The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-20
KANSAS COMMENT
AMERICAN coNsr1s

EoWard Henry Ozmun. who is a
Onlteo states consul at Constantinople
oenVereo an address at the University
VI ohlcaso the other day, In which he
pointed out the fact that the repre-
sentatIVes or this government abroad,
osPecIdiS iS IN consular positions are
hasel.y iiliseIapIy pald, and consequently it is
pecoIll4ns more and more difficult to
secure competent men for such places
Inc complaint has often been made,
ana the fact is something of which
chna Gncle san sam should be ashamed. A
cneap man IN a consul's office, is rath-
er reproach than an advantage to the
country he represents, while a COM
petent man is of theA greatest value
MANY governments recognize this, and
positions. 1t is not fair to expect an
American citizen to spend his own
money for his maintenance while serv-
ING the government abroad: yet Mr.
Ozmun says that it is impossible for a
man to live respectfully on the salary
he gets as consul, and Uncle Sans
parslmony in the matter of official sal
aries IS standing joke abroad.
Mr. Ozmun says that in order to be
OF the best service to his government,
a consul should be possessed of great
ability and comprehensive knowledge,
and men of that character are hard to
get unless sufficient inducements are
offered. Several consular positions are
now vacant, and the right sort of men
can't be found to fill them.
"A charge of stinginess is disagree
aple. Whether brought against a nation
Or an Individual, and Uncle Sam should
lnVestlgate this matter, and loosen up,
If he finds that Consul Ozmun Is speak
ing by the card.-Emporia Gazette.
AN INJUSTICE TO COLLEGES.
The action of the state tax commits
sioners in levying taxes on the prop
erty OF denominational schools and
colleges of Kansas does not seem wise
iHSse lnSlItutlons do a great work for
nIgner education and do it entirely
without thought of profit making They
also do their work with the educational
ldea far IN advance of the sectarian
idea Four thousand young Kansans
are pursuing higher learning in these
kansas colleges and their fathers
gladly pay taxes to maintain the state
university and other state schools not
W1thstanding they send their own sons
ana daughters to the smaller colleges
where the atmosphere is safer for
young students. kansas as a state.
spends an enormous sum annually on
the university. the Manhattan college,
the Emporia Normal and the Pittsburg
manual training school. Kansas shows
conmendable. eagerness in the educa-
tional cause. The action of the state
tax commission in levying taxes upon
the property of the denominational col
leges, Wh1ch turn great product
is not consistent with the educational
spirit of the state 1t is not consistent
with the other expenditures made for
educational purposes. These colleges
are educating their share of young peo-
pie; they are turning out their share of
teachers. engineers and scientists They
ask no state aid for this service. The
state should continue to exempt them
from taxation.-Wichita Beacon
WORK FOR MEDICAL RESERvISTS.
The war department authorities are
much gratified at the success which has
attended the effort to get leading mem
bers of the medicaii profession to head
the list of the personnel in the medical
reserve corps. the new branch of the
army medical department. The next
step in the matter of preserving the in
active personnel of this corps will be
the provision, of the retainer for those
officers who are required to present
themselves for a period of training each
year. This training 1t is observed, will
not be REQUIRED of the eminent medical
men who have accepted commissions
on the inactive list and whose names
have given dignity and influence to the
corps. but it would be desirable, in the
case Of the younger officers, who could
hardly be expected to be called away
from their practices for this service
training. This will, of course require
legislation, which, it is understood, is
in contemplation in the war depart
ment-IeaVenworth Times