Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-02

BY express law have felt my duty to refer alt exist
ing claims to the action Of Congress- aud to submit to
heir consideration whether any alteration Of the law
IN TINS respect IL necessary.
Ill. The allowance Of quarters salary to Minis
tiers and Charge daGdires, to defray their expenses
home.
This allow ance has been uniformly made but I.
without authority by law. Resting in Executive dis
creton Ii has, according 10 circumstances. been ex.
tended TO cases where the Minister died abroad de-
Tray The return OF his family; and recenly claim
ed in case where the Minister had no family on
grounds OF general equity. charge OF h. de scrip.
uon can hardly be regarded coming ent one; and
allowed at ALL must be in lieu Of salary. As such
Is altogether arbitrary, although is not believed
that the interests of the Treasury are upon the hole
much affected by the substitution In cases the
allowance Is for longer period than is in the
return OF the Minister; in Others for one some what
ess andi seems to do away all nducem n, TO all un
necessary delay The subject 10. however, suscepii-
ole OF positive regulation by law; and il is on many
accounts highly expedient that il should be placed on
that footing. have therefore, without directing any
alteration in the existing practice fet it my duty TO
orng II To your notice.
Nv. Iroreiiing and other expenses in follo,pino
the Court, IN cases ,ohere its residence is not station
dry
The only legations by which expenses of this de..
crption are incurred and charged are those to Spain
anu the Netherlands; and TO them, they have bee n on
several occasions, allowed. Among the document.
"e'e"i'h communicated Will be found, with other
charges requiring legislative interference an account
LOT travelling expenses, wi statement OF the
upon wh'ch their reimbursements claimed. This ac
count has been suspended by the officer of the Trea
snry TO whom its settlement belongs; and as the CUES
ton will be one Of frequent recurrence, have deem
ed the occasion lit one to submit the whole subject
10 the revision of Congress. The justice of these
| charges Tor extraordinary expenses unavodably in
Cured. has been admitted by former Administrations
and the claims allowed. My difficulty grows out of The
language OF the act Of 1870 which expressly declare,
that the salary and outfit authorizes to the
and Charge d'Afaires, shalI be ga commentator for
all his personal services and expenses" The item,
which ordinarily form the contingent expenses of a
/ RIUnu nia nj ..t.o.
PERSONAL expenses OF the Minister. The difficulty Of
regarding those now referred TO in that light Is obv-
Gus There are certainly strong of eaui.
~ In favor oil remuneration for them, at the two
Courts where they alone incurred; and IL such
should be the opinion of Congress- it is desirable that
authority to make should he expressly conferred by
struction.
" Chorges Of Cons,ds for dscharging diplomatic
functions, tcifhom appointment, during temporary
vacancy an the office Of Charge DIES .afaires
has sometimes happened that Consus of the Unit.
Ell aes upon the of vacancies at IN cir
places OF residence in the diplomatic Offices of the
oaes, by the death retirment of our Minister or
Charge DIES flares, have taken under their care the
papers OF such missions, and usefuy discharged dulo
naic functions in behalf Of their government and fe.
low-cizens till the vacancies were regularly filed
In some Instances, this stated to have been done
the abandonment Of other pursuits, and
increased expense Of living. There are existing
claims OF ms description, which cannot be finally adj
Jused or allowed without the sanction of Congress-
particular statement OF them accompanies this com.
munic alton.
The nature of this branch Of the public servic. makes
necessary to commit portions Of the expenses incur
req IN H. 10 Executive discretion; but srabIe that
such portions should be small possible The pu.
y ana permanent success Of our political institutions
depend in great measure, upon definite appropria
uohs, ana arigh adherence TO the enactment of the
Legislature disposng of public money. My de sire is,
20 nave The subject placed upon simple and pre-
ci'e but not less liberal footing than it stands on al
present. so lar as they may be found practicable. An
opinion That the salaries allowed by law to our agents
abroad are, IN many cases, nad quate il very
and 1t reasonable to suppose that this impression has
not been without its influence in the lion OF the
laws by which those salaries fixed. There are
certainly motives which is difficult to resist 10 an
increased expense, on the part of some Of our
iunctonarie' abroad greatly beyond that which would
De required at home. Should Congress be Of opinion
that any alteration for the bette. can be made either
In the rate OF salaries allowed in the rank and
graduation oil our diplomatic agents BOTH the pres
would be ut occasion for revision OF the whole sub
ject. ANDREW JACKSON
January &c, 1880.