who make Jerusalem their
home, as have their ancestors for years
and centuries, and we shall show in
its every phase the life of the city as
it is today. We hope, too. to be able to
exhibit many of the relics of the Cru
saders' visits to the Holy Land
Another feature DR.. konta hopes to
bring over is real Turkish military
band To do this he will have to gel
direct consent from the sultan, as
never in the history OF the country has
"a Turkish military band been permitted
to visit a foreign land in times ot
peace.
One of the Iowa delegation who i!
little s,lperstitious, has ralSed uD q
combination of history which he de
clares makes things lcok Il little du
fious for Mr. Roosevelt. History doe.
not always repeat itself, but if i
should in the 1904 campaign, there
would be joy in the camp of those who
are booming Senator Hanna for Presi
bent.
"Now you know" said this congress
man, that vice-president succeeding
to the presidency has never been nom
mated. Now here is Hanna ready t,
enter upon new siX-year term Marcel
4. 1905, but he may never begin tha
term any more than Mr.. Roosevelt will
be nominated. Garfield, who was from
Ohio, you remember, had been electe
to full six-year term in the senate
but the day he was to be sworn in a
senator he took the oath as President
Will Hanna follow in Garfeld's foot
steps? We will wait and see
But how about Garfeld's fate?
was asked While you are in rh
prophesying business can you re-
whether Hanna will serve only a fey
inonths??"
20, that is an outside matter.
is political history that am telling yo
will repeat ITSELF.
.But Hanna is for Roosevelt
Yes, and Garfield was for She
man"