New-York tribune., 1908-04-19
PASS DIPLOMATIC BILL
APRIL 8 ENDS IN HOUSE.
The Hill Incident and Expenses of
ambassadors Discussed.

enc diplomatic and consular appropriation bill
s.- suspension of the rules. 1t carries $3.50 2sS.
.er hsvins been in continuous session since April
: ,v resorting 10 the process OF taking recesses
,-,r7 dav 10 day. the House, at Sis p m ad-
.,r-7ed until = o'clock tomorrow. when eulogies
all be delivered in memory OF Representative
George Smith. OF Illinoss-
..7-re objection to Dr. Hill as Ambassador to Ber-
,,r vss simply and solely that his private fortune
-rouId not enable him 10 represent properly the dig
-itv Of the American nation
This statement was made to-day in the debate
- NJ TongWorth, Of Ohio. who made plea for
maintenance bv the government OF suitable lega-
ZION buildings in foreign capitals. He referred to
he press dispatches saying that the German En-
,ero- had refused to accept Dr. HILL and 10 the
o4ciaI denial given to the published stories. 'Nev-
s--reless" said Mr. LongworJh there is no doubt
that there ? foundation for these stories be-
vond mere run1or, and il is undoubtedly true that
r.-sors high in authority in Germany for some
tine have been saying that DIR. Hill was not per
sons grstissnls to the Emperor" These objections
however. he declared. could not be because Dr. Hill
vas not experienced in diplomacy nor sufficiently
learned IN International law. that he was not
sufficiently able and 4 representative American
They we're. he asserted. due entirely to the fact
that "hecsuse ne was not sufficiently well off to
pzy the difference between the amount paid him as
salary and the amount necessary maintain his
position as ambassado: he would not only not be
able 70 keep uP such establishment as that Of
the present American Ambassador. but would not
bc able 10 keep up any establishment at all"
M LongVorth said without going into the ques-
tor 10 whether Mr. Tower had maintained too
luxurious establishment that everybody would
ooncede that the American Ambassador to Ger
msny should a. least have a house to live in and
not be compelled 10 live in hotel or a fat 1T
is excuse he said, that we do not act be-
cause financial conditions do not warrant the ex-
perse- An oficeholding aristocracy is bad enough
n any country. when based on birth and blood
but when hssed on wealth it is infinitely worse.
and worst Of all in republic ] would say that
any amount Of money well spent for uproot-
ing such system from this country"
IT Ihe course Of brief explanation of the bill
NJ Cousins. Of Iowa. chairman of the Committe.
Foreign Affairs. referred particularly TO the
consular service and the inadequate provision for
the care of consuls American consuIs he declared
we're in many Instances living in out of the way
places IN the cities 10 which they were accredited
not consistent with the government they repre-
serted The furniture in Of the buildings h..
said was old and diapidated. but" he added
Il do not admit that our service is inferior 10 any
ir The world
Speaking of a pro rorma amendment, Mr.. Har-
r1son, of New York. condemned the practice OF ap-
pointing men Of great wealth represent the
United States abroad II did not necessarily fol-
ioT- ~ said. that because a man was rich he
V9lid not make a good ambassador. and he cited
Joseph IL Choate and Whitelaw Reid Referring To
The +iiI incident Mr Harrison said that il lavish
eHFe7 oture OF American money created such an
-nordlEste appetite for American luxury among
minor officials ~ the Berlin court as TO bring
Humiliation on the head OF one of the most dis
-uhElished and capable OF American public ser
wants then il was time call a halt and apply
ne remedy which had been suggested of the gov
e-rle1ts providing homes for its dipIonoats
Forelgn governments. he said, had criticised the
American representatives ''shirtsleeves diplo-
mats Shirt sleeves. he declared while not very
attractive, a good costume TO work in. and
almost unbroken line Of American diplomatic sue
oesses was sufficient justify the selection of the
majority Of the sent abroad.
M Harrison however. denounced the growing
tendency 10 select dinner table detetic diplo-
mats One Of these. ne said was Ambassador
White at Paris. and he criticised him for annear-
ing. as had been reported. at functions in court
costume and knickerbockers, in violation of law
Or the subject.
Discussing the secretaries abroad Mr.. Harrison
said the first secretary az London was a good ex-
ample Of the type being appointed
While z very arniabIe gentleman" Mr. Harrison
said. he reminds one irresistiby Of the white
rabbit IT Alice in Wonderland and as he scuttles
through the London drawing rooms can al
most picture him saying: oh the duchess" oh
ny fur and whiskers! I shall be late"
The references to Ambassador White by Mr Har-
r1son were resented by Messrs. Mccall of Massa-
ohusetts; Hitchcock Of Nebraska; Bennett and
Parsons. OF New York. and Cooper OF PennsyI-
wanna. VINO testified TO the unfaiIing courtesy and
attention 70 duty OF Ambassador White and his
first secretary Mr.. Hitchcock asserted that Mr
White vas most democratic and plain in his habits
ana most representative Of the American spirit of
diplomacy.
NJ Underwood. Of Alabama opposed large sal
are IN order that American diplomats might
maintain social standard, but he was In favor OF
salaries sufficiently large TO enable them properly
u maintain the dignity OF their Offices
Does the gentleman believe" inquired MI
LcHgVorth that Mr- Bryce the present Ambassa-
CO.. os Great Britain to the United States, lives
With any undue ostentation?"
NJ Underwood protested that he had no means
q knowing. He had. he said met Mr Bryce only
twice. out il was his opinion that Mr.. Bryce had
rot received in his home 10 per cent OF the mem
pers n Congress. Whether or not Mr.. Bryce spent
rs whole salary in entertaining, Mr.. Underwood
eontenced that his in this respect would not
Increase or diminish his influence ambassador.
either ElLh the President the Cabinet
rAe last criticism earth Of Mr. Bryce" inter
3ected NJ Longworth, could be that he is q So
ce-y DUDE"
NJ Underwood denied that he Intended to convey
tlcr intirnatlon
Champ Clark OF Missouri created laughter uben
he referred the lavishness Of the entertainment
q the Duke OF Bedford. There were. he said only
nree men IN the United States who could vie with
nm. the Rockefelers and that man out in Wis
toasin who owns all the timber"
While maintaining that q rule American
diplomats were competent and efficient Mr. Will
ans. % Mississippi. characterized some of them
a. rlea and some OF them snobbish. He no
reason Wny Ambassador Reid should rent Dor
chester House and set social standard for sub
seauel- ambassadors.
Declaring that with exception he did not
AI9| " here the foreign embassies were in Wash
Agiol, Nj Mann, OF Illinois. said the British
embassy building did credit 10 anybody Il