The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-14

great
availability for these high offices.
Mr.. Choate's Experience.
When Joseph H. Choate was appoint
ed ambassador at the court of St.
James he was thought by his profess
sionaI brethren to have accumulated a
fortune of about a million dollars II
was presumed that it would take prac-
ticaIly the entire income of this for
tune in addition to his salary for him
to maintain himself as ambassador at
the court of st. James
It has also been the common under
standing Of Mr.. Choates professional
brethren that he was fortunate enough
to have benefited by appropriations in
the market value of certain securities
which he held in considerable blocks
which. in the aggregate, matched the
difference between his salary of $17,500
and the expenses he actually incurred
while ambassador, so that his personal
income was not drawn upon for ex-
penses.
Some of the intimate friends Of
Grover Cleveland had reason, as they
thought, to believe that the four years
of the service of Thomas F. Bayard
who was Cleveland's secretary of state
in his first cabinet, as minister to the
court of ST James cut a somewhat sub
stantial slice out of the little principal
Senator Bayard had accumulated.
Robert L. Lincoln, after his return
from service as minister to the court
of st. James the office was not raised
to the dignity of an embassy until just
after Mr.. LincoIn's ssrvice). said to
some of his friends in this city that to
have served as minister to the court of
St. James had cost him just $4,000 a
year, One-half of which represented his
salary and the other half represented
drafts which he had made upon his law
firm in Chicago.
Just before President McKinley's
first Inauguration Chauncey M. Depew
received, as he thought, assurance that
Mckinley would appoint him ambas-
sador to the court of st. James. The
recommendation for such appointment
had been made to Mckinley by the Re
publican organization of the state of
New York for whom the then Ifeutan-
ant governor of the state. Mr.. Saxton,
carried in person this recommendation
to Mckinley.
Depew began to wonder whether the
expense which four years service as
ambassador to Great Britain would en-
tail upon him would Justify his ac-
ceptance of the office He said to the
present writer that four years service
of that kind would cost him about
$500, 900 in excess of his salary which
he would receive. For he would be
obliged to resign from all of the offices
he held, Cincluding that of president of
the New York Central railroad COM
pany-that of itself meant a forfeiture
for four years, of about 100000 He
also had other corporate official rela-
lions which brought him cOnsidara bic
income. In addition to that. he learned
that he could not procure the kind of
residence in London he desired for
much less than 100000 for four years,
Another Republican statesman. the
late John Hay, was. however. norni-
mated for ambassador and Depew's dis
appointment, if he had a-v. was aIlevi-
ated by his election. the year following.
to the United States senate
Offices That Do Pay
There are some diplomatic offices
which have been eagerly sought by men
of small means because they have
in those offices for term of four
years and bring home considerable
savings During Garfeld's, Cleveland's
and Harrison's administrations the post
of minister to Mexico was earnestly
sought by men who had been told that
they could live comfortably in Mexico
for four years and yet with careful
economy bring back to the United
States at least $50. 900. One minister to
Mexico did succeed in doing that So.
also, the mission to China was until
recent years thought by men of rnoder-
ate means to be a desirable one, since
it was understood that, with prudence.
considerable savings out of the salary
could be made.
President Taft and Secretary Knox.
however. are anxious that our diplo-
matte service should not be sought on
the one hand. by men who see in that
service an opportunity to save COM
Portable fortunes or, on the other hand
by men of great wealth who regard the
social and conventional excitements
and pleasures that are possible to an
ambassador as of even greater import
ance than service done for the United
States If it were not for some regard
for the feelings of the men of affairs
statesmen. financial and others-who
are of influence in foreign countries,
the disposition would be very strong to
abolish all our embassies and minis
terial offices, committing the necessary
executive or official work to high-grade
consular officers, since, after all, our
entire diplomatic service is instantly
and constantly directed from the state
department at Washington.
HOrTARrTN