Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-13

No official representative of the United
States can live in q suitable manner for
less than $500 a year, In any country,
and yet we have large number on $1,000
and 81, 500 and even less than that per
year.
1t is not true that living is less expensive
in Europe than it is in this country, and
persons who accept consulateS at small
salaries under that impression soon dis
cover their mistake. The same amount of
comfort and luxury costs the same amount
of money wherever man may live, wheth-
er II be Europe, Asia, Africa or America.
Demands for Charity.
The demands upon consuls for charity are
a severe tax, and the government should
have q fund-as other governments do-for
such purposes 1t frequently occurs that
an American citizen-sometimes a woman
and sometimes chiid-is stranded in
foreign city, whether from their own fault
or not. and there is no one to whom they
can appeal except their consul. If the
stranded person happens to be sailor he
can be sent home at government expense,
but otherwise the consul Is compelled to put
his hand down into his own pocket or col
lect fund among his fellow -countrymen
to defray the necessary expenses. He can
not help doing SO; the laws of humanity
and public opinion will not permit him to
refuse relief to countryman in distress,
and out of the small salary allowed him by
his government he Is annually compelled to
pay considerable sum to relieve or send
home entire strangers. In several cities
where there are number or American
residents societies have been organized and
funds raised TO relieve the distress of their
countrymen and send home those who have
lost or wasted their money or had their
letter of credit stolen, as is often the case.
Some years ago, as an Illustration, hap
pened to be in a Spanish city when the
American consul was appealed to by a very
respectable-looking woman and her two
daughters, who claimed to have been robbed
OF all their money and valuables, including
their letter of credit. The proprietor of
their hotel was about to turn them into the
street. They represented that they did not
know any one to whom they could appeal;
that they had left the husband and father
In South America to secure contract for
building a railroad. and that he had sent
them home via Spain, Paris and London
with sufficient money to pay their expenses.
They had been four weeks on their journey
and had not heard from him In the mean
time and did not know where he was. They
expected to find letters from him on their
arrival at London. And there they were.
The consul was man of small means,
with a salary of 81 o00 and there were no
other Americans in the town except a few
mechanics. If he permitted this woman
and her daughters to be turned out OF the
hotel II would be an everlasting scandal
against his name so the only recourse was
to guarantee their board bill. pay their ex-
penses to London and walt for them to
hear from their rlghtful protector. He was
compelled to take that risk, and invested
about $3.50 on his faith In their honesty.
His faith was justified. however, and in
due time he received a draft and a letter
full of gratitude.
All consuls-particularly those stationed at
the seaports of Europe-are often compelled
to devote 20 per cent of their annual sala-
ries to charity, and there Is no way to re-
imburse them.
Reorganization Demanded.
The entire consular system should be re-
organized. Appointments should be per-
manent and should be made at the bottom,
with promotions for efficiency and with
salaries and allowances of sufficient size to
enable them TO live in a manner appropri-
ate and fitting to the dignity of their Offices
Consuls should be required to speak the
language of the country in which they are
stationed; they should not be allowed to
engage in business or charge fees for any
service, and they should have permanent
residence provided them by the govern
ment.
In countries where appearances are every
thing the consul of the United States is
often without influence either with the gov
eminent or the people because OF his small