The news & observer., 1895-08-18
RANSOM WILLIE REAPPOINTED
And He will Return to Mexico the
Last of August.
pecial to the News and Observer,
WASHINGTON, D. O.. Aug. II.

There Is naturally MUCH ulScuSoAou
here among North Carolinians over the
decisioc of Hon. Holmes Conrad, Solici-
tor General of the United States and
acting Attorney General. Mr.. Ransom's
incumbency was declared to be contrary
to the Federal constitution, and the act
ing Attorney General sustained the ac-
ton of Mr.. Thomas Holcomb, Auditor
of the Treasury for the State Depart
ment, in declining to pass fayorabIy
upon Mr.. Ransom's vouchers for salary
and expenses.
The decision of the acting Attorney
General was based on question raised
by Auditor Holcomb as to the legality OF
Mr.. Ransom's appointment to the MeXi,
can mission, in view of the existence OF
section 2, article 6, of the Constitution,
which declares that ''no Senator or Rep
resentative shall, during the time for
which he was elected, be appointed TO
any civil office under the authority OF
the United States which shall have been
created, or the emoluments whereof shall
have been increased, during such time. y
This provision apparently fitted the case
of Mr.. Ransom for he was nominated by
President Cleveland and confirmed by
the Senate before his term OF Office as
Senator of North Carolina had expired,
and during that term the salary of the
Mexican mission had been increased
S., 900 a year.
Mr.. Ransom was elected to the Senate
in 1872, and served continuously from
April gath of that year until February
23rd, 1895, when his nomination to the
Mexican mission was sent to the Senate
and Immediately confirmed by that body,
and until the 4th CT March, when bis
term expired and his commission as
Minister to Mexico was signed by the
President. He was member OF the
Senate when the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill was passed, which
contained provision raising the post OF
Minister to Mexico from a mission of the
second class to mission of the first class,
and increasing the salary Of the office
from $12, 500 to ST., 500 year. 1t Is
due to Mr.. Ransom's occupancy OF
seat in the Senate chamber at that time
that he is to-day without an Office and
that he is technically debt 4 to the
government for the amount OF S. AIRY nc
has drawn since assuming his diplomatic
post. Whether or not he voted in favor
of the increase is of no consequence; the
fact that he was a member of the Senate
when it passed the diplomatic and con
sular bill as stated, operated against
him in holding in a legal manner any
Federal civil Office (which shall have
been created, or the emoluments whereof
shall have been increased during the
time for which be was elected Senator.
It is believed that the President will
reappoint Minister Ransom, and provis
ion will be made for che payment of his
salary while he has been the de .fdctt
minis -er by the next Congress. The
Presidents commission will run until tht
Senate shall have acted on Mr.. Ransom''
nomination, which will be sent in early
in December Until Mr.. Ransom re
ceives this recess appointment, the United
States will be represented at the Capita
Of Mexico by Mr. Bntler, who was regu
larry designated and recognized al
Charge D'Affaires at the time of Mr
Ransom's departure for home, a few
months ago.
Although the opinion Of the Depart
ment of Justice in regard to Mr.. Ran
som's case bears the signature of SollcI
tor General Conrad, it is understood
that the opinion was approved as SOUND
by Attorney General Harmon and Sec
retary Olney before it was officially rem
dered Attorney General Harmon'f
recent visit to the President at Gray
Gables is believed to have relation to this
case, and it is said that it was then con
cluded that the best way out OF the lega
ENHANCEMENT was the issue of an entire
ly new commission to Mr.. Ransom.
1t is understood that aside from the
inconve niepce which will be occasionec
to Minister Ransom by the failure to re
ceive his salary promptly and the neces
sity for his re appointment, there will bt
no other complication attached to the
decision.
Mr.. Ransom has understood for si1
weeks that.t Solicitor Generals decis
ion would be against him, and while hs
was forewarned to this effect ht
was notified at the same time tha
as soon as practicable after th'
decision S0Odiu DC TeuucESu A6 WOuie
be re-appointed. 1t was the
knowledge of the effect OF the decision
which has caused Mr.. Ransom to remai1
in this country as long as he has, bu
the assurance of his re appointment ha
been made so plain that he has made al
preparations to return to Mexico toward
the close of the present month. Th,
provision of the Constitution under Whicl
the Treasury refused to audit and ALLOW
his account will not apply to a reap
pointment, and there win be no furthe
difficulty in the matter.
Edward H. Hunter, of Raleigh, who i
clerk in the Land Office, has been pro
NOTED from 5000 to 5000. Before com
ing to Washington he was principal O
one of the colored schools in Raleigh,
| I# " - tF
Walter L. Smith has been appointe'
postmaster at Dan River, and Florenc
T. Lee at Reypoldson.
I
CORN LIQUOR CAUSED 1T ALL
A Drunken FrOIic Ends in Fatal Due
Between MOonshiners.