The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-21

cally the same as if we should have
no representation at all The official
recognition would be given, Of course,
and the perfuuctory civihtics and
courtesies would be exchanged, but
that would be all The ambassador
or Minister would not be present at
the brilliant functions given by other
nations representatives. this because
he would not be able to return the like
social courtesies himself; and so he
would be out of "the SWIM and out
of consideration.
In order TO meet the situation, In
part at least. the proposition has been
made to provide residences for the
ambassadors and Ministers, and ap-
propriate generously for the upkeep of
those residences and for the official
social functions to be provided in
them. Representative Sulzer OF New
York has introduced n bill (H. Il. 22,-
5S9) to provide for the acquisition of
premises for the diplomatic establish.
meuts of the United States at the City
Of Mexico. at Tokyo. Japan; at Berne,
tablishment of. the United States at
Hankow. China. The appropriation
carried in the bill for Mexico City is
$150,000, for Tokyo $l50,000, Berne
$4,000. Hankow 100000. total of
100000.
Of site. the construction of building
thereon, and for furnishing the same
in tho City of Mexico, and the same
in Tokyo. Japan, these buildings TO
serve both as residence Of the di
plomatic officers and for the Offices of
the Embassy. and the like wording is
followed as for the buildings at Berne
and at Hankow.
We Judge that the bill is designed
merely as an entering wedge, begin
ming in the provision Of residences and
offices. and for paying the expenses
Of official functions by and through
our representatives abroad in the
various capitals Of the world. As
such, it is commendable; for the ma
tion should pay for the transaction of
its official business abroad. The chief
part Of it is now obliged to be paid by
our representatives from their private
purses, this being a tax upon the in.
dividual serving as ambassador or
Minister which is entirely unJustih-
able. either in business or morals. And
besides, it obliges those posts to be
filled by persons who are wealthy and
can afford the expenditure.
When the United States has estab~
lshed official headquarters for itself In
the different countries to which it
sends its diplomatic representatives,
and pays the official cost Of running
the same, then those posts will be open
on equal terms to the rich aud the
poor as they certainly are not under
present conditions. But that they
able. without regard 10 his financial
circumstances, is something that it is
unnecessary to urge in tho business OF
81 Republic; for that is commonplace; /;
it is the very life and essence of the
Republic that no citizen shall be dis
crimlnated against by reason of his
lack Of wealth or financial resources
But VIC certainly do now discrim1
nate against every one in our di
plomatic service unless that person is
rich. With the passage Of the Sulzer
bill and Of other bills Of like tenor
that are likely to follow it. this dis.
elimination will have passed away.
and citizens of the United States com.
petent for diplomatic service will be
not only eligible to appointments to
such posts but it will be practicable
to appoint them, without regard to
their nnNerfv nr wealfh