Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-21
the FIRST Congress, President Washing ton brought
The subject before the two Houses in the following

facilitated by such provisions as will enable me to
fulfil my duty in that respect in The manner which
circumstances may render most conducive to the
public good: and To this end, that the compensa.
tons 10 be made TO the persons who may be en-
poyed, should. according to the nature of their
appointments be defined by law; and competent
fund designated, for defraying the expenses Incl
dent 10 the conduct of our Foreign Affairs"
With the subject thus presented TO them. wba,
did Congress do' Did they pass law creating
such and such missions' No, sir. Did they APP
propiiate>su OF money for such and such sala-
ries and eHpen,itures' No. The law passed is
brief, and, bearing strongly on this and other mat
tiers of interest, beg leave 10 cite it. 1t bears
date LIST July, 1890.
f" Be ii enacted, SC. That the President of the
Z pued States shall be, and he is authorized 20
draw from the Treasury of the United States a
sum not exceeding forty thousand dollars annually
10 be paid out OF the moneys arising from the du-
Ties on imports and tonnage, for the support OF such
persons as he shall commission TO serve the IT,
States In foreign parts, and for the expense incl
dent to the business in which they may be en-
ployed. Prov'ded, That, exclusive of an outfit,
which shall, in no case, exceed the amount OF one
years fun salary TO the Minister Plenipotentiarv
! or Charge des Afaires, 20 whom the same nav be
allowed, the Preside a: shall not allow 10 any Min
lister Plenipotentiary greater sum than at the rate
| oil nine thousand dollars per annum, as a compen-
sation Tor all his personal services and other cx-
penses; nor greater sum for the same, than four
, thousand five hundred dollars per annum to
Il
| same, than one thousand three hundred and fifty
dollars per annum TO the Secretary of any Minis
1 Ter Plenipotentiaiy. find Prouided, also, That
me President shall account, specifically, for all
such expenditures of the said money, as, in his
Judgment, may be made public, and also for the
amount OF such expenditures as he may think il
advisable not 70 specify, and cause a regular state
Inent and account thereof 10 be laid before Con-
gresS, annually, and also lodgnd in the proper Of
nee OF the Treasury Department"
: Sec. 2. find be IL further enacted That this
act shall continue and be in force for the space of
TWO years. and from thence until the end OF the
next Session OF Congress thereafter, and long
err"
! There IS one phrase in the law, 10 which in
wife the particular attention of the House, ( as he
ShGR commiSSfon,') phrase throwing light on
/ questions, not long since much agitated here or
| The next law on the subject was passed 9th
February, 1898. 1t continued the act of July.
i'So' for another year, and thence to the end of
the next Session Of Congress- thereafter, and
amended il 10 the following effect:
Sec ,. find be IL further enacted, That in all
cases where any sum or sums of money have issu-
ed, or shall hereafter issue, from the Treasury for
me purposes oil intercourse treaty with foreign
nations' m pursuance OF any law, the President
shall be, and lac hereby is authorised 10 cause the
same 10 be duly settled annually, with the ac-
counting officers of the Treasury in manner fol-
lowing, that is to say: by causing the same to be
accounted for, specifically, in all instances wherein
1 ApciiuituIt tnereOl may, IN his Judgment. he
made public and by making a certificate or certi-
icates, or causing the Secretary Of State To make
a ceruhcate or certificates, of the amount of such
expenditures as he mty think it advisable not TO
specify; and every such certificate shall be deem
cd suihcient voucher for the sum or sums there
| III expressed to have been expended
This is the first full enactment of the mode of
settlement by certificate, without specification
although the elements of the provision evst in The
law of 1890.
| By the law of March 20, 1874, the large sum
| OF one million of dollars appropriated, in addi-
on to the annual forty thousand dollars TO defray
any expenses which might be incurred in reIa-
| ton TO the intercourse between the United States
and Foreign nations; to be applied, under the di-
recton OF the President, who, if necessary was
autholized TO borrow the money, and on account
OF the expenditure as soon might be, was 10
be laid before Congress- This large appropriation
| Algiers.
F.! Several similar acts were passed at subsequent
sessions OF Congress, tif on the 10th of May 1909
! law passed. giving o the legislation on this sub.
ileet somewhat modified FORM This law is emit
tied g An Act 20 ascertain the compensation of
Public ministers" II contains no APPROXIMATION
1t re-enacts the former limitation upon the com
pensation OF Ministers Pienpotentiary, Charge des
AiiTes' and the Secretaries OF Ministers: the Sc
cond section directs, that, where any sum of mo
ney shall be drawn from the Treasury aiider ann
td,r making appropriation for the contingent ex
Penses OF intercourse between the United States
and foreign nations the President shall cause the
accounts TO be settled by certificate as prescribed
| by the act of 9th February, I793-omittino The
substitution OF the Secretary of State for the Pre-
! sldent. This year, for the first time the appro
prlatons Tor the expenses of intercourse with fn
reign nations, were transferred to the act MAKING
appropriations for the support of Government far
the year 1900. BESIDES several large specifc
items, hity-two thousand dollars were appropriat
ed, IN addition TO the annual forty thousand
In May, 1910, an act was passed 6xinu tho
compensation of Public Minister'S and of ConsuIs
to the Barbary States. BY this law the compen
saton OF Minister, or Charge des Anaires was
hxed as before; tn at of Secretary of Legation AZ
S2OOO, &c and 1t was provided that it should be
lawful for tie President to allow to a Minister
PieniPotentiary or Charge des Afdres, on going
IRON the United States 10 any foreign couufrv an
outfit. which shall in no case exceed one wears r,
salary OF such Minister, Charge de Afaires but
no Consul shall be allowed an outfit in anv case
Whatever, any usage or custom to the contrary
Notwithstanding The third section of this Iate
was the same verbatim with the second of the law
OF 1900 TIP TO this time the appropriation acts had
contained one item, viz for the expenses OF foreign
intercourse. From 1910 to 1914, there were two
items of appropriation, one for the expenses of To-
reign intercourse, and one for the contingent ex
penses oil foreign intercourse The first of these
sums was applied TO pay the salaries of the Minis
terss Charges des Afares, and Secretaries: the So
cond was placed entirely at the discretion of the
fTeSluent TO discharge contingent expenses arts
just and equitable.
In the general appropriation act of 1914. the
itera "hich I'LL then, had been expressed in gen
era terms Tor the expenses offoreign intercourse
was made more specific, &" for the salaries allow,
ances, and contingent expenses, Of Ministers a.
ioreign nations, and Of Secretaries of Legation
aiter winch was added the other item, for the con
I'M rr.rtfr ~.