The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-28
OUR DIPLOMATS ABROAD.
With Those Who Represent Other Countries
From the Washington Post.)


 There are two reasons why Ameri- | can diplomatic representa- tives abroad are at a disadvantage from 3, financial | point of view as compared with the colleagues in other foreign services. One is that the American diplomat | receives a lower rate of pay, and the other is that the foreign governments | own their embassy and legation build | ings, while the American representa- tive has to furnish his own residence This requirement. is extremely burden | some, and in some cases the ambas- sador's salary is largely spent in house rent. When Charles H. Sherril was minister to Argentina his salary was $12, 900 and his house rent was the same amount. The Argentine post is probably the most expensive ministe- rial post in the American service. The salary of an American ambas- l sador is SIT 900 a year. The salaries of the British ambassadors at Vienna, Rome, St. Petersburg, Berlin and Pa ris range from $35 900 to $45,Oo0. The German government also is gen. erous in the treatment of it's diplo- mats The German representatives at these capitals receive from $25, 900 to
 $37, 800 annually. The salaries of the French ambassadors range from $24,- 900 to S4O,00O The Italian Russian and Austro-Hungarian representatives receive similar amounts, and in addi- tion an official residence is provided. The American government always has been surpassed by other countries in the mater of official residences. The United States owns it's embassies and legations only in a few instances. Off, fcial residences are owned by the powers in almost all the European capitals At London, where the Aus | tro-Hunbaryian ambassador receives | a salary of $45,000, there is furnished an official residence which cost ap- proximate1y $28O, GOO. At Berlin. where 1 the French ambassador Is paid 5000. 1 the residence is valued at $500, ,000. In Paris the British ambassador receives 3, salary of e45,O0o, and has had an of l fciaI residence there since 1874.
 1 Another disadvantage is the expense to which American diplomats are put l in furnishing their homes. When a foreign diplomat enters his country's s service he is given sum- usually a l half or @ quarter of his first years pay, as a bonus with which to pay for his outfit. The American repre- sentative must pay out of his own pocket the expense of furnishing hds house.
 man of the foreign relations commit tee, strongly urges the acquisition of suitable homes for American diplo- natic representatives in foreign capi- taLs He thinks this would go far to- ward getting men Of moderate means into the service In 1911 a law was passed authorizing an appropriation Of $500, 900 to be expended under the direction Of the secretary Of state in acquiring homes for American diplo- mats. It was reported that no build ing and site should co1t more than $16ooOo The appropriations never were made
 During the last few years Congress frequently has appropriated $S0,OO and $6O 600 for public buildings in inI, I1ar pie. In the last bill $1O0 900 each was given to Jasper, Ala, to Douglas Ariz., and to GoIbe, Ariz., all towns of small population.