Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-23
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MR. LONowoRTH WANTS $780,
600 SPENT FOB SITES
His Amendment to the Diplomatic Bill
Ruled Out on a Point Of Order
Mr.. Mann's Reply.

Representative Longworth OF Ohio offered
an amendment to the diplomatic and con-
sular appropriation bill in the House yes
terday afternoon appropriating $4,000 for
the acquisition Of proper sites and build
ings in foreign capitals to be used by the
embassies and legations Of the United
States. Although the amendment was ruled
out OF order it gave Mr.. Longworth an
opportunity to emphasize his position on
the same subject. as was made known dur
Ing the last session. He said that there
was not nation on earth approaching our
wealth and power that does not pay to its
what we do to ours
One OF two things Is true" said Mr..
Longworth: "either that their system is
right Oh that our system is right" He said
II was a fact that many ministers and am
passadors from the great European nations
solely because they could not afford with
the compensation paid them to remain in it.
The Late British Ambassad dor.
mo salary paid to any official of this
government should be 80 large" said Mr..
Longworth, that the office should be
sought for the money to be made out of 1t,
ana on the contrary, no salary should be
SO small that men of ability, learning and
PATRIOTISM should be deferred from taking
puoi'c once because they cannot live prop
sy upon tnelr salary. The test of fitness
OF any man to hold public office should be
ms intellectual parts not his financial cir
cumstanees.''
Speaking of Sir Mortimer Durand. the for
said: % '''
Only last year the English ambassador
!or TINS country asked for and received an
increase of 5000 year in his salary. bring
ing II up, SO 1 am informed, to S45 900 q
year, In addition to which he received his
residence rent free, the cost of the up
keep or the embassy being paid by the
BRUSH government, and in addition to all
TINS substantial amount for entertaining
Whatever may have been said in the
newspapers against the late ambassador
certa1nly 1t has never been charged that
ne iiVed with any undue display or in any
oehef manner than as a dignifled gentle
man. and In a manner to properly repre-
sent great and friendly power. When
We compare the compensation of the Brit
ism ambassador here with that of our am
bassador to England. who is paid $17.5O0
year. with no other allowances what
outrageousfy absurd. and simply brings us
to the fact. which has not been and can
not be denied. that under our system no
one but man Of great wealth can. under
this government in high diplomatic Office"
Mr.. Mann's Reply.
Mr.. Mann Of Illinois. who made the point
Mr.. Longworth, saying: Our ambassadors
abroad probably have no more expensive
duty to perform in the way Of living than
ambassadors from abroad here. The am
bassadors from abroad in Washington are
put to no greater expense than the cabinet
officers of the President Of the United
States"
&. He then proceeded to pay a graceful
compliment to Secretary Cortelyou. "a
few years ago a young man without money
oyn5 NIT f~Rr f~Nv,
New York and went into one of the de-
partments here in q very humble capacity.
He has been q cabinet officer. represent
cabinet officer representing another de-
partment Of government and Is about to
be a cabinet officer representing the chief
department Of the government" he said.
He Is leading the simple life and often
wish that some Of the American represent
atives abroad would show to the world
that they could lead the simple life"