Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-21
| OhG " HIS Bill
To Acquire Residences for
American Ambassadors, &c,
In FOREIGN CAPITALS
OBJECTS OF THE MEASURE ARE
Two-FoLD.
To Provide Suitable Ofacial Residence
and Bring All Diplomatic Offices
Within Reach Of Ali.

Representative Nicholas Longworth of
Ohio introduced bill in the House today
to authorize the Secretary of State to
acquire, at cost not to exceed 5000, 600,
suitable residences for American ambas-
sailors and ministers In foreign capitals.
Commenting on the subject today, Mr..
Longworth said to Star reporter:
Two-Fold Objects.
1.-THE objects of this bill are two-fold.
In the first place, to provide suitable
official residence for all of our diplomatic
ENJOYS having the rank of ambassador
or minister plenipotentiary. and in the
second place to indirectly increase their
compensation by affording them resi-
dence during their term Of office, rent
free.
This will apply to our ambassadors to
France Germany, Great Britain, Mexico.
Russia, Brazil, Italy and Austria and to
our ministers at Argentine. China, Japan.
Cuba, Spain, Belgium. Chill, Colombia,
The Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Turkey,
Venezuela Nicaragua, Guatemala, Den
nhrk, Morocco, Paraguay. Portugal,
Roumania, Sweden and Norway. Switzer-
land, Greece. Bolivia, Ecuador Haiti Per-
STA and Siam.
three official residences, those in China and
japan and Siam. Under this bill the Sec
rotary of State will have the discretion to
buy or lease official residences in those cap
itals where they are most needed In my
opinion the first official residences should
be acquired in those European capitals
where we are represented by an ambaSsa-
dor and in the second place, in those coun-
tries of the far east where there are no
suitable hotels or rentable residences
1.-The amount to be expended is based
upon the figures given in a report made by
Secretary Olney, where, after carefui lnVes,
tgation, it was stated that suitable ofnclal
rx,,tr rod in a
European capitals where we are now repre-
scented by ambassadors for sum between
one million and a half and two million and
a half dollars
in divers capitals. under the law. for
eign government cannot obtain the fee sim
pie Of real estate, but long leases could be
made of suitable property and q large inI-
tial outlay would not be necessary.
Underlying Purpose.
1.-THE underlying purpose of this bill is to
remove the one at present absolutely neces-
sary qualification, that of great wealth, for
the holding of high diplomatic office under
the United States. 1t is an open and notori-
Gus fact and one which cannot be and is
not disputed, that, with the very small sal
aries paid to our diplomatic ENJOYS In COM
parison with those of other countries, none
but very rich men can aspire to these Of
fees; that no man of however great learn
ing, experience ability can represent this
country abroad unless he be man of great
wealth No matter how much salaries
might be increased there would always be
an evidence of the wealth of each particular
incumbent according to the style of resi-
denee he occupied. If, however, a suitable
and dignified official residence be given to
each of our diplomatic ENJOYS then, at least
so far as external appearances are con-
cerned, the rich man and the poor man will
appear alike.
"A further merit of this bill is that it
will not add large fixed charge to the ex-
penses OF government such as an increase
of salary, which would place our @diplo
matte ENJOYS on the same basis as those of
other countries would make. The only adj
dltional fixed charge would be az6easonable
amount TO keep the property of the United
States In repair That the investment would
be good one is shown by the constant in
crease in the value of property in the CAPT.
tails of Europe and other countries.
I'm a word, the real object Of this bill Is
not so much to better the condition of our
present diplomatic ENJOYS, although that in
many cases Is desirable, as to create a
condition under which these high offices
will come within the reach of every An1erl-
can citizen of brains, culture, ability and
patriotism regardless of what his financial
circumstances may be-"