The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-08-22
.RANSON IS
NOT MINISTER.
His Appointment 70 Mexico Proves
Void By Constitutional Viola.
ton
But he NAY GET BACK.


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WAsHfSsroS, Aug. i6 Hon Nat,
W. kAnsoU, OF North Carolina. 40
no longer Minister OF IN. United
Stafes 10 Nexico. That ofsee uas
practically declared vacant today
by dseissoa rendered by Mr..
hoinss Conrad. Solicitor General
OF the United States and Acting At
sorney General Mr.. Ransom an
cum oeney Vas declared 60 he con
trary % the Federal constitution,
And the acting Attorney General sns-
tanned the action % Mr.. Thomas
holcomh, Auditor Of the Treasury
Tor the State Department. IA d.cl.n.
ing 10 pass favorabiy upon Mr.. Ran
sons vouchers for salary aud .I-
psnsss.
The decision Of the acting Attorney
General vas based on . question
raised by Auditor Holeomb a. 20
the legality OF Mr.. Ransom. ap-
pointmeut 90 the MsrieAn missiou.
IN view 81 the existence OF section
2. article o, Of the cons,i, utiop.
which declares that mo senator or
Representative shall. during the
time for which be vas ~i~cied. be
appointed 10 any civil ofic. under
the authority Of the United States
which shall have been created, or
the emolumenfs whereof shall have
been increased during such time
This provision apparently lifted the
case OF Mr.. Hanson for be VAS nom
mated by Pr~sident Cleveland and
confirmed by the senate before has
term OF once % Senator of North
Carolina had expired. and during
that term the salary Of the M-riean
mission had been increased 5000 .
year.
Mr.. Ransom vas elected 20 the
Senate in 1872, and served con,in-
uously from April 2sth OF tina, year
until February 23rd. 1855. when has
domination 10 the M-rican mission
Vas sent 10 the senate and imm.di-
stely confirmed by tha, body.
and until the afh OF March
when has torn expired and
his commission As Minister
70 MEXICO vas esiened by th. Pres
ident. He vas q member Of the
senate when the diplomatic and con-
sular appropriation hill Vas passed,
which contained o provision raising
the post OF Minister 10 MEXICO from
. mission OF the second class 10 q
mission Of the first class, and an
creasipg the salary OF the once
from el2, 500 to sl7 500 q year. IL
is due TO Mr.. Ransom's occupancy
OF seat in the Seuaie chant b-r at
that time that he 10 TO day without
an ONCE and that he In technically q
. debtor TO the government for the
amount OF salary he has drawn since
assuming his diplomatic post.
Whether or not he voted in favor Of
the increase 10 Of no consequence;
the fact that he vas a member OF
the Senate when il passed the diplo-
matte and consular bill rs stated,
operated against him in holding IN q
legal manner any Federal civil ofice
(which shall have been created, or
the emoluments whereof shall have
been increased" during the time for
which he Was elected Senator.
Soon after Mr.. Ransom's appoint
ment to the Mexican mission there
was considerable disc cussion in the
newspapers and among public men
- 10 whether his incum mbepcy of the
ONCE Was legal. The matter was
considered informally by the Presi-
dent and members Of the cabinet, bot
~ no formal question on the subject
vas raised by any officer of the gov
eminent, the status Of Mr. Ransom
was not impaired. So far ~ can be
ascertained M. Ransom continued
} to draw his salary Of $l7 500 u year,
but il Vas only recently that Auditor
Holcomb, when he came 10 pass upor
, the accounts, found himself unsbls
to decide whether he could approve
the payment Of Mr.. Rapsom's salary,
in view Of the fact that be had beer
/ . member Of the senate when il was
increased. The matter Vas accord
} ingly submitted to the Attorney Gen
eral for IN opinion.
! The decision rendered today by IN 4
acting attorney general also dispose,
: OF another matter in which Mr.. Ran
Z sow Vas pecuniarily interested
Nearly three months ago b. returpst
to the United States quite iIl, bsvinv
. obtained sixty days leave OF absence
He spent most Of the time recuper
: ating in the North Carolina noun
{ tains and then obtained an additions
. leave for thirty days. Under tn
o re9ulstiondef the diplomatic service
' 4r. Ransom was entitled TO sixf,
4 sixty days annual leave and 10 thirt,
b days sick leave additional, . total o
Q ninety days. There il NO provision
a for . further extension for an,
Q reason and diplomatic or copsula
i o@cers Who have exceeded this quota
< have not received pay for the perio
!. they remained away from their posta
u 4r. Rsnsom's ninety days are nesrl
up and last week he came to wash
ington 70 ascertain IL his eontinue
!, i'll health would secure for him
!, further extension With pay. Ths
4 question Vas not disposed Of an
there il nov no necessity for q
!. opinion on il, in Mr.. Ran.om's eas<
|" st least, - the acting Attorney Ges
- erals decision disposss OF everytainl
- relating TO his emoluments-
I'll The constitutional provisio
7 through which Mr.. Ransom has bee
deprived Of once does not bar has
!. from being reappointed to the Mex
d can mission. He could have been n
= pointed without violation Of the n,
:. or constitution at any time after th
hour Of noon on March 4th, las
=. when his senatorial tern expirsd
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