The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-04-11
OPPOSES HIGHER SALARIES FOR
DIPLOMATS.

WESTINGHOUSE there necessit!
for an ambassador of the Unltet
States to a foreign court spending
from $4,000 to $4,000 in excess
of his salary each year in social en-
tertainment. That question is rails
ed at the present time by the dit
ficulty President Wilson is having IL
finding men to represent the Unltec
States as ambassadors to Great Brit
ian, France, Germany and other i'm
portant foreign countries. Practically
every man offered an ambassadorsh1I
by President Wilson has declined or
the ground that he could not afford
the expense. This naturally gives
rise tc the above question, and thai
question will be discussed thorough
ly If the president asks congress tt
make more liberal appropriations fol
dur ambassadors and ministers
abroad.
Democrats Change Front.
For a number of years Represen
tative Nicholas Longworth of Ohio
struggled to secure the passage of {
bill proposing to buy homes abroad
for all our ambassadors and minis
tiers and ultimately for all consuls
The bill never passed either house Of
congress and was always assailed by
the Democrats and needless and un'
justifiable extravaganza. Yet the frs
president to recommend such approp
riations is Mr.. Wilson, and immedia
tely the suggestion comes from him
it meets with widespread approval
among Democratic senators and rep
resentatives, and the very ones who
cried out extravaganza when Mr.
Longworth was pressing his bill fol
hearing.
BOrah Has Decided Views.
Senator Borah of Idaho will be
prominent in fighting any such legis
lative program when it comes up II
the senate, and he has decided op
inion on the whole subject. There II
no reason" said Senator Borah, "why
an American ambassador abroad can
not live within his income if he il
so disposed. Each ambassador, ant
there are of them, receives com
pensation of $17,500 per annum
which is $4,000 more than is pait
to senators and Representatives
There is no reason why. if we cal
work along on $500 they SHOULD
not be able to get along on $17,5O(
congress provides no houses in Wash
ington for it's senators and represen
tatives; it makes no rental allowan
re for them, and yet there is no diff
ficulty finding men to serve in eithel
branch of congress. Neither will
there be difficulty in finding suitable
men for ambassadors If they will 6
over the idea that they must keel
up the social record made by White
law Ried.
Lavish Entertainment Unnecessary
LAS a matter of fact there is NJ
more reason why an ambassador a
a foreign court should entertain an,
more lavishlv than senator or rep
resentative in congress. Ambassa
doris are sent abroad to represen
this government officially. not soci
, ally, and there is no justice in tn
/ claim that our ambassadors must b
! social lions in order effectively L
I discharge their official duties. Soc
! ial prominence is not necessary t
! insure them that recognition that
! due their office. The mere fact tina
they are ambassadors of the Unite,
i States will give them all the officia
recognition to which they are EMIT
, led.
Social prominence was one tim
| t0I To- y, To- rk<Nl
, it senator expected to WELD grea
influence and accomplish results. A
matter of fact that was merely ;
| presumption not a fact, for some o
the greatest senators were men whit
never entertained and never atten'
social functions unless they were Il
deliver important addresses. And
Is moreover true that a man canno
attend to his duties as senator an
devote his nights to society; the me-
who are leaders in congress; tn
men who accomplish things and wiel
the most influence are men seldor
heard of in society. Once in awhil
mental and phyrical freak will dc
velop who can work all day and din
all night, but such men are rare.
Get Money Enough.
"Our ambassadors are the highes
salaried men in the government sci
vice to-day, excepting only the pres
dent, and If officials in Washington
the seat Of our own government ca
make both ends meet on salarie
much smaller than those Of our an
bassadors, I see no reason why GU
ambassadors abroad cannot manae
, to make out an existence on SIT
} 500 year If they will but abando
the idea that they must emulate tn
example of Whitelaw Ried.