Mr. De Long to Mr. Fish
Sir: In view of the near meeting of Congress, of the increasing duties of my office, and of the present position of this legation, I beg leave, with due respect, to urge again upon your attention and that of the President, the necessity for some reforms in legislation affecting my office.
In a few months the treaties between the United States and Japan are to be revised. This will add greatly to the labors of my office, as constant conferences with my colleagues and with the Japanese authorities must ensue; to keep you well advised of these proceedings an immense amount of writing will have to be done. In addition to this the judicial business of my legation increases monthly, there being now in my court some half dozen cases on my trial calendar, some of them involving very large amounts, and necessitating long trials. These considerations make it almost a necessity that I should be allowed a secretary of legation.
That I need an interpreter is of course true; for, otherwise, I am at the mercy of those I deal with or dependent on the charity of my colleagues.
That it is impossible to get a competent person to act as both secretary and interpreter for a salary of $2,500 per year is a fact that my efforts for the last year fully attest.
What I ask for very earnestly is a secretary, at a salary of $3,000, and an interpreter, at a similar salary. If this cannot be allowed, let the office be made that of secretary and interpreter, at a salary of, say, $5,000 per annum.
This latter course would be better than nothing, but still not what is needed, for my interpreter cannot well fill both offices. He cannot carry on a conversation and write at the same time, neither can I find any person here whom I could recommend as an interpreter, whom I would also be willing to recommend as secretary, who would accept the position.
The secretary, I submit, should be a commissioned officer competent to take charge of the legation in case of a minister’s absence or death, and also competent by his counsel and advice to assist his chief and aid in the transaction of business.
An interpreter, on the contrary, need not be a man of any commanding ability or of great qualifications, but need only be conversant with the language; but should at the same time, as I think, be immediately subject to the minister, liable to removal by him, at once, if found abusing his position or plotting with others for gain.
I hope that this request of mine may find favor and be recommended to Congress.
I shall take Mr. Nathan E. Rice with me as interpreter, and give him a trial. If I find that he is sufficiently conversant with the language, and he is disposed to serve for the salary allowed after trial, I will so advise you.
I hope that I may be allowed by Congress to draw for the undrawn appropriation for the last year for this office of interpreter, to pay Dr. Hepburn for the time he served, and also to pay Mr. Rice for such services in this capacity as he may render.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant.