The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-28

competent southern democrats from
aspiring to positions in the foreign
service.
"In short. over 200 of the persons
now in the consular service have never
taken any kind of examination to test
their real fitness for their posts; and
Ok per cent of that number are repub-
Leans from northern states, or from the
District of Columbia, where residence
in the social center in the vicinity OF
The White House has given them,
through republican Presidents, an open
sesame to the best in the foreign serv-
ice of the government, from ambassa-
dors to the cream of the consular sery-
ice.
Mr.. President wish now to call at
tention to the appointment from the
states.
s.From Alabama there are only three
consults. the aggregate of the salaries
of the three being s65OO There are none
in the diplomatic service
From Florida there is only one, with
salary of $4,000.
"From Mississippi there are four, with
aggregate salaries of $7400.
Mr.. williams. Mr. President, the one
from Florida is in the consular service,
is he not?
Mr.. Johnston Of Alabama. Yes; in the
MIR. williams. There Is no one at all
from Florida in the diplomatic service
Mr. Johnston of Alabama. I am in
cluding both the consular and the diplo-
matte service in the statement I am now
making
From the District of Columbia there
are e, with salaries amounting to $685.
$50.
From Illinois there are 3s, with sal
aries aggregating s15Isoo.
From New York there are 70, with
salaries of s27s,70o.
From Ohio there are 80. with salaries
of $4,000.
"From Pennsylvania there are 60, with
salaries of sl94.100
taking this list by sections, Mr.. Presi-
dent, from the northeastern states there
are 156, with salaries of s550000 from the
border states 81, with salaries of $1S2, ,225;
from the middle western states 145, with
salaries of s49S65o; from other western
states TO- with salaries of $21S, 475: from
the District of Columbia 65. with salaries
of s2O5350 from the II southern states.
with a population of over 100000 peo-
ple there are only so, with salaries
amounting to s1s7,S00, less than several
of the states L have mentioned.
'It must be remembered, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that these consuls are supposed to
represent not SO much the diplomatic in
terests of the country but its business
and trade. In my section Of the country
there Is an immense development in man.
ufactures and an immense sale of the
products of our soil-perhaps the largest
of any part of the United States when
you take cotton and its products-yet
there are only 80 consuls to serve us and
not a single ambassador
Mr. Bacon Mr.. President. ] want to
saw to the senator that he gives little
too much credit to these consuls when
he says their duties are not SO much
diplomatic. They are not at all diplo-
matte.
Mr.. Johnston of Alabama. That is true;
they are not at all diplomatic; they are
purely of business nature. That being
the fact, / do not see why such an i'm
mense number should be appointed from
the District of Columbia, which has NO
notwithstanding or export interests what
ever.
Mr.. Gallinger' Mr.. President, will the
senator permit me an inquiry?
Mr.. Johnston of Alabama. Certainly.
Mr. Gallinger l will ask the senator
If 1t is not true that SO far as ambassa-
doris and ministers are concerned as a
rule they have rendered their resigna-
tions to the President?
| Mr.. Johnston of Alabama. I am talking
about the present situation.
Mr. Gallinger. Yes; but will 1t not be
remedied by the senator's president when
he reaches that point?
Mr. Johnston of Alabama. hope II
will be remedied, but It seems to be 60
ing along very slowly. QAughterl