The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-23

Two important appropriation bills-those
providing for the maintenance Of the Dip
lomauc and Consular service. and for the
Military Academy-were passed by the
House yesterday. Neither was amended
in any important particular Mr. Long
worth, the Presidents son-in-law. sought
TO incorporate in the former measure a
provision for the purchase Of residences
for United States diplomatists abroad. but
action of any kind was prevented by
point Of order made by Mr.. Mann, Of IIli-
nois.
Mr.. SherIey. of Kentucky, discussed the
treaty-making power Of the FedersI gov
eminent. and the rights of States and
municipalities under it, and Mr. Slayden.
of Texas. criticised President Roosevelt
for alleged discrimination in the matter of
diplomatic and consular appointments
Mr.. Sherley said there had been omitted
from recent discussion Of the treaty-mak-
ing power one rather striking fact. to
which he desired 10 can attention. This
was that there was no law on the Federal
statute books enabling the national gov
eminent TO punish violations Of treaty
rights of aliens
The diplomatic and consular appropria-
tiou bill, for the year ending June 81
1908. was in charge of Mr.. Cousins. Of
Iowa, the new chairman of the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs. II carries s., 13S.-
AS, less by S65sl6 than the appropriations
for the current year. And this. Mr..
Cousins said, was I'm face of the fact
that the committee had increased the
salaries of the fourteen Ministers now
receiving $500 a year to $1,000 This was
recommended by the State Department,
and the committee believed, Mr. Cousins
said. that at least the expenses of the
legations established by the United States
should be paid by the government even
If the men deemed worthy 60 hH the
position of Minister did not receive any
salary for their services. Aside from this
hr added. the provision giving the Secre-
tary of State the right to allot clerk hire
among the various c0nsulates as he deems
best. was the only change OF Importance
proposed by the committee.
Inaccuracy Charged.
Taking for his text the assertion made
by President Roosevelt that he had put
the diplomatic and consular service Of
the country not only upon nouparusan,
but. d nousectiouaI basis. MT Slayden. Of
Texas, charged the President with inac-
curacy of statement.
Any man who occupies tie position of
President of the United States" he said.
els an object of interest. The present
occupant of that high Office would be a
striking figure even il he did not have
the aid of the pomp and circumstance of
the Presidency. He is never common
place; he is always interesting, and usu-
ally picturesque"
And right" interrupted Mr.. Mann. Of
Illinois.
Picturesque" said AIr. Slayden, resum-
ing. Indeed there have been times
when Z would have liked him 10 be
less picturesque He is a leader among
men. and seems to be equally at home in
"a prayer meeting or political pow
wow
THAT statement is interesting" said
Nj SIaydeu of the Presidents assertion.
Elf true. But the President, Ike all men
who talk great deal. and vehemently. is
apt occasionally TO get his facts an
wrong I do not believe he means to be
inaccurate. But any man who talks vol
Umes cannot always be accurate: and he
certainly has been inaccurate in some in
stances
Mr. Slayden said he had gone to the
State Department and got the figures of
diplomatic and consular appointments.
They numbered 733. and Of those the
Southern States had a total of fOTty-Oue.
the other hand. ten Northern States had
426, ranging from 10 10 the credit
of Connecticut and Indiana, respectively,
to 1874 for New York
The Southern States, with nearly one
third of the total population Of the United
States. are credited with only 80 APP
pointees out of the 123 in the service, -
Mr.. Slayden. 'Or about one-ffteenth
Ee whole. OF these forty-nine, eleven
born in Northern States. and nine
from foreign countries. Even when
.aev came 90 dole out the very slender
slices Of pie That they give TO the South
ia the consular and diplomatic service
they give them to- carpet-baggers rather
than 90 the homegrown talent
lIr Payne inquired if the distribution
was based on population, voting popula-
uou or merit
Based on Political Prejudice.
purely upon political prejudice" re-
piled AIr. Slayden.
Would the gentleman feel happier,
asked Mt Mann, If We should say that
the South sent its best men to Congress
while the North sent its best abrOad?'
1T would probably help some Of us
who are ia Congress if we could send
some OF our talent abroad replied Stay
den There would be less competition
Even i'm SoUthers appointments" Mr.
Slaydeu went on, there is discrimina-
ton Tennessee, which elected two Re
publican Representatives. has quite the
lions share of Southern appointments,
and North Carolina. which has one Re
publican Representative. IS treated fairly
well. Arkansas has no appointment.
In justice to Arkansas, il ought to be
stated" said Mr. BouteI, of Illinois
that she has been singled out to give
TO one of her sons one Of the greatest
gifts i'm the diplomatic service-One of the
few representatives, at the great Hague
conference" He referred TO Judge Rose
president of the American Bar AssOCia-
ton
NIr. Siayden said he did not complain
OF existing conditions. ! would do just
as the President has done. If ! had the
power I would turn out all Republican
aEpointeeS. bag and baggage, and in SIX
months the Federal pay roll in the con
sular and diplomatic service, as well as in
other branches of the government, would
be nothing but a sweet. though faint
memory 10 all the Republicans in tins
country"
AIessrs Bennett of New York, anC
Mann. of Illinois, defended the admins
tIation from Mr. Slaydens charges, thu
former calling attention to the fact tina