Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-07
GREATER L|BERAL|TY
:: !. URGED TOWARD CONsuLs
Additional Allowances to Meet New
Conditions Will BE Advocated
Before Congress.
ALSO RETIREMENT PLAN
Would Place Them in Uniform and
Appropriate for Travelling EN-
penses of Their Families Upon Re
moval to New Post.


WASHINGTON, October 6.-War- time
conditions have given marked empha-
SIS to three important needs of the
consular service of the United States,
which consuls and friends of the SER
vice have advocated for some time.
These needs likely to be brought
to the attention. of Congress at the
coming session. and men in official and
civil life who have the interests of the
service at heart are preparing to urge
provision for them.
The needs are:
Provision for Il retirement pension
for consular officers such as the PEN
sions already granted in the army and
navy. Placing consuls in uniform to
obtain for them the same recognition
as that accorded consuls of all first
class nations, who now wear such uni
forms.
Appropriation for travelling expenses
OF a consul's family upon his removal
to a new post. Allowance now is made
only for the transportation of his own
person and effects.
The arguments for these three re-
forms, as summarized by men who will
be active in urging their passage by
Congress. follow:
Consuls engage in highly specialized
work, at salaries upon which they
cannot save enough for disability or
old age, and the knowledge they gain
is not useful in most fields of private
employment. All other important pow
ers now pension their conSuls.
There are many instances where con-
suls have failed to obtain recognition
because they wore no distinctive uni
forms, as consuls of all other nations
represented at their posts are per-
mitted TO do. Moreover, the absence OF
a uniform at functions where all other
consular representatives are SO at
tired is considered breach of good
taste. just as failure to wear evening
dress would be when thac attire is uni
versally worn.
Premium on bachelor.
Compelling consuls who are married
and have children TO bear the burden
OF their families transportation when
they are assigned to a new post. which
may be halfway around the world, al
ways has been "A premium upon bach
lerhood and penalty upon matrimony
But the burden for married men has
become especially onerous in view of
the enormous increase in travelling cost
during war time.
Activities of the United States con-
suls since the world war began, and
especially since this nation entered the
Struggle, have attracted favorable at
tention in official circles in Washing
ton, and have elected compliment from
other powers. Always an important
branch Of the State Department ser
vice, the consuls have shouldered the
multifarious duties imposed upon them
by the war cheerfully, and they have
performed them efficiently. The nature
of these extra duties and the manner
OF their performance would make a
story Of itself.
Appreciation of this arm of the gov
-eFnment service has been shown in the
present and in the preceding session of
Congress. Al the last session addi-
'-tional allowances were provided for
.consuls in belligerent and contiguous
Countries. where the rising cost of liv-
Ing no longer permitted them TO exist
on their salaries. y similar condition
unprovided for then. arose in China
and In Mexico. In China silver went
shy high. and the Mexican dollar
jumped from 43 TO Sc in ratio OF
value. Therefore, Congress. at this
session, extended the scope of these
added allowances TO China and Mexico
appropriating 100000 to be used II
providing allowances which would
bring the-.pur7irasing power of consuls
salaries TO that OF the prewar period
Allowance System Urged
The consular service desires that this
allowance privilege be world wide and
IT Will urge such action upon the next
Congress. The reason the allowance
system it advocated instead Of a
straight increase in salary is iilustrat-
ed by typical case.
SuDDOSe rla
ceives $4,000 a year. is transferred from,
Brazil 10 England, where similar work
In character and volume. is required
OF him. but he finds that the purchasing
power of his $4,000 is cut in half in
that case an increase in salary would
mean his promotion TO a higher elias
and once in that class and receiving
say $4,000 he would be unwilling to 20
back to class at $4,000, If il were
necessary TO assign him to Brazi
again. But The allowance system per.
mits equalization of his salary Will,
in England, without obligation to dc
SO al his next post. unless condition,
warrant. Wartime conditions Lave af
fected the whole world, and have af.
fected various countries most diverse
~, so that such an equalization is need
ed everywhere that United State. con
suls now go.
So acute had the situation become foI
American consuls before the enact
ment OF Legislation permitting the al
lo"ance system that the service il
some countries was threatened will
decentralization and disinregration" I,
use terms from the reports Of inspec
tors.
The argument for this allowance. no,
limited geographically and In point O
time until the end Of the war. to b
made permanent is found advocates O
the measure state in the salary list q
consuls. Consuls receive from 50. 600 t
ss'ooo. Consul-gencrals receive frot
$4,000 to $4,000. The maximum saIa