The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-15
THE COST OF LIVING.
A Recent French Estimate of ConsuIa
Expenses.

Expenses.
The Budget Committee of the French
Chamber Of Deputies, charged NJ. Paul
Deschanel with that part Of their re-
port On the appropriations for 1908
which concerns the ministry of foreign
affairs. In the future. when Manila
shall be the American metropolis be-
cause Of the nearness to Canton, chief
city of the world, the lovers Of past
civilizations will be able to learn many
things about New York and the United
States in these pages of a parliament
airy report. Even now we should be
open to the instruction Of it.
M. Deschanel, who knows what he is
writing about, goes at length into the
expenses Of those who represent tbs
French Republic abroad. He makes out
six zones of dear living of which
France answers to the second. In Bel
GUM, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Portu-
gal and Switzerland, living is cheapest
less dear than in France. In Germany
and Montenegro, Denmark, Sweden and
Norway, living is q fifth dearer-on a
level with France, SO TAR as ccnsuls are
concerned. In Great Britain and Hol-
land, in Austria-Hungary, the Balkan
states and Greece, in Turkey, every
where, whether in Europe, Asia or
Africa, and in Morocco in normal
times, there is a medium dearness of
living, which, however, exceeds what is
fifth. In Egypt, Persia and Russia
special countries where climate and
manners oblige to particular and ex-
pensfve conditions of iife''-another
fifth is added in the ascending scale of
dearness. In Australia and British and
Dutch India, and Siam. in China, Corea
and Japan, living is dearer by still an
other fifth. And, last Of all. in the
United States and Canada and America,
North and South and Central. in the
West Indies, and in Africa, everywhere
except under the Turk, 1.-The cost of liv-
ing Is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS twice
what 1t Is in the first zone, represented
by Belgium and Switzerland.
Here is what M. Deschanel thinks a
consul In great city, representing a
great country like France, might rea-
sonably be expected to pay for his
years living, If he had no. children and
could find prices on the French level.
House rent $500. government paying for
separate office room; food for consul,
wife and servants, s1.0s0; two servants
wages for year, $500; heat and light,
$240: laundry, 800; lunches and dinners
for invited guests, carriage hire and
house repair and decoration, $400:
like sickness, charities and subscrip-
lions, $200-making, all told, $5.400.
surely not an immoderate expense for
the position anywhere Working this
out by zones, each about one-ffth dear
er than the preceding. the French con-
sui lives Just as well by paying little
over $3.50 in Belgium or Switzerland,
as he would by paying $1,000 in France
or Germany; $3985 in England or Aus
tria; 81, 800 in Russia; $1,000 in Australia
and China; or $1,000 ia New York. just
twice as dear as Brussels. Statisticians
may wrangle about the relative exact
ness of the details Of this estimate;
but the experiences Of a lifetime in four
of the zones makes me believe 1t very
close to the truth.
NJ, Deschanel makes this estimate the
basis Of a strong plea in favor Of in
creasing the pay Of the French con-
sular OFFICES abroad, at least up to the
rank Of consul general, for whom he
asks 10000 francs a year salary. with
6. 900 francs for expenses Of represent
alton" This would leave the represen-
tative of the French Republic very
much out in the cold in New York;
but believe there would be the neces-
cary supplements from the receipts Of
the office-Paris correspondence Of the
New York Evening Post.