The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-14
WANT FREE RENT
Uncle Sans Ambassadors Must
Be Rich Men.
Little Real Need for Ministers
to Some Countries.
TO OPPOSE LARGER SALARIES
Office Should Not Be Sought
for Gain Alone.
Yet Deserving Men Should Not
Need Be Rich.
% OPPOSE LARGER SALARIES

New York, Feb. 1.-THE secretary
of state, Philander c. Knox, is in per-
feet agreement with some who have
held important diplomatic posts as rep
reseptatives of the United States in for
eign nations respecting the expediency
of building suitable homes for American
am bassadors or ministers. From South
America Mr.. Knox has heard within
year past that the efficiency of our
diplomatic service would be consider
ably increased if the government were
to build suitable homes for our minis
ters, so built as to contain convenient
business Offices
Whether the necessary legislation can
be obtained from this congress or nOs
whereby appropriations for the pay
ment of suitable homes for American
ambassadors ard ministers may be
granted is matter of some doubt
The secretary of state is of the opinion
that the appropriation now under con
sheraton by congress is wholly mad
equate. Mr.. Knox also appears to be
of the opinion that the United States
should not progress slowly in this mat
ter, making, comparatively speaking,
light appropriations each year for resi-
dences to be occupied in foreign lands
by our ambassa 5Ors and ministers, for
procrastination of that kind would
tend to defeat the chief purpose which
lies behind the establishment of Ameri-
can homes for our diplomatists.
President Taft has always thought
that the post of ambassador or minis
ter should not be occupied by one given
to large and expensive ceremonial or
formal entertainment. The president is
in full agreement with some OF MS
predecessors who were of the opinion
that the official duties of ambassadors
or ministers need no accessories IN the
way of glitJering or fashionable enter
When Colonel Roosevelt was presi-
Id a
there is little real need for the services
Of ambassadors or ministers The ocean
cable and the fast steamship make ser
vice of that kind far less important
two weeks were needed for crossing
the ocean and there was no Atlantic
cable or world-encirclinE telegraph:
# was for this reason that President
Roosevelt spoke Of the appointment p
these high diplomatic posts as IN the
IA t11re of a decoration And he be-
Iieved that there should be no long
continued occupancy by one person OF
the post of ambassador or minister he
sometimes said that as the service Is
in the nature of a decoration or dis
tinction it is only fair that a many
men as possible should have an oppor-
unity to gain whatever honor there
might be in this service
Anaba ssador Reid's opinion.
Wbitelaw Reid, who will have served
nearly six years as ambassador at the
court of ST. James when President
rats first term expires, is understood
to be very strongly in favor of the
construction or purchase by the Amer
lean government of suitable buildings
in which the homes and offices of am
hassadors and ministers can be estab-
Iished. In this way much of the heavy
exnerse which our dfplomatists are
compelled to meet would be eliminated,
and Mr.. Reid is of the opinion that if
orr ambassadors or ministers can live
rent free, then there is no reason why
thew cannot live upon the salaries the
government has hxed-iive comfortably.
with dignity
one Of the reasons given by Mr.. Reid
for opposing any increase Of salaries
Maid to our representatives at foreign
courts is the fear that if there be large
salaries then these offices will be earn
estly sought by men whose sole object
would be the gaining of the pecuniary
advantages And if our government
builds or buys homes for ambassadors
or ministers then men of moderate
means, who have ability or are pecu-
Iiarly fitted for diplomatic service, will
be willing TO accept appointment In
other words. no longer would men OF